English
There are cities that are determined to show that they are the most cultured, educated and artistic. Without a doubt, one of these places is Vienna. The capital of Austria is not content to simply show the visitor an impressive array of architectural sites or a rich cultural heritage (primarily centered around music but also in theater and related to the visual arts) or well-tended gardens designed for leisure and enjoyment. No. That is not enough for the aristocratic and decadent Vienna.
So every year from mid-May to mid-June, the Wiener Festwochen, or Vienna Festival, doesn’t run for the standard one or two weeks as is usually the case with such events, but rather for an entire month. That’s the way Vienna works when creating programs of cultural events. And they have been doing it since 1951, when the country was still trying to recover from the hardships and sorrows in the aftermath of World War II. Decades have since past and the city is buzzing with artistic people from all over the world. This year’s festival, which has already begun, will close on June 17. So if you’re in Vienna before that date, you are obliged to attend some part of the program. Here’s the link with daily information updates about events: http://www.festwochen.at/
The Island of Museums hosts a large number of the various functions that take place as part of the festival. These include temporary exhibitions, avant-garde performances, installations, classic and/or independent film series, courses, conferences, etc. The artistic and spiritual life continues in the Theater and der Wien, where actors from all over the world take to the stage to present works that manifest the contemporary schizophrenic spirit. In addition to quality, the promoters look for groundbreaking avant-garde spirit. Do pay attention to the programming, since works are presented in pretty much every known language. Don’t worry if you don’t catch one in your native language, though, since they will also have translated subtitles on display. A place like Vienna cannot forgo either classical music or opera. In fact, the opening sessions at the Town Hall Square, or Rathausplatz as you’ll find it on the map, and at the Musikverein offer opera productions that are of first-class international level.
A unique opportunity is to attend a gala at the beautiful and often broadcast (for example, during the Viennese New Year’s concerts) Sala Dorada of the Musikverein or perhaps some alternative play in the Schauspielhaus. Another idea would be to go to a reading or street performances suitable for young and old, an exhibition, a play… and all of these are combined in their “standing offer”.
Lovers of art and culture will want to rent apartments in Vienna for a short while to be able to enjoy the festival fully. It is definitely worth a trip.
