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Vienna Celebrates Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony: 200 Years of Musical Brilliance

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Vienna is commemorating the 200th anniversary of the premiere of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with a series of performances, notably by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Muti. The symphony, renowned as a pinnacle of Western classical music, features the stirring Ode to Joy and was first performed in Vienna in 1824. The Vienna Singverein Choir, composed of non-professional singers like schoolteacher Heidrun Irene Mittermair, collaborates with the orchestra for these performances.

Otto Biba, a musicologist, describes Beethoven’s Ninth as revolutionary, especially for introducing singing in the fourth movement. Elke Manner-Prochart, a mezzo-soprano in the choir, discusses the challenges of performing the symphony, particularly the emotional intensity required.

Despite Beethoven’s deteriorating hearing, he conducted the symphony’s premiere at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna. Daniel Froschauer, first violinist of the Vienna Philharmonic, emphasizes the significance of the piece in the orchestra’s history, noting its themes of peace, unity, and brotherhood.

Heidrun Irene Mittermair reflects on the symphony’s journey from darkness to light, suggesting that Beethoven may have used it to overcome his personal struggles. Overall, the Ninth Symphony is celebrated for its profound emotional impact and enduring significance.

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‘Lost’ Gustav Klimt painting to be auctioned

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An Austrian auction house in Vienna is preparing to auction off a long-lost painting by Gustav Klimt, called “Portrait of Fraulein Lieser,” which he began in 1917, just a year before his death. There’s considerable mystery surrounding the artwork, including the identity of the woman depicted and its whereabouts during the Nazi era.

Art historians suggest the painting might portray Margarethe Constance Lieser, daughter of a wealthy Jewish industrialist, Adolf Lieser. However, the auction house proposes it could also be one of the daughters of Justus Lieser and his wife Henriette, who tragically died in Auschwitz during the Holocaust. The exact history of the painting after 1925 remains unclear, but it resurfaced in the 1960s and has since changed hands through inheritances.

The auction is being conducted in accordance with the Washington Principles, an international agreement to return Nazi-looted art to its rightful descendants. However, there are calls for an independent investigation into the case by Erika Jakubovits, the executive director of the Presidency of the Austrian Jewish Community. She emphasizes the importance of thorough and transparent research in art restitution cases.

Klimt’s artworks have previously fetched significant sums at auctions, with “Lady with a Fan” setting a European record when it sold for £85.3m in 2023 at Sotheby’s.

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Austrian heiress Marlene Engelhorn announces plan for €25m giveaway

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Marlene Engelhorn, a 31-year-old Austro-German heiress residing in Vienna, is taking a unique approach to wealth redistribution. Inheriting a substantial fortune from her grandmother, Traudl Engelhorn-Vechiatto, who was valued at $4.2 billion, Marlene aims to address the inequality exacerbated by the absence of inheritance tax in Austria since 2008. Motivated by a sense of responsibility, she has initiated the Good Council for Redistribution, inviting 10,000 randomly selected Austrians over 16 to participate in deciding how €25 million of her inheritance should be allocated.

The Good Council for Redistribution seeks to assemble a diverse group of 50 individuals, spanning various age groups, federal states, social classes, and backgrounds. This citizen-led initiative, supported by the Foresight Institute, aims to foster inclusivity and collaborative decision-making. Participants will engage in a series of meetings held in Salzburg from March to June, where they will work with academics and civil society organizations to explore and develop solutions beneficial to society as a whole.

The unique aspect of this initiative lies in its commitment to inclusivity and fairness. The meetings will be barrier-free, offering childcare and interpreters as needed. Participants will receive financial compensation of €1,200 for every weekend they attend, recognizing the value of their contributions. Marlene Engelhorn emphasizes that she is entrusting her assets to the chosen council without holding veto rights, demonstrating a genuine commitment to involving citizens in the decision-making process.

Despite the initiative’s noble intentions, Austria’s stance on inheritance tax remains a contentious issue. The abolished tax, in place for 16 years, has drawn criticism, with the Social Democrats advocating for its reinstatement. However, the conservative People’s Party, currently the senior partner in Austria’s coalition government with the Greens, rejects this proposal, emphasizing their commitment to reducing taxes and increasing citizens’ net income. The future of wealth redistribution in Austria, both through citizen initiatives and potential policy changes, remains a topic of ongoing debate.

