Lost in a World of Art

Looking at the impressive exterior, one would expect the interior to be just as regal. The Kunst Historisches Museum Wien is beyond what is presented on the outside. Walking through the doorway takes you back in time to an era where decoration was in its prime, and the feeling of quaint left far behind. The sheer size and intimidating demeanor would make anyone feel lost and as helpless as a child. Luckily for us, we had a guide into the world of art: Frau Friedrike Wide eyed and as innocent as a girl 10 years younger, I found myself following along as we reached further and further into stories of art. Although somewhat overwhelming at times, I still caught glimpses of pieces I recognized. I felt intantly at home listening to the interesting as well as entertaining analogies of Friedrike throughout all of the sections of the museum. I will never forget that first trip into the museum, walking through the countless statues and echoes of the past.

Belvedere Beauty

Reflecting on the last few months is a bittersweet thing to do.  It's unreal how quickly the time has gone by, and it feels like just last week that we had our first class with Frau Friederike at the Secession building.  From the beginning, every class with our wonderful art historian has been filled with information (2,000 years of Austrian history- as she kept reminding us!) I will definitely miss learning from Friederike and seeing her kindhearted smile.  

Of all the amazing pieces of history and places we visited, Belvedere stands out above the rest for me.  The palace and it's gardens are enchanting, with the most beautiful view overlooking Vienna. I visited Belvedere once before we had class there, without actually going inside, and I was happy to return for the full experience.  The elaborate white interior is glamorous yet simple, without being overwhelming with its ornamentation.  The artwork housed here is by some of my favorite artists; Monet, Van Gogh, and Klimt.  It was incredible to see some of these works up close, with all the detail and texture that just can't be compared to the representations of these masterpieces.  The art of Gustav Klimt surprised me with how expansive and wide-ranging his works are.  While comparing some of his portraits with the geometric style of the famous "Kiss", it's hard to believe they are by the same artist, yet this exemplifies his true mastery and understanding of his artwork.  

I can hardly believe that our quarter in Vienna is coming to it's close, and it has been such an adventure!! I will never forget all the incredible experiences we've had with our class! 

-Tori

Life is a palace

Walking into the belvedere made me instantly feel like Cinderella.the ceilings were so detailed, every inch of it was obviously made with care. This sort of work describes Vienna itself. Every building is not built to be made, but built to impress. Walking through the streets is in like to walking within a museum. History, art and culture surrounds the city in abundance. Friedicke's classes taught me to appreciate the true artwork and history that is built into the buildings. My favorite part of these classes were the many churches that we visited. All were made with such care, and such unique styles. No two churches were alike. I wasn't raised in a religious family, so to see such impressive buildings built with a similar purpose truly taught me about the power of religion. It taught me about history, about faith, about the power of the human mind. Churches, in a way, reflect Vienna. They are beautiful. They are full of history. They are impressive. I will miss walking amount these beautiful museum streets. I will miss Vienna.

Kunsthistorisches Museum

If I were to suggest anywhere in Vienna to check out, it would definitely have to be the kunsthistorisches museum. The museum has so much art from so many eras that it is astounding. Not only is the art beautiful, but the building itself is a piece of art itself. No matter what kind of art a person is into, it is most likely in this museum, whether it be ancient statues from Egypt or Greece, or portraits and paintings from histories' most recognized artists, the kunsthistorisches museum has it. 

We went there a few times for our class, and I myself have been there a couple times on my own, and each time I am able to find something new and wonderful to look at and enjoy. My personal favorite part was the "older" section (in terms of the art) which includes many mummies from ancient Egypt, ancient Greek sculptures and crypts, and even many Babylonian/Sumarian pieces of art which I have never seen before in my life. I have been to many different renowned art museums in the world including The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, and even The Louvre in Paris, but I must say that the Kunsthistorisches Museum blows them all out of the water.

