In 2009, Austria will be a drawcard for classical music lovers with Haydn Year 2009 and fans of modern art with the city of Linz announced European Capital of Culture 2009.Haydn Year 2009
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Joseph Haydn’s death an important commemoration year will be celebrated and a rich program of concerts, opera performances and exhibitions will be staged at places where Haydn used to live and work.
Joseph Haydn was a choir boy at Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral, worked as Kapellmeister and court musician for the Hungarian Princes of Esterházy at Esterházy Palace for more than 30 years, was a regular guest of the House of Esterházy in Sopron, was awarded an honorary doctor’s degree in Oxford and spent the last nineteen years of his life in Vienna, where he died on May 31, 1809.
The Father of classical symphonies and string quartets produced more than 1,200 works, among them 107 symphonies, 14 masses, oratorios, solo concerts, chamber music, piano music and vocal works. He was a fatherly friend to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and counted Ludwig van Beethoven amongst his students.
Vienna is planning no less than 1,500 events during Haydn Year 2009. A must-see is Haydn House, the composer’s residence for 12 years. It will reopen on January 29, 2009 with an exhibition about its famous landlord. Haydn House will be the stage for a three-day celebration around the bicentenary of his death on 31st May, where the garden will be open to the public and the composer’s works will be performed at a number of concerts.
Other highlights include Haydn masses with the Vienna Boys’ Choir on nine Sundays between January 4 and 21st June 21, 2009 at the Hofburg and special concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Further afield, the picturesque baroque town of Eisenstadt, just 50 km south of Vienna, will also join the celebrations with concerts throughout the year and a special exhibition in four different Haydn locations including Esterhazy Palace from 31st March to 11th November 2009. This will make a great day trip from Vienna, not just for Haydn lovers.
The works of Joseph Haydn will likewise be the focus in the province of Lower Austria. 'The 6th Haydn Days' will take place at Rohrau, where Haydn was born and numerous exhibits documenting the composer’s life will be displayed at Haydn’s birthplace, a straw-covered farm house. Joseph Haydn will also be the focus of the International Baroque Days at Melk Abbey. On May 31, the Melk parish church will honour the master with a chamber concert featuring the ensemble “Ricreation d’Arcadia”.
Linz, European Capital of Culture 2009
The city of Linz, probably best known as a hub for Danube cruises and for its Linzer Torte, will transform into the European Capital of Culture in 2009. In recent times, Linz has undergone a transformation into a pulsating city where futuristic architecture complements historic landmarks, where modern art meets the classics. The concept of the European Capital of Culture is to showcase European diversity through a wide array of events, creative input and involvement of its visitors. This makes Linz the perfect host city!
Linz 2009 kicks off with a three-day opening festival and continues with events covering all aspects of music, art and culture. A virtual telematic project and shadow theatre are as much part of Linz 2009 as are literary events, exhibitions and a traditional New Year’s Eve concert. Visitors can experience accommodation with a twist in the Pixelhotel.
Astrid Mulholland-Licht, Director of the Austrian National Tourist Office for Australia/New Zealand suggests that “visitors to Austria should plan an extra couple of days to take in the Haydn celebrations in and around Vienna or to discover the vibrant and culturally stimulating city of Linz. Haydn and Linz 2009 offer so many different cultural aspects that would appeal to both first-time and repeat visitors to Austria. Take time out to join the party and celebrate with us!” she said.
-Austrian Tourism Office
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