Stars of the Burg -
200 Years of a Theatre Cult

The Burgtheater makes a guest appearance at the Hermesvilla – with walk-ons from stars like Charlotte Wolter, Werner Krauß or Attila Hörbiger. The exhibition shows portraits of actors from the Burgtheater’s “Gallery of Fame” that was first created when it was named “Teutsches Nationaltheater” (German National Theater) in 1776. The portraits echo the Viennese “mania for the theatre” (Stefan Zweig) and the almost mythical status that its stars of the stage enjoyed. “He only has to show his nose and the galleries start vibrating”, was one comment on superstar Josef Kainz in the Neue Freie Presse in 1907. Many of the actors of the Burgtheater who enjoyed cult status at the time have long since been forgotten, but some have managed to retain their glamour over the decades.

There are stage photographs of Sophie Schröder or Heinrich Anschütz on show from the Burgtheater’s heyday in the Biedermeier period as well as portraits of Zerline Gabillon or Josef Lewinsky, who helped the Burgtheater advance to the status of most important stage in the Germanspeaking world. Stars like Katharina Schratt or Hugo Thimig moved with the old Burgtheater from the Michaelerplatz to its new location on the Ring where it still is today. Special attention is given to well loved actors of the 20th century like Rosa Albach-Retty, Gusti Wolf or Josef Meinrad.

From Waldmüller to Krystufek
Among the portrait painters we can find important artists like Josef Krafft, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Hans Makart or Carry Hauser. Throughout the 20th century the tradition of painting actors abated somewhat, but in 2006 a “New Portrait Gallery” was started. Well known contemporary artists like Elke Krystufek und Erwin Wurm depicted contemporary stars such as Kirsten Dene or Birgit Minichmayr.

The Burgtheater’s “Hall Of Fame” is complemented by paintings and memorabilia from the Wien Museum collection.