Palais Todesco – The Story of the House
The Construction of the Palais
This impressive building was erected from 1861 to 1864 on behalf of Baron Eduard von Todesco. It was built in the style of the Neo-Renaissance by the architects Ludwig von Förster and Theophil von Hansen. It is a focal structure on the Kärntner Straße, as it stands in the place of the old Carinthian Gate and opposite the Vienna State Opera.
The interior design of the palace was almost entirely accomplished by Theophil Hansen. He created a fusion of the arts, blending architecture, painting and sculpture, to form an aesthetic synthesis. The Beletage, with the large ballroom and proprietor’s apartment, prominently displays this combination.
The Paris Salon in particular, reflects the effort of this fusion. Carl Rahl and his pupil Gustav Gaul painted Judgment of Paris on the ceiling of the richly decorated room, as well as the four Sibyls in the corners, and various scenes from the Life of Paris on the side panels.
The official Inauguration
On May 4, 1864, the premises were first opened to the public for the egagement party of Fanny Todesco. “The Ambassador”, a Vienna daily newspaper, reported:
"Yesterday, the salon at the Palais Todesco opened. They were celebrating not only the completion of the new house, which was built by Hansen and artistically decorated by Rahl, but also the impending marriage of the daughter of Mr. Eduard Ritter von Todesco with Mr. Henry Worms. All 500 guests admired the brilliant apartments, and recognized the rare association of artistic grandeur and consummate taste in the decoration. The art stimulated further merriment: Mrs. Rettich and Mrs. Haizinger, then Mr. Beckmann stood and spoke both serious and cheerful words in relation to the meaning of the banquet; Miss Artôt, then Mr. Everardi and Mr. Fioravanti happily sang while Mr. Tausig played the piano for the joyful audience…
after the concerts, a delicious buffet was served under the “personal direction” of Mr. Franz Hauptmann.”
The Residents and Guests at the Palais Todesco
Eduard Todesco’s wife, Sophie (born Gomperz), entertained many artists, scholars, and members of Viennese society in the famous salon on the first floor of their palace.
Among others, a young Hugo von Hofmannsthal was introduced here in 1892 by his friend Felix Oppenheim. Oppenheim was the grandson of Baroness Todesco; the son of her daughter Gabriele (Yella). After her divorce from Ludwig Freiherr von Oppenheim in 1883, she returned to lived in the Palais Todesco with her parents. Sophie Todesco’s brother, Max Ritter von Gomperz, also lived in the house with his children Philipp, Marie, and Cornelia (Nelly). Hofmannsthal soon became close friends with all of them. In the Salon where Hofmannsthal soon felt at home, he became acquainted with, among others, Ferruccio Busoni, Anton Rubinstein, and Franz Lenbach. In 1893, Leopold Andrian wrote about this in his diary: “I ask him about the Salon Todesco – and with his restless, wriggling manner of speaking he always says: No child is nervous there – he means: the Salon Todesco is very pleasant – one is completely unconstrained – and one can talk about everything – you know, as I would tell you to come for an hour in the Café Central to chat, then I say just come to Todesco” (TB Andrian, p. 6).
The story of Johann Strauß is also closely connected with the Todesco House. In Sophie’s Salon, Strauß met his future wife, Henriette “Jetty” Treffz, born Henriette Chalupetzky. Treffz was the maiden name of her mother, and she made it her stage name. After the wedding, Jetty accompanied Strauß on his concert tours as his manager. She set up all the apartments and helped him achieve success as an operetta composer. She entrusted the children from her first marriage to their father, the banker Moritz Todesco, so she could live the artists’ life with Strauß.
The subsequent History at the Palais
Until the 1930s, the Palais was owned by the Todesco family. After the last heir, the son of Baroness Oppenheimer, took his life by jumping from the third floor of the Palais, the house changed hands several times.
In 1935 it became the property of the Austrian Federal Insurance Group, which was united in 1999 under the name Uniqa, where it is still held today.
During the Second World War, the Palais Todesco was heavily damaged by an air strike to a neighbouring building. The restoration work was completed in 1947, and it became the central location for the Austrian People’s Party, who remained there until 1994. On August 17, 1976, after the renovation of the entrance and the northern corner, the Palais Todesco was listed as a protected monument. In subsequent years, the portal, the hall, and the entire façade were restored to their original state. Despite further changes and business installations, the Palais has remained essentially in its original form.
Since the summer of 2008, the Beletage at the Palais Todesco has been the home of Gerstner K & K Hofzuckerbäcker. Two historic institutions are now joined together, and one can grasp a small insight into their remarkable past. The historical points of contact that connect Gerstner with the Palais Todesco, reach from Franz Hauptmann to the Princes themselves. For example, in the Salon Todesco the famous guests were often served the Gerstner delicacies. Because the Todesco house was so fond of their unique creations and high quality food and service, Gerstner was also entrusted with the catering of many important social events, and was welcomed to do business on the illustrious Kärntner Straße.
Even during the time when the Austrian People’s Party used the Palais as their headquarters, Gerstner was contracted as the caterer. Receptions, anniversaries, and other celebrations were supported almost entirely by Gerstner, in keeping with the great tradition of the house. In the summer of 2008, Gerstner took over the Beletage, and has been the direct contact for glamorous events in the style of the old monarchy.