The Wiener Gothic Light Show

Growing up in a religious family, I have always been used to spending my sunday mornings in a sanctuary. The day that stood out to me the most in my course in Vienna, was when we visited saw the magnificent Gothic architecture in Stefansdom, the Minoritenkirche, and the Franziskanerkirche. I was in amazement looking at the awe-inspiring huge sanctuaries with incredibly ornate altars and stained-glass windows. I also really enjoyed learning about the history of the Minoritenkirche tower being destroyed and rebuilt in times of war due to it being the main vantage point in Vienna.

What really took the cake for me, was when we arrived at Stefansdom and we were greeted with an absolutely incredible light show from the windows and powerful chords from the seemingly omnipotent pipe organ. I had never been in such an impressive church before, and it has been the one building in Vienna that has inspired me.












When I would discuss the places we were seeing and history we were learning about to my neighbors in the Studentenheim, they would often remark, "Wow Daniel, you're getting to know more about Vienna than I ever have and I live here!" This course really allowed me to get a holistic view of not only the thousands of years of european history in Vienna, and it enabled me to see the viennese lifestyle and learn more about myself by learning how others live. I have loved learning about the art, history, and culture, and it really made my first trip to europe a fantastic experience that I will always remember.

Kunstkammer ---- a fascination room with Europe History

It has been such an amazing experience for me in Vienna.  The most impressive visit I made with Frau Battaglia was Kunstkammer in Kunsthistorisches Museum.  According to Frau Battaglia, Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the top ten museums in the world.  

The collection in Kunstkammer was so amazing. They all well organized. The most impressive part of this visit to me is to see how well those collections have been protected. In my mind, historical and Cultural relic should really old and shabby, since it has been existed for so long.  In China lots of Historical relics were found by archaeologist in the cemetery of the old monocracy. Those Historical relics were used to be the grave goods for royal families. After hundred years under the ground, work of art should be somber. However the Cultural and Historical relics (work of art) in Kunstkammer are all so shining.  Everything is well polished, which made it looks new.

                              

The Cellini Salt Cellar is a sculpture by Benevento, which was also used as a gift from France to Habsburgs Empire. According to Frau Battaglia, The Cellini Salt Cellar is table sculpture and there are two same boxes on the top of the little house between those two persons. Those two little boxes were used to put salt and pepper.  In 16^th Century, salt and pepper were very rare and they can be considered as luxury at that time. From this gold made sculpture we can see the wealth of Habsburg Empire. It is amazing that a small work of art can give us lots of information about a past empire. Sometimes it even played a very important role in fulfill the gap of the history. It is also the main reason I love art history.

Vienna is such a fantastic city, which recorded some important Europe history. I am so glad that I made the right choose. Thank you for Frau Battaglia showing us around and helping us know more about Vienna and the History of Europe.

kunstkammer

Look back to the 16 delightful afternoons we’ve spent together with Frau Friederike, it is really hard to say which experience was my favorite and stood our for me the most. I enjoyed visiting all kinds of churches with different architectural styles as well as the marvelous museums and impressive exhibitions. I was also amazed by the advanced equipments, effectiveness of service and the magnanimity of books of the national library. Moreover, here in Vienna with all my classmates, Gloria and Friederike, I had my first waltzing class and had an unforgettable time learning how to dance waltz and polka. However, if I had to pick one precious experience out of all, I would say that the Kunstkammer in the Kunsthistorishen Museum would be the place that I would never be bored of.

We spent three afternoons visitng the Kunstkammer and still have lots more to explore in there. The Kunsthistorischen Museum is a building with marvelous designs both inside and outside. It has several different topics of exhibitions. To me, my favorite are the oil paintings from all over the world. I really admire artists who could paint paintings which look livesome and vivid. Once I walked into the rooms with Friederike, I felt like the people in the protraits are looking at me friendly and trying to wave to me to come closer. Also thanks to Friederike's interesting stories and history of the paintings, I was able to understand and admire the paintings better. I especially like one protrait of a woman who is wearing a bracelet, which has a small protrait of a man on it. I was told by Friederike that the woman recieves that gift from her Fiance, and she wants to give the protrait of her wearing the bracelet to her Fiance as a gift to show her cherish of the bracelet he gave her. What a lovely story!  
Even though our class with Friederike ends, I would keep exploring the beautiful artworks in Kunsthistorichen Museum on my own. I really want to thank Friederike for taking us around and telling us thousands years of history. I am sure I would keep  my precious memories of the afternoons we spent together deeply in my heart. 

