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Nestroy, Johann Nepomuk Eduard Ambrosius (1801 - 1862)
Copyright: IMAGNO/Austrian Archives
"A shallow person finds many a thing profound” or "Charity starts with yourself"; or: "Love is a dream, marriage a business” – these are only some of the famous quotes contained in the 80 still existing plays by Johann Nestroy. His interest in word play was legendary, and his characters often mixed Viennese language with less-than-successful attempts at more "educated" speech. Nestroy borrowed liberally from German, French and English texts; music played an important part in his work, with songs developing the theme or helping on with the plot. Plays like "Der Talisman" (1840), "Das Mädl aus der Vorstadt" (1841) and "Einen Jux will er sich machen" (1842), all imbued with social criticism and sharp satire, are still performed today.
Nestroy was born to an advocate on 7 December 1801 in Vienna. After two years at the Law Faculty he abandoned his studies and instead embarked on a career as opera singer. In 1822 Nestroy debuted as Sarastro in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”. The following year he moved to Amsterdam where he had his first minor acting roles at the Deutsches Theater. Later Nestroy guested in Brno and Graz, before returning to Vienna in 1831 where he took up writing and acting at the Theater an der Wien. Nestroy's career as a dramatist was an instant success: his 1833 play "Lumpazivagabundus" was an immediate winner with the audience and is still a hit today. The spectators loved Nestroy both as an actor and playwright who tailored his roles to his acting skills.
Nestroy was married to his wife Wilhelmine for 22 years but lived together for only 4 years. After she had left Nestroy for a count, he entered a lifelong partnership with Marie Weiler.
In 1845 Nestroy changed to Leopoldstädter Theater which he headed from 1854 to 1860. Nestroy died on 25 May 1862 in Graz and was buried at Währinger Friedhof in Vienna; in 1881 he was reburied in a cenotaph at the Vienna Zentralfriedhof.
International Nestroy Center
Nestroy was born to an advocate on 7 December 1801 in Vienna. After two years at the Law Faculty he abandoned his studies and instead embarked on a career as opera singer. In 1822 Nestroy debuted as Sarastro in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”. The following year he moved to Amsterdam where he had his first minor acting roles at the Deutsches Theater. Later Nestroy guested in Brno and Graz, before returning to Vienna in 1831 where he took up writing and acting at the Theater an der Wien. Nestroy's career as a dramatist was an instant success: his 1833 play "Lumpazivagabundus" was an immediate winner with the audience and is still a hit today. The spectators loved Nestroy both as an actor and playwright who tailored his roles to his acting skills.
Nestroy was married to his wife Wilhelmine for 22 years but lived together for only 4 years. After she had left Nestroy for a count, he entered a lifelong partnership with Marie Weiler.
In 1845 Nestroy changed to Leopoldstädter Theater which he headed from 1854 to 1860. Nestroy died on 25 May 1862 in Graz and was buried at Währinger Friedhof in Vienna; in 1881 he was reburied in a cenotaph at the Vienna Zentralfriedhof.
International Nestroy Center
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