Monat: Oktober 2023

The contemporary Alban Berg monument from 2016 in front of the Vienna State Opera is not just an ideal meeting point for visitors to Vienna. It commemorates both the composer of the Viennese atonal school, Alban Berg, and three fellow composers associated with his work: his teacher Arnold Schönberg, his friend Anton Webern and court opera director Gustav Mahler.

The exhibition designed by the renowned Arch. Wolf D. Prix of Coop Himmelb(l)au, the 5m high cast aluminum sculpture with 3 loops probably also reflects the expressive lines of the music, the 12-step pedestal refers to twelve-tone music.

Alban Berg is regarded as a major innovator of 20th century music, in particular his operas „Wozzeck“ and „Lulu“ are considered masterpieces and are regularly performed, as are orchestral pieces and the violin concerto.

There is hardly a tour through the backyards of Vienna without a visit to the Fähnrichhof in the Inner City, which can be entered through the no less famous Blutgasse. The foundation in the 13th century is legendarily connected with the Templars, who are said to have had their headquarters there.

The eventful history of the complex, which was partly built in Renaissance style, tells of its use as a branch of the Niklaskoster, as a hostel, beer house, artists‘ studios and residence of important historical personalities, e.g. the physician and humanist Johannes Cuspinian (with the well-known cenotaph in St. Stephen’s Cathedral). The name probably derives from its use as a meeting place of a citizens‘ company.

Today, the complex of houses is considered a prime example of restoration and preservation of the historical building structure. After considerable damage during WWII, the City of Vienna took over the restoration, which was completed in 1965. In addition to the Pawlatschen (balconies) so typical for Vienna, a more than 250-year-old plane tree decorates the interior.

The Palace Miller-Aichholz (since 1955 Europahaus Vienna) in the 14th district was built in the mid-18th century by Johann Bernhard Fischer vor Erlach for Baron von Grechler.

Later it was owned by the Esterházy family for about 100 years and due to its favorable location near the Vienna Woods it was a meeting place for private hunting parties, in which even Emperor Franz Josef I took part. From 1894, the Miller zu Aichholz family of industrialists and scholars used the property, which they then had to sell to the state in 1938 due to the world economic crisis.

The 2-story, elongated baroque building with garden-side state rooms with a rich collection of pictures is today, together with the extensive park including the largely original „Sonnenfanghaus“ (Orangerie), used for weddings, seminars and festivities of all kinds.