Dancing through Time and Dimension

In a room full of people endlessly twirling around, faces and limbs whirl by faster than the eye can register who they belong to. A feeling of sheer bliss hangs in the air like music notes dancing off the page. Here, in this dizzy room, we learn the Viennese Waltz. It is quite easy to remove yourself from this room of mirrors and laughing young students to find yourself rather in a grand hall a century ago. Although the lesson started out with a pitiful medley of clumsy trips and missed turns, by the end I felt transported back to an age of elegance and poise.

Each step colored the world of my imagination. I felt the long white dresses swishing past my own as we twirled among the other spinning couples. I heard the notes skipping through the air along with the gleeful chatter of many flirty young pairs. In this place I feel free: there is no care that can bother me when I have escaped reality. 

Time travel is a tricky task in the world of reality; the secret is to remove yourself from this reality, only then do you have the ability to travel outside your own dimension. Many afternoons with our dear Friederike provided the chance to escape our current dimension of reality. Thousands of years would pass by in a mere two hours. Naturally it is difficult to choose just one afternoon as your favorite. However since I must, as much as I enjoyed visiting the seemingly innumerable famous sites of Vienna, I simply loved our afternoon of dancing. In a heartbeat I would do it all again. I happily extend the most sincere thank you to Friederike for each and every wonderful afternoon that we all had the pleasure of spending with such a sweet and knowledgeable Austrian lady.  

Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

After we visited so many amazing places around the city with Dr. Forst-Battaglia, I have to say that Vienna is such a charming city and it is definitely worth to spend a long time to explore every interesting place.

Personally, one of these places that stood out to me the most is Österreichische Nationalbibliothek.  The Austrian National Library is the largest library in Austria and it has 7.4 million items in various collections. I was under the impression that all of libraries should be the same that full of different kinds of books in thousands of bookshelves with nothing special. However, I was surprised by the highly finished curvilinear and geometric designs inside the library. I couldn’t image how magnificent it is when I first saw the extremely normal appearance.

Moreover, the most interesting part was the book-transmission device. One of seasoned staffs showed us the big book-collecting area located on the underground floor. I started wondering how could a staff find a specific book among these countless bookshelves. Later on, the staff showed us one unexpected thing---- book-transmission device. This high-tech device consists of several tracks that round entire book area and a couple of small cars that transport books to demanders. It is worth mentioning that this device is easily to use, the operator only need to input the code for a book then press OK, and then the book-transmission will find the book automatically.

Österreichische Nationalbibliothek is absolutely a must-go place if you come to Vienna. I’ll recommend it to all the people who ask me about the experience here. And I really appreciate all Dr. Forst-Battaglia taught me during the short ten weeks. It will be forever a lifetime experience.

Der beeindruckendste Besuch

The most impressive visit with Battaglia is the one to the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. Our university already had a very large Suzzallo library with long history, but the Austrian National library shocked me not only with its grandiose architecture but also with its huge quantity of the books.  

This book is about 500 years old. When i held it, i felt so excited that i cannot believe the book in my hand is 15 times older than me. In this library, there are thousands of books are same or older than that one. 







Following the Officer, we went to several floors under the ground. I do not know how accurate depth its has, but when we walked along the stairs to the deepest floor, i felt a little tired and had a sense of suppression in the chest. At the downstairs, there are a lot of reading rooms for public. This machine is a little robot for sending books. The officer put the book being returned from public on the blue robot and then it goes up along the track sending the book to the right place. With this machine, only several staff can handle with the order of such a huge library. 

