"Komm Hoffnung!": Hope, Opera and Diplomacy at the Congress of Vienna

Abstract

Abstract The Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815 was a negotiation among European powers to establish peace after the Napoleonic Wars. The Viennese provided abundant entertainment for diplomats attending the conference. Among that entertainment was opera. A study of the Wiener Zeitung reveals opera performances at the major Viennese theaters of the time. Theaters offered mostly German operas, although some were French. The most popular operas included Fidelio, Iphigénie en Tauride, and Die Zauberflöte. Analysis of these operatic scores and librettos combined with a consideration of a key performance review suggests that the theme of hope may have been what appealed to diplomats attending the Congress.