Music
Austria's hills are alive with the sound of music. Composers throughout
Europe were drawn to the country in the 18th and 19th centuries by the
generous patronage of the Habsburgs. During this period Vienna became to
classical music what Seattle is to grunge. In fact many of the Habsburgs
were themselves gifted musicians and would, history allowing, have made a
funky quartet consisting of Leopold I (composer), Charles VI (violin),
Maria Theresa (double bass) and Joseph II (harpsichord and cello). Back in
the real world, at various times Beethoven, Brahms, Gluck, Hayden, Mahler,
Mozart, Schubert, Schonberg and the Strausses all had their heads in the
clouds and their bums on piano stools in Vienna. Today, institutions such
as the Vienna Philharmonic, the angelic Vienna Boys' Choir, the Staatsoper
(State Opera), the Musikverein and the Konzerthaus are unrivalled.
Architecture
Austria has its fair share of fantastic buildings just to prove that some
arty types were actually outside wearing tin hats and big boots instead of
slippers and wigs. The Gothic style was popular between the 14th and 16th
centuries, as evidenced by the number of imposing buildings with flying
buttresses, pointed arches, ribbed ceiling vaults and pigeon toes. St
Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna is considered to be Austria's Gothic
masterpiece. The next major stylistic influence was Baroque. Learning from
the Italian model, Fischer von Erlach developed a national style called
Austrian Baroque, typified in the National Library and the Church of St
Charles in Vienna. Empress Maria Theresa had a fling with Rococo, a style
so fussy that it makes Baroque look like Bauhaus - the interior of the
Schobrunn Palace is a fine example of such prissiness. The most
interesting modern buildings are those designed by maverick architect
Friedensreich Hundertwasser: several of his structures are the closest an
apartment builder has ever got to recreating the exuberance of Gaudi.
Art
There's plenty of beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art in
Austria's churches. Biedermeier, which is more well-known as a furniture
style, also had its day in the gallery - and Biedermeier artist Moritz
Michael Daffinger even found his way onto the AS20 note. The most famous
Austrian painters were probably Gustav Klimt (Art Nouveau ) and Oskar
Kokoschka (Viennese expressionism), but the most outrageous publicity was
reserved for Viennese Actionism. This offshoot of abstract expressionism
emerged in the late 1950s and sought access to the subconscious through
the frenzy of direct art - read pouring paint over canvas and slashing it
with knives; using blood and excrement as 'paint' and human bodies as
'brushes'; psychological endurance tests, self-mutilation and other nice
Sunday school activities.
Public Figures
The biggest splash in the world of art, however, was made by an Austrian
psychiatrist called Sigmund Freud. The originator of psychoanalysis gave
us The Interpretation of Dreams, The Ego and the Id, penis envy,
surrealism, a whole new language of symbolism, and large cushy leather
couches. Other scary Austrians include the great film director Fritz Lang
and muscly motormouth Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Food & Drinks
Traditional Austrian food is stodgy, hearty fare of the meat-and-dumpling
variety. Wiener Schnitzel is Vienna's best known culinary concoction and
it has spread to every two-bit eating house from New York City to Alice
Springs. It's a fried cutlet, usually veal, covered in a coating of egg
and breadcrumbs and, when cooked properly, has actually been known to be
edible. Austrians are fond of eating bits of beasts that other nations
ignore. Beuschel may be translated on menus as 'calf's lights' but it's
really thin slices of calf's lungs and heart. It's quite tasty. Really.
Austria's excellent pastries and cakes are effective at transferring bulk
from your money belt to your waistline. The most famous Austrian dessert
is the strudel, a baked dough filled with a variety of fruits and a
sprinkling of raisins and cinnamon. You'll need to wash down this calorie
hit with a cold glass of Austrian beer or a swig of fine Austrian wine.
Dances
Have a look at this pdf-file for information about the dance
Kaiserlaendler
To read the file you need the free software Adobe Reader from
Adobe or another pdf-viewer.
The Adobe Reader you can find on the homepage from
Adobe under Support -
Downloads.
National Anthem
To listen the national anthem click
here.
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