This library is only a little part of our whole visit, and after these visits with Battaglia, i know the Vienna and the Austria deeply, and the explanation of Battaglia is really useful and interesting. Thanks a lot!  
  

Without a Retractable Roof, You're Domed!

(architecture pun anyone?) :D

Thinking back on my experiences here in Vienna, I am faced with memories of being awe-struck and often speechless while visiting some of the most historical, grandiose and decorated places here. Thanks to Friederike, who since the very beginning has positioned herself as a source for knowledge, advice, and often frightfully accurate weather predictions, I saw so much more of Vienna than I thought I would. In three months and a handful of afternoons with Friederike, I’ve seen/experienced more of Vienna than any other students I’ve met from Austria whom have been here for two years.

Which leads me to think it’s okay, and truly necessary to take extra pause when I’m trying to express what made the biggest impressions on me in this whirlwind of studies abroad. So much has happened in so little time.

I think I will always remember this beautiful place by its stylistic modge-podge of architecture. In Vienna, as Friederike has taught us, you see a little bit of everything- something I’m definitely not used to in the states. I’ve loved getting to know the styles and the architects. Baroque, gothic, modern, Loos, Hoffman and Wagner are the things that have really stuck, as well one of my favorite buildings, the Secession House. It was on our very first outing with Friederike that she pointed out the symbolic simplicity of its exterior as per the movement of the artists union. Early on, and throughout the program, I looked forward to hearing more about the long history that resulted in such drastic stylistic differences in Vienna’s architecture, and Friederike of course, always made it most enjoyable.

Thank you, Thank you and Thank you!

Afternoon of Wonder

Wow. Looking back on the last two months has been a whirlwind. Picking one adventure out with my Viennese mama, Friederike, to reflect on is a challenge. But it must be done. While I cannot lie, Waltzing was my favorite afternoon—especially the cute men—my favorite lesson was when we visited the Kunstkammer in the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

One of the best things the Hapsburgs did for the world was collect valuable objects. They saw the value in art and cherished it. Because of this, we are able to have access to world wonders that might have otherwise been lost or damaged beyond repair. But alas, we still have original ivory sculptures, Rembrandt paintings, and many sculptures and paintings of the important Madonna among many other wonders.

My favorite part of the Kunstkammer had to be the beautiful gold clocks. While there were also gorgeous gold sculptures and other objects with much historical influence—the headlining piece even has a dramatic story about it being stolen—I still was drawn to the clocks. The fact that such intricate objects could be made way back in the day always amazes me. I know that that even farther back the Romans made engineering masterpieces with very little technology, and I nod them for their accomplishments. But these clocks to me were the epitome of beauty being handcrafted with very little technology compared to today’s standards.

Not only was the Kunstkammer the hall of wonders, but it also is the hall of beauty. I am incredibly grateful that it has opened its doors again so the world can have access to objects reflecting the world’s history and legacy. Friederike did an excellent job being our teacher and mama. I am thankful for her and the opportunity that we all received in our second home of Wien these past two months.

Stacie

Schloss Belvedere, Long-Awaited

As our trip comes to a close, I think it is safe to say that both our beloved guide, Frau Friederike Forst-Battaglia, and the course she taught were the true, lasting gems of our excursion.  With a warm smile, she led us through Vienna's most important museums, churches, and neighborhoods, in an attempt to give us a glimpse into the city's past via its characteristic architecture and art.  

It's certainly no secret that I am a big fan of Art Neoveau and Expressionism, and with them, Vienna's own Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.  Because of this, although it is difficult to pick a museum or church or piece I loved above all others, I must say that my favorite place Friederike took us was Schloss Belvedere.  Once the glorious home of Prince Eugene, it now houses many pieces by Klimt, Schiele, Kokoschka, Monet, and many more of the world's most important modern and pre-modern artists, including a large collection of Biedermeier pieces.

