The church
The baroque church explained
How St Peter's Church in Vienna came to be: the 1701 rebuilding, the first baroque dome in the city and the fresco overhead, with sources.
Pick your concert date ↗Quick answer
St Peter's Church was rebuilt in the baroque style from around 1701 and consecrated in 1733. Wikipedia calls it the first domed structure in baroque Vienna. Its oval dome carries a fresco by Rottmayr, painted about 1713, and its interior is clad in ochre and gold stucco, with a gilded pulpit and a high altar designed by Galli-Bibiena.
An old church, rebuilt
Wikipedia says a church of Saint Peter is first mentioned in Vienna in 1137, and that tradition credits Charlemagne with founding it around 800, though there is no evidence for that. The old church burned down in 1661. Leopold I, who vowed to rebuild it after the plague of 1679 to 1680, backed the new building. The Wien Geschichte Wiki says the Trinity brotherhood resolved in 1700 to replace the old church and that it was pulled down in 1701.
Who built it
The sources credit several hands. Wikipedia says construction began around 1701 under Gabriele Montani, who was replaced by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt in 1703, and also names Francesco Martinelli as the main architect. The Wien Geschichte Wiki says the plan is attributed to Montani, with the shell finished around 1708, possibly by Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt is better known for the Upper and Lower Belvedere, which he built for Prince Eugene of Savoy.
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The first dome of baroque Vienna
Wikipedia says the new church was the first domed structure in baroque Vienna, and that its design drew on St Peter's Basilica in Rome. The interior is oval and compact, and Wikipedia says the space is larger than its footprint suggests. The turreted dome was mainly designed by Matthias Steinl. The church was consecrated in 1733 to the Holy Trinity, even though it is named for Saint Peter.
The fresco overhead
The dome carries a fresco by Rottmayr. Wikipedia says Andrea Pozzo's original frescoes were removed and that Rottmayr painted a new set in 1713, and describes the subject as the Coronation of Our Lady. The Wien Geschichte Wiki dates it 1713 to 1714, calls it the Assumption of Mary and says it cost 3,000 Gulden. Wikipedia adds that a renovation from 1998 to 2004 returned the paintings to their original colouring and brightness.
Gold, ochre and stucco
The Wien Geschichte Wiki says the space is clad in ochre and gold stucco lustro, with stuccowork by Alberto Camesina in the dome, Matthias Steinl in the tambour and Santino Bussi in the choir. The high altar was designed by Antonio Galli-Bibiena, and its altarpiece is by Martino Altomonte, showing the healing of the lame man by Saint Peter and Saint John. The gilded pulpit is by Steinl, dated 1726.
Organ and gallery
According to the Wien Geschichte Wiki, the gallery and organ front date from 1751, and the gallery was designed by Galli-Bibiena. The organ was built by F. J. Swoboda and rebuilt in 1903 with the original front kept, and the page says it belongs to the best organs in Vienna. The same page records good church music and a rich archive of music at the church.
What this means for the concert
This is a concert inside a working baroque church, not a purpose-built hall. That shapes the evening: pew seating, a ticket for about one hour and a room to look at while you listen. The painted dome rewards looking up between pieces, and the gilded altar draws the eye ahead. The practical guide covers the rules, including no shorts and no video recording.
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Frequently asked questions
When was St Peter's Church in Vienna built?
Construction began around 1701 and the church was consecrated in 1733, according to Wikipedia.
Who painted the dome fresco?
Rottmayr, who painted a new set of frescoes there in 1713, according to Wikipedia.
Is it the first domed church in Vienna?
Wikipedia calls it the first domed structure in baroque Vienna.
Sources