Happy New Year to all, especially those who have put up with my occasional rants! Ahmad, I hope your blessing comes true, and this year brings peace to our troubled world.
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Regards,
Gurn
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That's my opinion, I may be wrong.
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Regards,
Gurn
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That's my opinion, I may be wrong.
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Wow! The fireworks we could see from our flat here in Heligenstadt last night were wonderful. We could see these lovely displays that were being set off from Cobenzl, Kahlenberg, Grinzing, Heligenstadt and from other spots in the Vienna Woods. The fireworks started around 6pm and continued until the grand climax at midnight, which lasted for almost 30 minutes. For at midnight all of Vienna came alive with fireworks and the ringing of the bells in St. Stephens Cathedral. We also had our TV tuned to ORF 2 and listened to the traditional performance of Johann Strauß Jr.'s "Blue Danube Waltz". It was heaven listening to this waltz playing in time with the loads of fireworks going off all over our end of the Vienna Woods.
This morning we will be watching live the Vienna Neujahrskonzert 2004. This year it'll be conducted by Riccardo Muti. Just another lovely Viennese tradition.
This morning we will be watching live the Vienna Neujahrskonzert 2004. This year it'll be conducted by Riccardo Muti. Just another lovely Viennese tradition.
Happy New Year, Andrea!
If they would just play a bit of Beethoven in Vienna! Have you also seen yesterday the 9th played in Leipzig? A great performance it was! For me, it was a really moving and emotional hour. It's tradition since 1918 in Leipzig, to play the 9th symphony on new years evening. Nice tradition, also for me, up to now!
Originally posted by Pastorali: Happy New Year, Andrea!
If they would just play a bit of Beethoven in Vienna!
Vienna is really a Mozart and Stauss town at heart from my observations, even though there are many sites of Beethovenian interest. Beethoven was, after all, an immigrant.
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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin
Originally posted by Rod: Vienna is really a Mozart and Stauss town at heart from my observations, even though there are many sites of Beethovenian interest. Beethoven was, after all, an immigrant.
It is perfectly true and it is not commented on enough that there is or was quite a difference in musical culture between 18th century Germany and Austria.
Beethoven comming from Bonn was not an heir to the great Operatic Catholic tradition in Austria and North Italy, and I sometimes suspect Beethoven at times, may have felt a foreigner in Vienna, that might explain the incredible elation which always
overcame Beethoven when he first arrived in Vienna, as he literally thrashed all the musical opposition.
At the end of the day, even the provincial Viennese were simply overwhelmed by Beethoven's genius, but it was not at least in the early stages at least a meeting of minds and cultures.
Didn't Beethoven once quote in a humorous aside that, "provided that the Austrians have their beer and sausages, they were quite content" or to that effect.
[This message has been edited by Amalie (edited January 04, 2004).]
~ Courage, so it be righteous, will gain all things ~
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