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Austrian government launches repair scheme for electronic goods

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In Austria, the government has introduced the Repair Bonus voucher scheme to encourage people to repair rather than discard old electrical appliances. The program provides financial support of up to €200 for repairs on items such as washing machines, electric kettles, laptops, and mobile phones. Individuals, like Erik, appreciate the initiative as it helps them save money and make environmentally conscious choices.

Erik, who had previously used the Repair Bonus to fix an old CD player, is now getting his laptop repaired at a workshop in Vienna called Helferline. He mentions that the scheme makes it more convenient to decide whether to repair or replace items, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of repairing over buying new.

The Repair Bonus has proven beneficial for local businesses like Helferline, where revenues have doubled since the introduction of the scheme. Clemens Schmidgruber, the CEO of Helferline, describes it as a win-win situation for customers, businesses, and the environment. Customers can download a voucher from a government website, pay the repair shop upfront, and receive half of the costs back after three to four weeks.

Financed through the Covid Recovery Fund, the repair voucher system in Austria specifically covers electrical appliances. However, the City of Vienna operates a separate scheme that assists with repairs to old clothes, bicycles, and furniture. Markus Piringer, the co-ordinator of the Repair Network in Vienna, notes that the financial incentive provided by the Repair Bonus encourages people to choose repair over buying new items.

Piringer emphasizes the need for products to be designed for repairability and calls for efforts at the European Union level to address this issue. He suggests that changing policies and mindsets is crucial to promoting a culture of repair and sustainability. While the number of repairs has increased in Austria due to voucher schemes, Piringer warns of a shortage of technicians and craftspeople, calling for initiatives to promote repair as a viable job option.

At a bicycle shop in Vienna, the Repair Bonus has made a significant impact, attracting customers even during the typically slow winter season. Marc Warnaar, the shop owner, highlights the positive influence of the voucher scheme on their business, noting an increase in repairs and customer engagement.

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Former Austrian Minister Karin Kneissl Relocates to Russia Alongside Her Ponies

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Austria’s former Foreign Minister, Karin Kneissl, known for her pro-Russian stance, is relocating to St. Petersburg, Russia, accompanied by her two ponies.

Karin Kneissl had previously been residing in Lebanon but left her government position amid a scandal involving the far-right Austrian party that appointed her.

She explained that her ponies were transported to St. Petersburg via a Russian military transport plane from Syria.

Ms. Kneissl disclosed that her decision to move to Russia was driven by her role in managing a think tank at St. Petersburg University, which she co-founded. She emphasized the dedication required for this work and her inability to carry it out remotely.

When asked about her move to Russia’s second-largest city, she declined to provide further comment. However, on social media, she mentioned that her stay in Lebanon had been temporary “to survive” while she commuted to Russia for teaching.

Ms. Kneissl is renowned for her love of animals and cited sanctions against Syria and the security situation there as the reasons for using a military transport plane to bring her ponies and belongings to Russia.

The Leningrad region’s veterinary department confirmed that the ponies had undergone examinations and were placed in quarantine.

Karin Kneissl served as Austria’s Foreign Minister from 2017 to 2019, appointed as an independent by Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, which has close ties to Russia.

She gained international attention in 2018 when she invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to her wedding in southern Austria, with photographs showing her dancing with him.

Ms. Kneissl announced her move to Russia while attending the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, an annual event aimed at encouraging investment in Russia’s far east. During the forum, she was seen appearing to fall asleep while listening to President Putin’s keynote speech.

Karin Kneissl is a regular commentator on the Russian state-backed news channel RT and served as a board member of the state-owned oil company Rosneft.

She left Austria in 2020, citing death threats and a de facto ban on working in the country.

Her departure followed the collapse of the government coalition between the conservatives and the far-right Freedom Party in 2019, triggered by a scandal involving FPÖ leader Heinz Christian Strache, who was filmed allegedly promising government contracts to a woman posing as a niece of a Russian oligarch at a villa in Ibiza.

Currently, the Freedom Party is in opposition but leads in opinion polls, making it a strong contender in upcoming elections. Its new leader, Herbert Kickl, has criticized EU sanctions against Russia, blaming them for the rising cost of living.

