Lecture: "Stéphanie of Baden—A Grand Ducal Widow Revitalizes Mannheim's Musical Culture"

Lecture by Leony Gräfe as part of the 51st Schwetzingen Mozart Festival Elector Carl Theodor is regarded as the founder of Mannheim’s reputation as one of the most important centers of instrumental music in the 18th century. His court orchestra made music history, and so an era of Mannheim’s musical culture came to an end with the court’s move to Munich in 1778. However, it is often overlooked that some 40 years later, Grand Duchess-Widow Stéphanie of Baden, the adopted daughter of Napoleon I—another enthusiastic music lover and dedicated patron of the arts—moved into the Mannheim Palace. She not only collected musical materials on a grand scale but also acted as a salon hostess and was even consulted for her approval regarding the appointment of artistic directors and the hiring of artistic staff for the Mannheim Court and National Theater. In cooperation with the Research Center Court | Music | City, this lecture sheds light on this marginalized phase of Palatinate music culture under the patronage of a princely widow, who at times also took up residence at Schwetzingen Palace and even gave birth to her first daughter there. **Admission is free.** **Please register with:** **Museum Director Lars Maurer lars.maurer@schwetzingen.de 06202 / 87-468**