In kulturpolitischer Mission

The "Internationale Ausstellung für Musik- und Theaterwesen" that took place in Vienna in 1892 had a major impact on the international image of Vienna as a cultural metropolis as well as on Felix Dörmann's career. As the head of the public relations offi ce of the exhibition, he had the chance to broaden his network within the cultural sphere. Moreover, as the author of the accompanying book to the ballet "Die Donaunixe," one of the main attractions of the event, he was able to reach a wide audience. The ballet refl ected the ideological framework of the exhibition. Both the exhibition and the ballet sought to strengthen the cultural unity of the Germanspeaking parts of the Habsburg monarchy and to create an affi nity for the tradition of Old Vienna. Dörmann, who by this time had developed a high awareness for aesthetic eff ects, provided the appropriate text for the lavishly staged ballet production. This article analyzes, on the one hand, the content, form, motifs, and cross- references of the text and, on the other, the dramaturgical means of the ballet in order to undertake a classification of Dörmann's early work

Art · Art history · Ballet · Dance · Exhibition · Humanities · Ideology · Political science · Politics · Sculpture · Sociology · Visual arts · Arts, Culture, and Music Studies · Diversity and Impact of Dance · German Literature and Culture Studies · Law