Peter Gridling, Austria’s former spymaster from 2008 to 2020, expressed concerns about the Freedom Party’s ties with Russia and warned that the party had not severed its connections with the Kremlin.

Vienna, Austria’s capital, has a longstanding tradition as a hub for espionage, which persists to this day.

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Top Russian Soprano Anna Netrebko, Dismissed for Supporting War, Files Lawsuit Against Met Opera

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Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Opera in New York City after they dropped her from future performances following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The renowned soprano is seeking $360,000 in damages, alleging defamation, breach of contract, and other violations. The Met has responded, stating that the lawsuit is without merit.

Despite having previously expressed support for President Vladimir Putin and making donations to a theater in the rebel-held city of Donetsk, Netrebko faced pressure to condemn the invasion of Ukraine. While she eventually did criticize the conflict, she stopped short of denouncing Putin, leading to her dismissal from future performances with the Met.

Netrebko’s lawsuit claims that the Met’s actions caused her emotional distress and negatively impacted her professional relationships, leading to lost contracts with Russian theater companies. The Met, however, insists that the lawsuit is baseless.

Earlier, Netrebko had filed a separate complaint through the American Guild of Musical Artists, which ruled in her favor and awarded her over $200,000 in compensation for the canceled performances.

Despite the fallout with the Met, Netrebko has continued performing in other venues around the world, including in Italy, and has upcoming performances scheduled in Buenos Aires, Berlin, Vienna, Milan, and Paris. However, her planned concert in Prague faced scrutiny, with a city official urging the event’s cancellation due to her appearance on Ukraine’s sanctions list. Nonetheless, the producer organizing the concert defended Netrebko, stating that she had condemned the war, and the event was nearly sold out.

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Three arrested including 14-year-old as police foil attack on Vienna’s pride parade

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Austrian police have prevented an attack on Vienna’s annual Pride parade by apprehending three suspects believed to have ties to Islamic extremism. The individuals, aged 14, 17, and 20, are Austrian citizens of Bosnian and Chechen descent. According to Omar Haijawi-Pirchner from Austria’s State Protection and Intelligence Directorate (DSN), the suspects had become radicalized online and held sympathies for ISIS.

Haijawi-Pirchner emphasized that hate and terrorism have no place in a democratic society. Gerhard Pürstl, the state police president, highlighted that both Islamic and right-wing extremists pose a significant threat to the LGBTQ community. He referenced previous violent incidents during similar events worldwide and in Europe.

The DSN had prior knowledge of the suspects’ alleged plans and closely monitored them. The arrests were made before the parade by Austria’s Cobra special forces. The Interior Ministry’s statement assured the public that attendees were never in danger. Authorities conducted searches in Vienna and lower Austria, resulting in the confiscation of prohibited weapons.

The Rainbow Parade is a prominent part of Vienna Pride, Austria’s largest LGBTQ event, held annually from June 1 to 18. This year, the parade drew approximately 300,000 participants.

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Vienna Pride parade assault was prevented, according to Austrian police

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According to authorities, three suspected Islamists were detained in Austria for allegedly plotting to assault the annual LGBTQ+ Pride march.

More than 300,000 people attended the march on Saturday in Vienna, the country’s capital.

Young males between the ages of 14 and 20 were among those detained on Saturday in their homes, according to Austrian security authorities.

Although they provided no further information, they did mention that air rifles, knives, and an axe had been seized.

At a press conference on Sunday, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of Austria’s internal intelligence, announced the arrests.

He said that in order to prevent attendees from feeling concerned, authorities had withheld information about the intended assault until after the procession.

The ultimate aim of terrorism is to instill dread and apprehension among the populace. It’s also our responsibility to prevent that.

The guys, according to Mr. Haijawi-Pirchner, were Austrian citizens with ties to Bosnia and Chechnya. One of the men was previously known to the police owing to prior allegations of terrorism.

He continued that the so-called Islamic State (IS) has been inciting additional assaults, and Austrian officials were aware of this.

He stated that there have been appeals to carry out attacks in Europe once more, and Europol, the European police group, has recently produced a report to that effect. We treat this matter seriously.

In November 2020, a shooter opened fire in a well-known nightlife district of Vienna, killing four people and injuring 23 others in the country’s latest IS incident.

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