Once more Elisabeth Wolff took her followers to backstage of the Wiener Staatsoper
front, from left: Dr. Alfred Willander, former Kulturreferent Lower Austria; Erich Seitter, Consultant of various Operahouses & former Agent; Jury Everhartz, Artistic director of “Sirene” (free Opera Group), composer and director of orchestras. Bachground: Holger Bleck und Isabella Gabor
Our member Elisabeth Thun-Hohenstein, PR manager of the renowned International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, arranged for us the possibility to exclusively attend the qualifying round, in Vienna, of this worldwide search for young, outstanding singing talents.
In the center: Dr. Elisabeth Wolff and at her right Nadja Kayali, the lecturer
Last Wednesday, Nadja Kayali, musicologist, popular radio-broadcaster, much sought-after lecturer and a fascinating personality herself opened our ears and minds to specific „oriental“ sounds of music.
Fascinating how elements of Turkish, Persian and Arabic music and story-telling found their way right into the European classical compositions of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and others,
says Dr. Elisabeth Wolff, WA Coordinator for Music
It’s become a Welcome-to-Austria tradition: Christianis invite for coffee,tea and delicious cakes into their beautiful Viennese Home. Yesterday the ambassador gives the story-teller from his rich professional career.
In a certain country the Ambassador was asked by a telephone operator to give his profession for a cetain form. “What are you working? Your profession, please”the operator asks – “Ambassador of Austria”, Alexander replies – “Australia you say?” – “No from AUSTRIA!” – “Can you spell it, please” – “A-U-S-T-R-I-A, please” – “Thank you. That’s fine. Now, that means, you are not working at all, is it?”
On January 19th 2016, Anne Thun-Hohenstein was leading our members to
a special visit of the Maria Treu Basilica situated in the centre of a baroque monastery complex. After an introduction to the church’s history we listened to a short performance on the spectacular ancient organ played by famous composers like Franz Liszt.
We proceeded to the adjoining Emperor Franz Josef Hat Museum located in the cellar of the former monastery where the treasures of this collection were happily tried on while sipping a glass of prosecco in the carnival season.
