Travel tips for opera lovers – Trahütten and Alban Berg

Alban Berg in Trahütten

The series about historical places of opera art & culture. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Alban Berg in Trahütten.

All Destinations on google maps with links to detailed Blogposts:

Alban Berg  in Trahütten

Alban Berg often composed in the summer resort and seclusion of this country house of his parents-in-law. He was married to Helene Nahowski, who in reality is said to have been an illegitimate daughter of Franz-Joseph I. It was in this house that he composed his “Wozzeck,” which had autobiographical features (see excursus below). In 1968, a memorial plaque was unveiled in the presence of his widow Helene.

Villa Alban Berg:

Currently, the villa is available for rent.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/at/villa-alban-berg.de.html

Musical background:kalischer Exkurs: the autobiographical features of “Wozzeck”

In this work about a soldier who murders Marie, the mother of his illegitimate child, out of jealousy and madness, there are some surprising biographical parallels to Berg’s life. The most obvious biographical incident is in the person of Marie. A maid at the Berg family’s summer home named Marie Scheuchl conceived a child by 17-year-old Alban. The family wanted to keep this “misstep” secret and paid her a settlement in exchange for secrecy. Even Berg’s later wife Helene did not learn of this until after Berg’s passing. The parallels continued; besides the coincidence of names and the presence of an illegitimate child, the drama’s Marie is said to be a strikingly accurate portrait of the maid.

The tavern scene in “Wozzeck” is said to have been inspired by a nearby dance hall.

Tanzt Alle; tanzt nur zu, springt, schwitzt und stinkt

https://opera-inside.com/wozzeck-by-alban-berg-the-opera-guide-and-synopsis/#Tanzt