Exhibitions

March 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s death. To mark this occasion, the Josefstadt District Museum, in collaboration with members of the Harnoncourt family and the Nikolaus Harnoncourt Zentrum, is presenting this special exhibition. It traces the ensemble’s founding years. How does one start something that will develop into a worldwide movement?

Opening hours
Wednesday 6 to 8 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 12 noon
Closed during school holidays

Admission free.

Exhibition – Music is a Language
Berlin University of the Arts

Curated by Marie-Theres Arnbom, the exhibition portrays the couple’s life journey in connection with the pioneering work of the community of explorers. For the first time, insights into his huge and extensive archive are accessible to the public. They trace the Harnoncourts’ working methods and their musical development. Learn more about their groundbreaking musical discoveries and their passionate dedication to promoting young talent. The exhibition is aimed equally at music lovers of all ages, as well as laymen and experts.

The exhibition was on display in St. Georgen im Attergau from 3 May to 15 September 2024, moved to the foyer of the Bruckner University in Linz from 21 October to 31 January 2025, and made a stop at the mdw in Vienna from 17 May to 11 July 2025.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt had many connections to Salzburg. The Mozart museums dedicated an exhibition to this key figure in music history, highlighting Harnoncourt’s work in the city on the Salzach between 1980 and 2015. The interplay between the International Mozarteum Foundation, the Salzburg Festival and the Mozarteum University reveals a body of work that in many ways sheds fascinating light on the repertoire of early music, Mozart’s oeuvre and
a new understanding of music cultivation. The exhibition has been curated in collaboration with the Nikolaus Harnoncourt Centre at the Bruckner University in Linz. On display are original scores, letters, stage costumes, memorabilia from the estate and historical media recordings. Concert recordings and podcasts allow visitors to immerse themselves directly in Harnoncourt’s world of sound and ideas.