The Leopoldskron Palace was completed in 1736 as the summer residence of the ruler of Salzburg, the Prince Archbishop. These titled aristocrats ruled both the secular and spiritual life of Salzburg from before the turn of the millennium a thousand years ago until Salzburg was included in the Austrian Empire after WWI.
When he wasn't on the road, Mozart had a steady gig at the palace playing dinner music for the Prince Archbishop. We'll have several meals and parties in this same grand dining room.
In the early 20th century, the Palace was the home of Max Reinhart, one of the great artistic and musical impresarios of the time. He created the Salzburg Summer Music Festival, one of Europe's most important yearly musical events. His home functioned as a kind of artistic salon, and over the years he hosted the great thinkers, artists and performers of the day. (A short list would include Einstein, Freud, Sara Bernhardt and Charlie Chaplin).
Max Reinhart, who was Jewish, had to flee Austria during WWII. He settled in California and became a famous movie director in Hollywood in the 40's. When he left his home he helped a local family of musicians to leave with him. The story of how "Uncle Max" helped the von Trapp family is told in of the 1961 film The Sound of Music.
Many of the group of American soldiers who occupied this area in 1945 were from Harvard. After the war, these soldiers formed a group, which bought the property and donated it to Harvard University, the current owner.
Today the palace is home to Salzburg Global Seminars, which typically hosts high government officials and teams of specialists for meetings concerning Global Security, Green Technology and the like. Starting next May 5, Castles and Concerts will host our own music symposium centered on the music of Mozart and The Sound of Music.
This is not a typical seminar (we are not known for taking ourselves too seriously). And though we will endeavor to learn and appreciate the fascinating history surrounding us, camaraderie and merriment will be our main themes.