Overview 4/7
What a weekend!
The opening of the Festwochen and the premieres of 'Il pomo d'oro' were a resounding success – there was dancing and plenty of joy at our birthday celebration in the Hofgarten, at Concerto Mobile and Musica Montana, and at the Kapellenkonzert (chapel concert).
Three more weeks lie ahead of us, and twice more 'Il pomo d'oro' will pose the question of who is the fairest in the land. This week is rounded off with concerts in the Spanischer Saal, at St. Jakob's Cathedral, and a Nachtkonzert (night concert).
So that there's truly something for everyone, the Festwochen invite you to a Lunchkonzert on Friday, to the Schlossfest on the public holiday, 15 August, and to Musica Montana in Hall on Sunday. There are also violin-making workshops for children, another edition of Festwochengeschichte(n) (Festwochen stories) for those who like to reminisce, and four performances of 'Mit Pauken und Trompeten'.
And we need your support in the nomination for the International Opera Award!
So it certainly won't be boring.
Speeches on peace and European unity were given at the opening on Friday, 7 August, by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Governor Anton Mattle, and Deputy Mayor Georg Willi.
Artistic Director Eva-Maria Sens captured the long history of the Festwochen as follows: 'Otto Ulf planted a tree so that we could now dance in its shade and harvest its golden apples.'
That evening, however, it was all about a single golden apple at 'Il pomo d'oro' – announced with 24 trumpets and several drums. The excitement was already palpable after this first evening. Here are a few voices from the audience, interviewed during the interval between Part 1 and Part 2:
On Saturday, the disputes over the apple continued: Momo was almost drowned in a shower of glitter, and the handsome Paride nearly went down with the ship while crossing over to Helena. From the underworld we went to the human world, into the Milky Way and back again. Love intervened, and so did the god of war.
In the end, the apple was awarded to 'the fairest': an allegory of peace, who promotes art and science. Anyone curious to find out who that is, can still see for themselves on 11+12 August and 15+16 August. Remaining tickets for both performances are available here.
Will you nominate us?
Until 24 August, anyone can submit nominations for the International Opera Awards. Not all fields need to be filled in – a personal selection is enough.
We would be delighted if you would nominate us, our opera, and our artists:
- Conducter: Ottavio Dantone
- Designer: Nikolaus Webern or Giuseppe Palella
- Director: Fabio Ceresa
- Festival: Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik
- Rediscovered Work: Titel: Il pomo d'oro / Company: Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik
- Male singer / Female singer / rising star: your personal favourites from the production!
A Tribute to Alan
We have to thank Alan Curtis – the man on the right – for the fact that opera productions at the Festwochen have been staged since the 1980s. Today, Ottavio Dantone, Anna Bonitatibus and the Accademia Bizantina dedicate a tribute concert to him. There are three tickets still available!
Christina von Schweden
Visitors from France arrive at St. Jakob's Cathedral on Thursday, 13 August, when the choir and Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal de Versailles, together with soloists, commemorate Christina of Sweden, who converted to Catholicism in Innsbruck. This patroness of music led a life devoted entirely to art and culture – and so, beneath the cathedral's domes, a programme unfolds that traces her life in music. Click here for the few remaining tickets.
Die blaue Stunde (a concert at twilight)
Anyone who gathers in the Hofgarten pavilion late in the evening on Friday, 14 August, will hear a programme that tells of night and twilight, of sleep and waking through the dark hours.
Enjoy the calming power of music in a garden as night descends, and get one of the last available tickets here.
On the same day, Friday, 14 August, there's a lunchtime concert in the bright sunshine, and on Thursday and Friday, violin-making workshops for the youngest Festwochen visitors.
On the public holiday, the Festwochen and Schloss Ambras once again invite you to the Schlossfest Ambras – with jugglers and games, but above all wonderful music in the Spanischer Saal. A celebration for the whole family!
On Sunday, 16 August, the Festwochen head out to St. Magdalena in the Halltal, where Musica Montana brings music down from the mountains into the valley!
We look forward to welcoming you to one event or another!
Your Festwochen team
(pictured here with Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and his wife, Doris Schmidauer)
