Politische Divergenzen und kulturelle Konvergenzen. Vergleichende Aspekte der Opernaufführungen in den europäischen Metropolen im 19. Jahrhundert

Abstract

The opera houses in 19th-Century Europe were focal points of aesthetic and political developments. The middle-classes frequently visited them as public arenas to establish their own identities. They used their allegedly superior musical taste to emphasise their social impact. In many European towns people tried to establish national schools of music and national opera traditions. “National music” was created to fulfil political needs and to express cultural aspirations. However, the nationalistic conflicts and enmities actually encouraged cultural transfers between nations rather than inhibited them.