Church of the Piarist Order

and Piaristenkeller restaurant

Mozart Evening

Authentic memorial site

Musical and culinary programme – Hat and wine parade

This memorial site will be shedding light on highly personal events during Mozart’s stays in Vienna, starting with his childhood (1767) and ending with the year of his death (1791), among them:

	1. Mozart composed his work Veni sancte spiritus, K 47, for the Piarist Order In 1767, at the tender age of 12, Mozart composed his Veni sancte spiritus, K 47, for the Piarist monks on the occasion of the canonisation by Pope Clemens XIII of the Order’s founder, Father José de Calasanz. In a letter to his wife dated 25 June 1791, Mozart wrote of his appreciation of the pastoral activities of the Order of the Pious Schools (Piaristen): “Tomorrow I shall walk, a candle in my hand, in the procession through the Joseph Stadt!”
	2. Mozart’s son attended the Piarist school Mozart’s close personal links with the Piarists are also demonstrated by the fact that he obtained a place at their school for his oldest son Carl Thomas. This was important to the composer as the Piarist school had been one of the Empire’s top schools ever since the reign of Maria Theresa, and was reserved for the aristocracy.
	3. Mozart was a gourmet and in letter to his wife Constanze on 9 October 1791 he reported on his meal with the Piarists: "…at 10 o’clock I shall be going to the Piarist office because Leitgeb (the horn virtuoso) has told me that I can talk to the headmaster — I shall also be staying for a meal...” The same weekend, Mozart reports in another letter: "I slept exceedingly well and hope that you have also had a good night’s rest – I thoroughly enjoyed my Kapaundl....“

“Kapaundl” was Mozart’s affectionate term for a speciality of court cuisine to which he was
particularly partial, "namely “jeunes chapons à la morille” (roasted capon with morels). A letter also
mentions a “delicious piece of rabbit” which he had just eaten. Mozart’s passion for good food —
and his love of “Carbonadl” (a crispy roast), which he was also sure to find in Vienna’s Josefstadt
suburb — return in a letter of 8 October 1791, written following a morning walk along the Glacis
(the field between the city walls and the suburbs): “At half-past five, I took my favourite walk along the Glacis … — and what do I see? — what do I smell? It’s Don Primus with the “Carbonadln” — Che gusto!....”

This jubilee year is a welcome opportunity for the Order’s own restaurant, the Piaristenkeller, to recreate the specialities mentioned by Mozart, as far as possible according to original recipes from imperial times.

Mozart for the ears and the palate

Located directly beneath the school building of the Order of the Pious Schools (Piaristen), the former monastery cellar houses the Piaristenkeller — one of the oldest restaurants with musical entertainment in Austria. This 300-year-old monastery cellar will play an unusual role as a museum and a music restaurant during “Mozart Evenings” when there will also be private concerts in the adjoining basilica.

“Mozart Evening for the Ears and the Palette”: The team of the 1,000-sqm Piaristenkeller has put together a “Mozart Evening 2006” with a musical and culinary experience for up to 300 guests, who receive the opportunity to find out about Mozart’s personal links with this historic site.

… also stayed to eat…” wrote Mozart in 1791, describing one of his visits to school.
Depending on the programme selected, after the concert in the Basilica guests will be able to become
acquainted with Mozart’s culinary preferences in the Piaristenkeller restaurant and enjoy with live
music during dinner. To round off their evening, they will be treated to an entertaining guided tour of
the Hat and Wine Museum and a delicious glass of “Magic Flute” sparkling wine.

Quellenverzeichnis:
Speisefotos: © Verlag Anton Pustet "Köchelverzeichnis" Rezepte aus der Mozartzeit
Hofküchenbild: © Hof- und Tafelsilberkammer, Wien Hofburg
Klosterküche Piaristenkeller: © Kunstsammlung Kaiser Franz Joseph Privatstiftung

Arrangement available on request. The arrangemnt price of the Mozart Evening includes the Mozart dinner as mentioned above, including cover charge (fabric serviette) and live music performances and upon choice of programme also the aforementioned programme in the wine cellar including supplementary-services such as room hire and taxes. All bookings and agreements must be made in writing to be legally binding- the terms and conditions of the restaurant for public functions apply (see contact & inquiries).
Piaristenkeller Restaurationsbetrieb Gesellschaft m.b.H. Prices and programmes subject to alteration.Vers 01.02.05 PM