But speaking of the Belvedere simply in association with the art it houses is unfair.  The castle is massive, with sphinxes and statues of warriors guarding the entrance.  On every side, there are beautiful, rolling gardens, littered with magnificent fountains and manicured (almost phallic) trees.  The opening hall and staircases are white and pristine, every inch covered in carved, decorative pieces.  These then lead into the upper and side areas, with ornately painted ceilings, gold-embellished columns, and giant windows overlooking the gardens.  Truly, Schloss Belvedere is a piece of art all its own.

From the start, I knew the Belvedere was the place I wanted to see most.  Even after visiting so many churches and museums and castles, I viewed the Belvedere as if I had just arrived in Vienna.  This city never ceases to amaze.

xoxo,

Conor

((Thank you for everything, Friederike!  We love you and will miss you so much!))

The Third Man

As a Fourth Man, I thoroughly enjoyed the Third Man, captivated from the start of the gypsy jazz like intro credits until I was left watching Anna walking away from Holly. I thought it was a fantastic film. The plot itself was very unique. Building on the post-war lifestyle in Vienna, traumatized especially severe by the war, the plot follows most films in its genre of dark suspense.

One aspect I feel this movie diverged from the typical Film Noir framework is the same upbeat music played every scene. Though primed to do so in certain scenes, the music failed to build the suspense the way I thought they would have wanted to. This upbeat music as well as some of the witty commentary - especially between Holly and Major Calloway - suggested the movie leaned more toward the genre of a comedy if not for all the film noir effects used (lighting, shot angles, overall commentary).

Overall, I loved it.

How Carmen seductively changed my opinion of Operas

When I think of an opera, I think of a fat man wearing ruffles, singing unintelligible syllables. I don't think of a sexy woman singing and seducing man over man over man, so when I saw Carmen, saying I was surprised would be an understatement.

I have never been to an Opera, so I was completely unprepared. I didn't realize that people actually did dress up for it, so I looked like a newb in my baggy sweatshirt and leggings, standing next to fully prepared and dressed up Mac and Ryan. I felt self-conscious, as  I could feel eyes from every direction staring at me, but once the music started and the Opera began, none of the mattered. Every person in the audience, old, young, dressed up or not, was treated the same way the opera. The music was overwhelming, and I fully enjoyed myself, even though I didn't understand every thing.

The Carmen that we saw was different than I expected. It was definitely a modern adaptation. Prior to watching it, the only thing I knew of Carmen was the main song that I learnt to play on the piano when I was 10. I knew that it was written and Spanish, and was about a seductive woman, but I was expecting it to be more dramatic.

All in all, I did enjoy my Opera experience, and I definitely want to go to another. I no longer think of fat people singing, but of an artistic and musical way to tell a story. Thank you Carmen!

Don Carlos - A Night to Remember or Forget?

A short three weeks after arriving in Vienna, I was itching to finally experience one of the city's most famed arts, opera.  Hastily, I decided on Don Carlos without any prior knowledge as to the plot or music.  Essentially, it is a story of two lovers that can never be (duh).  Elisabeth and Don Carlos meet and instantly fall in love, but to uphold a peace treaty between France and Spain, Elisabeth is forced to wed Don Carlos' father, the king of Spain (bummer!).  Unfortunately, I didn't brush up on my French beforehand and this is about all I got out of it.  I can tell you this, though: it doesn't end happily.  Fortunately, there is a lot of lovely, dramatic, and often angry music to keep you entertained even without a proper understanding of the plot.

Although I had never previously seen an opera, I had two main preconceptions: everyone would be garbed in evening gowns and suits, and only the creme de la creme are allowed a box seat.  When a man in a red velvet cape outside the state opera house convinced me to buy a thirty dollar box seat ticket instead of my previous plan of buying a four or five Euro standing ticket, I thought I was entering some alternate universe in which I, too, could be one of Vienna's finest--at least for the evening.

