Festive Opening

Now that we have the long process of hearings behind us and have somehow managed to schedule everyone in their classes, lessons and coachings, the AIMS program is up and running. The opening ceremony took place Sunday afternoon in the Aula (grand hall) of the Karl-Franzens-University. The Festival Orchestra played a few selections and there were speeches from representatives of the mayor's office, the Governor of Styria, and the director of the program, Dr. Tom King. The university was built in 1895, in the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, when little Austria ruled much of Europe. There are many surviving government buildings from the period all over Austria (and the former empire), all done in the handsome classical style. The orchestra players come from professional ensembles in the US and Europe. It is extremely competitive to land a chair, I'm told. Most are young, college age, so it is a very pleasant surprise to hear an orchestra of such professional quality. They began with John Adam's energetic "A short ride in a fast machine". After a few (blessedly short) speeches we heard the "Tannhaeuser Overture". That was wonderfully played -- it just blew me away. After a few more remarks an assembled choir sang "America the Beautiful", an Austrian folk song, "Hoch vom Dachstein an", which was lovely, then the national anthems of the USA and Austria (which I have never heard: "Land der Berge, Land am Stome" -- who knew?). Finally, the orchestra ended the program with a spirited and polished rendition of Dvorak's Slavonic Dance in g minor. I am thrilled to be here and be a part of this!

But the best was yet to come. In the early evening we were bussed over to the other side of town, to Schloss Eggenberg, for the formal reception. This was billed as a high drag event, so everyone was dressed in their best. The Eggenberg Palace was built in the 17th century by the Eggenberg family which, just after it was all completed (it took three generations), promptly died out. And more's the pity as the world was deprived of the possibility of, somewhere down the line, an Eggbert von Eggenberg. The palace is sumptuous Baroque to the rafters and is surrounded by a gorgeous park with magnificent old trees. We assembled in the Planetensaal (which was stifling -- all the windows were closed because of real candles burning in the chandeliers; if you want ambience, you have to suffer for it). This magnificent room is the crown jewel of the palace. We endured a few (again, mercifully short) welcoming speeches and were also treated to a performance of the first movement of Beethoven's Septet, superbly played by select members of the orchestra. There was an elegant buffet and drinks after that. It was a lovely evening. I intend to return to chez Eggenberg someday to visit the museum and explore the extensive grounds. A pride of peacocks struts about the place, the males displaying their finery to anyone who shows even the slightest interest. What odd, but gorgeous, creatures they are.

The photos show part of the facade of the Schloss at dusk; the inner courtyard where we were serenaded by a brass ensemble playing appropriate Renaissance and Baroque selections; and a surreptitious pic of the septet in flagrante delicto. (Gustavo Halley is seated to the right). [N.B. remember that clicking on any pic will enlarge it.]