CHAMBER MUSIC WELCOMES SPRING AT SCHLOSS BLÜHNBACH
A Celebration of Mozart, Collaboration, and Living Heritage

Billie Jordan

30 March 2026

On Saturday, 28 March 2026, the halls of Schloss Blühnbach once again came alive with music, welcoming guests to a chamber concert that marked the opening of the Easter season in the serene Alpine landscape. Arriving along the winding road through the snow-covered Blühnbach valley, many guests experienced the castle for the first time, surrounded by deep blue skies, dramatic mountain peaks, and the first signs of spring emerging beneath the winter snow.

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The Frederick R. Koch Foundation of Austria hosted an intimate gathering that brought together music, history, and community in equal measure. Guests were welcomed by Bettina Fischer, Board Member of the Foundation, who opened the morning with reflections on the Foundation’s mission to create spaces where artistic excellence and cultural exchange can flourish.

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She was followed by Linus Klumpner, CEO of the International Mozarteum Foundation and Director of the Mozart Museum, who spoke about the enduring relevance of Mozart’s legacy and the importance of the ongoing collaboration between the Mozarteum and the Foundation, setting a thoughtful tone for the performance that followed.

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Guests were invited to explore the castle’s historic interiors, adorned with traditional Easter decorations rooted in Alpine custom, before making their way to the performance space. As they ascended the grand spiral staircase, the atmosphere gradually shifted from quiet conversation to anticipation.

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The programme featured the Bella Musica Mozarteum duo - violinist Laura Sophia Hummel and violist Marinus Kreidt - two exceptional alumni of the Mozarteum University. Their performance centred on works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, including the Duo for Violin and Viola in G Major, K. 423, alongside selections from Mozart’s violin concerto and the Sinfonia Concertante.

In keeping with the Foundation’s dedication to authenticity and scholarship, the musicians performed on period instruments from Mozart’s own collection, generously loaned by the Mozarteum Foundation. Among them were a violin crafted in 1764 by Pietro Antonio dalla Costa and an 18th-century viola of northern Italian origin.

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Particularly moving was the experience of hearing young musicians perform on instruments once held by the Mozart family themselves - instruments usually viewed behind glass in the Mozart Museum. Their warm, distinctive sound brought listeners closer to the musical language of Mozart’s time, while the dialogue between violin and viola revealed the intimate, conversational essence of chamber music.

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Following the concert, guests gathered in the Piano Nobile for a reception beside the lit fireplace overlooking the winter garden, where spring flowers emerged against the snowy landscape outside. Austrian wines were served alongside a selection of seasonal refreshments, including Easter ham with horseradish, miniature schnitzel rolls, and sweet curd cake with chocolate-dipped strawberries.

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At Schloss Blühnbach, events such as these are designed not only to preserve cultural heritage, but to experience it as something living and shared. Whether through music, craftsmanship, seasonal traditions, or hospitality, the Foundation continues to create opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange in a setting where history remains deeply present.

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The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to the International Mozarteum Foundation, to the gifted performers, and to all who joined this special occasion. Through their continued support, the vision of Blühnbach as a home for culture, learning, and inspiration continues to flourish.