„Memory of the World”
Max Reinhardt’s prompt book for performances of Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s Jedermann was included in the national Austrian register of documentary heritage, “Memory of Austria”

As the crowning finale of the year 2024, Max Reinhardt’s prompt book for performances of Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s Jedermann was included in the national Austrian register of documentary heritage, “Memory of Austria”. Founded by UNESCO in 1992, the programme “Memory of the World” supports worldwide efforts to preserve documents, maintain knowledge and make information accessible. Its international and national registers list important documents and convolutes of documents.
The certificate of entry into the National Austrian Register of Documentary Heritage was presented by the President of the Austrian UNESCO Commission, Prof. Dr. Sabine Haag, on 16 December to the Head of the Archive of the Salzburg Festival during a festive ceremony at the National Library of Austria in Vienna.
Max Reinhardt’s Jedermann prompt book is considered one of the central documents constituting the identity of the Salzburg Festival; it is preserved by the Festival Archive. It documents the exemplary staging of Jedermann before the unique backdrop of the Salzburg Cathedral, among other issues. Reinhardt had found an ideal location in Cathedral Square, thereby creating the concept that would be inextricably linked to the Salzburg Festival for all times: the city as a stage. Reinhardt’s prompt book is based on the text edition of Hofmannsthal’s Jedermann published by S. Fischer in Berlin in 1911. It is one of an edition of 150 proof copies for the 2nd edition, which was not available for purchase. Starting in 1911, it was part of Reinhardt’s personal library and was annotated by him with stage instructions. After Reinhardt’s death in 1943, it remained in the possession of his widow Helene Thimig until the Chancellery of the Salzburg State Government bought it from her directly in 1969, handing it over to the Max Reinhardt Research Centre. Ever since the holdings of the Research Centre were merged with the Archive of the Salzburg Festival in 1983 resp. 1996, the prompt book has been the centrepiece of its holdings.