Arnold Schoenberg was not only an important composer and the leading figure of the Second Viennese School, he was also a writer, teacher, theorist, painter and inventor.

Born in Vienna's Leopoldstadt district to a Jewish family, his life was shaped by the events of the century. At the same time, Schoenberg became a vigilant and uncompromising shaper of the era.
From the classical composers Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven to Brahms and Wagner, he considered music to be "the sonic expression of the human soul." Ultimately, as a pioneer of the twelve-tone method, he paved the way for modernism and transported his contemporaries to new realms.

The cabinet exhibition, opened on July 10, 2024, focuses entirely on his work and life in cooperation with the Arnold Schönberg Center Vienna and follows his trail on a journey of discovery to his places of residence and work: From Vienna, his path led him through the major cities of Europe into exile and finally to the film metropolis of Hollywood.

Workshop documents reveal the resourceful thinker whose inventiveness extended even to the game of chess. Expressive portraits and painterly visions make his voice audible within Austrian Expressionism. Sketches and other manuscripts showcase the intuitive side of this sound creator, always in search of unheard music. Original recordings of his voice allow the composer to speak for himself: translated into 16 different languages, the film "Who I Am" conveys a vivid picture of the artist and the man.

The paintings, manuscripts and inventions of the influential thinker can be explored at the House of Music until June 29, 2025.

In the photo: © Hanna Pribitzer | from left: Lucas Krieger, Eike Feß, Dr. Ulrike Anton, Director Simon K. Posch