Vienna really is a musical city. One Sunday night we want to see a concert of Mozart and Strauss music played by a fabulous chamber orchestra. There were opera singers and dancers accompanying the chamber orchestra (or really, I should say, featured) on pieces where it was appropriate. All in a 200+ year old hall meant for performances of this kind. One of the pieces performed was the "Blue Danube Waltz" -- my grandmother's favorite. Oh, and the Danube itself -- it's not blue at all, and never has been, according to one of our tour guides. It flows so fast that it's always brown. (But it's beautiful to take a cruise on through the countryside, which we did the next day.)
Oh, and get this -- there were street musicians out in a town square in the afternoon, but a different kind than you might hear than in, say, New Orleans. There was a cellist and an oboeist playing beautiful classical duets -- clearly both very accomplished musicians. I don't think I've ever heard a cello being played before in a public space with a hat out front for donations and I know that I've never heard an oboe in that setting before. Oh, and the hat -- it was a silk top hat!
Another Vienna musical experience -- walking back from dinner last night we heard violin music coming from an open upstairs apartment window. At first I was sure it was a recording because it sounded so good. But then my ear told me "wait, the sound is way too good for a recording -- that's live!". Just someone (fabulously good) practicing...
As told from Vienna,
-- Mike
July 2, 2002
Be sure to contrast this with Musical Prague, which was next on our itinerary.