But I was tricked!

The box seat ticket I received was in the third box up, the second box from stage right, and the second row within that box.  A massive flaw in the architecture of the Staatsoper is that the boxes are arranged in a kind of horseshoe shape, so the closest boxes to the stage face inward towards the house.  Thus, it became almost impossible for me to see the stage at all.  I was forced to stand and awkwardly hover above the old crones who sat (or slept) in the row in front of me.  It was not glamorous and not fun.

I was, however, able to listen to the beautiful music and read translations of the lyrics on a little screen that unfolded from the wall.  The Staatsoper is magnificent inside and out, and the performances are breathtaking, but I definitely will be going for the standing tickets in the future.

xoxo,

Conor

Carmen - A Magical Night with Carmen.

Though missing out on the experience of the Staatsoper, I was still able to enjoy one of Vienna's other famous Opera houses - The Volksoper. Tash, Mac and I went to see an interpretation of the Opera, Carmen, a french opera based in Spain of a Spanish officer who falls for a young gypsy woman (though we didn't know it before we arrived). The surprising twists in the plot we originally thought we knew may have skewed our opinion of the opera slightly. Firstly, the entire opera was sung in German, which strays from the original language. This has implications - the opera was written in French, and thus the notes and the melodies that move with the lyrics have a musical synchronization. The language, in my mind, acts as its own instrument. The German translation did not sound as smooth as I know the original sounds. The opera disappointed further when we were brought to an abrupt end of the opera. We were still waiting for the original opera's ending to play out! Still, the music was great.

 What I thought more fascinating was the opera house itself. Though it does not harbor the same history that the Staatsoper does, it still has maintained its original inner architecture. Though VOLKSOPER is painted around half of the opera house, the inside is extremely vintage and beautiful. From the chairs we sat in to the side boxes to the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, everything felt very Victorian.
 Overall it was a great experience.

Carman

Ryan, Tosh, and I went to see Carmen at the Volksoper. Carmen was written in French and tells the story of a Spanish army officer who falls in love with a young gypsy woman - Carmon. The production we saw was in German - not the original French - and was a modern interpretation. The costumes were also modern, and very minimalistic, not at all like the elaborate costumes of the French original. The plot was changed and the role of Escamillo, the matador was significantly downplayed. I am not sure how I felt about the opera. The music and orchestra, were excellent, but the profirhmance was lacking. Carmon was portrayed much more lascivious than in the original. The actress who portrayed Carmon had a very narrow range and while she hit the high notes with expertise, she sang all of her parts more than one octave too high for my ears. Don José was ok, but at points was a little flat. Escamillo was the best and the Bass who played him had an excellent voice and a full range. He was dressed in an all free suit and looked much more like a leprechaun than a matador. He was however the most amicable and enjoyable, character. Overall I really enjoyed the experience of going to an opera in Vienna, even if the interpretation was not my favorite. From the diversity in the crowed I learned that cultural events - like the opera - are much more universally popular than they are in the states.

An evening with Die Zauberflöte

After hearing so much about the Wiener Staatsoper and walking past it on my way to my german classes at IKI, I was intrigued to get the chance to take a look inside and experience the music and art. Mozart's "Die Zauberfloete" proved to be a compelling choice, as I have always loved his compositions.

The opera house certainly stands among Vienna's most ornate and beautiful buildings. The marble staircases, statues, and fountains outside certainly display the regal attitude that Vienna embodies. From out nose-bleeder balcony seats, we had a great view of about half of the stage and the orchestra pit.


The first act was very engaging and pleasant. I really enjoyed how happy and jovial the music was, and  in particular when the Tamino and Papageno would play their flutes. The music had a great melody, and I really enjoyed the comical dialogue between Tamino and Papageno. Although not all of the jokes translated well to english, there was a screen that translated the lyrics to english which made following the plot very easy.

