First day of the commemorative stamp "Austria, land of music" and "250 years of the Gloriette"

250 years of the Gloriette

The crowning glory of Schönbrunn

Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens are recognised by UNESCO as a Baroque masterpiece and part of the World Cultural Heritage. Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Gloriette was built as an integral part of the palace grounds.

Maria Theresa had the Baroque palace, originally constructed by Johann Fischer von Erlach, extended into a magnificent residence and made it the centre of court life. It was primarily her husband, Emperor Francis I Stephen, who took charge of expanding the gardens of Schönbrunn. Around 1789, the palace park was finally opened to the public. The Gloriette was built in 1775 during the redesign of the gardens, as one of the last structures of Schönbrunn, based on plans by Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg. Situated above the Neptune Fountain on a small hill, the Schönbrunner Berg, it forms the visual culmination of the strictly symmetrical palace park. The early Neoclassical triumphal arch with side arcades was dedicated to the victories of the Habsburg armies. Columns of Kaiserstein and architectural elements from Neugebäude Palace were used in its construction. Above the windows in the central section, which were glazed during the reign of Maria Theresa, an eagle perches on a globe. The trophy sculptures by Johann Baptist Hagenauer on the side staircases depict lions, armour and shields. The accessible roof terrace offers a magnificent view of the palace and the city. During the monarchy, the Gloriette was used as a breakfast room and banqueting hall; today, it houses a café.

The harp

Ethereal sound 

The harp, one of the largest and heaviest instruments in an orchestra, is this year’s motif in the “Austria, land of music” stamp series.

As early as 5,000 years ago, harp-like string instruments were played in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Today, harps exist in various forms. Single-action pedal harps are used in Alpine folk music, while the concert harp is a double-action pedal harp. Irish and South American harps are also well known. A harp consists of a column, a curved neck, a knee and a body – the latter serving as the soundbox. The strings, stretched parallel to the column, are partly colour-coded and plucked with the fingertips of both hands while the instrument rests lightly against the shoulder. With its warm, full sound, the versatile harp is used not only in classical music but also in folk, pop and jazz.

The stamp depicts an elaborately crafted concert harp by Lyon & Healy of Chicago, whose instruments are played by leading orchestras worldwide. The upper margin of the miniature sheet shows the neck and intricate string mechanism of the harp. The musical score featured originates from the Czech harpist and composer Johann-Baptiste Krumpholtz (1742–1790, also written Jean-Baptiste Krumpholz). Originally dedicated as the First Sonata for Harp to a Madame de Willers, it was later reworked into the Second Symphony for Harp (op. 11). The manuscript, held by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, displays a section of the score from the second movement.

When? 10 September 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., presentation at 10:00 a.m.

Where? 
Federation of Austrian Philately Associations, Getreidemarkt 1, 1060 Vienna

Group photo:
Photo of presentation: © VÖPh

Group photo, left to right:
Helmut Kogler (President, Federation of Austrian Philately Associations), Susanna Hiegesberger (stamp archive curator, Austrian Post), Kirsten Lubach (stamp artist)