Mozart Museum Bertramka has closed. View the opera listings for Mozart related performances and information: Prague opera listings ---------------------------------------------- In 1787, shortly before the premiere of Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart moved to Bertramka to finish his masterpiece. Originally a vineyard estate located outside the Prague city walls, Bertramka was the romantic summer residence of his friends, the Dušeks, a couple of leading Czech musicians. This fine setting gave Mozart the peace and quiet he craved, and inspired him to compose the concert aria and scene for soprano "Bella mia fiamma, addio", which he dedicated to his hostess, the outstanding singer Josefína Dušková. In 1791 Mozart stayed again at Bertramka, when he came to Prague to rehearse his coronation opera on Titus. Today, as Prague has grown, Bertramka is within the city. The part of the villa that served as the living quarters is now a museum and features a permanent exhibition on Mozart and the Dušeks. Bertramka is in more or less the same state as Mozart knew it. And a recent restoration project should ensure its preservation for years to come. Bertramka is fairly small, and you will need to get a tram to visit it if you are in the city centre, but none-the-less worthy of a visit for fans of Mozart. |