I think that the second act dragged a little bit, with themes of silence and unrequited love. I felt bad for the man in the orchestra who played (I think) the Celesta, as he only played 2-3 times in the entire opera when Papageno would ring his bells. I often found myself thinking that the dialogue was written with the same over the top drama that is seen in action movies today. Pamina and Papageno in particular would go from overtly amorphous to suicidal at the flip of a coin. I really liked the resolution at the end with the triumph of light over darkness and Papageno finally finding his wife.

Overall I had a great time and I would recommend it to anyone visiting Vienna with a free evening.

The Ladies of the Opera

Standing in the nosebleeds of the opera house made me realize two things:
One-- When they say heat rises, they mean it. Especially in a giant room full of people.
Two-- Not all opera houses are made so everyone gets a great view of the stage, no matter how ornate that said opera house is.

When I got to my stehplatz, I contented myself to listening to music rather than seeing a play. Music, after all, is the primary thing I think of when I hear the word "Opera." The lady in front of me, however, was not so content. For most of the "Zauberflöte" I watched this elegant lady in pearls lean precariously over the railing, trying to gain a better view of the stage. With every transition, she would go through a dance of sorts, bending along with the music. As the music gained momentum, she would leap back up to the railing while the orchestra played frantically below.

The music was wonderful, even though I couldn't see every action being done on stage I heard everything perfectly clear. The acoustics of the Staatsoper made me feel as if I was in the front row, and when I closed my eyes, I could almost believe it. But these acoustics provided other unintentional entertainment for the evening. Occasionally from the dark seating areas of the opera house came the near deafening cough of a woman in her 80's. Towards the end of the opera, I began to feel worried that the excitement would be too much for her. Especially with the loud whooping of the man to our left. They seemed to be in a contest for who could be loudest.

Those things aside, I found it a very enjoyable evening. I found the underlying tones of the freemasons to be clever, although not entirely hidden. Particularly when they pulled out their triangles for a good 10 minutes in case anyone had missed it. I liked that the majority of people dressed up for the occasion in long flowing dresses as well as suits with ties. I would definitely go again, if only to vie for a better spot.

Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte" - The Magic Flute

Because Vienna is known for its musical history, going to the opera is an absolute must. The Staatsoper, or the Vienna State Opera is located in the ‘Innenstadt’ or the center of the City. The building is as much of the experience as the opera itself. Like many of the other historic structures in Vienna, the opera house has a way of taking you back in time. When approaching the arcaded entrance it is easy to imaging back in the day when the prominent guests would arrive in their elegant gowns and tuxedos to be let out at the door from their horse drawn carriages.

            As students however, today we arrive and make our way to the side entrance to find a line that seems to stretch half way around the building. The line went reasonably fast however and was not a trouble at all. We were sure to arrive at least an hour before the show in order to obtain standing tickets which cost a mere 3 euro- that works out to be only a euro per hour! Although I wanted to wear my heels I knew we would be standing for three hours so I opted for more practical shoes. Other woman standing in the line seemed to not have thought so far ahead and stood in 4 inch stiletto heels- they surely could not have lasted long.

           Once we got into the opera house the entrance hall left me speechless. Climbing the marble staircases that surround the central opening lit by globed lights again reminds me of what it might have been like to climb the stairs back when the opera would have been full of no one but the most important figures of Viennese high society. It is simple wonderful.

            We ended up standing on the highest level where we could see about half the stage- for 3 euros it wasn’t half bad. The opening orchestra melody was lovely. Watching the orchestra conductor was my favorite part, he was so animated and intense- I now realize that conductors stereotypically have long hair because it makes their head motions even more dramatic as their whole body seems to be attacked by the excitement of the music.

            I plan to definitely return to the Opera. Next time I think I’ll arrive two hours early however so that maybe a spot will be open where the entire stage is visible. For my first opera though, the experience was one to remember!

Die Sauberflöte

Last Friday I went to the opera Die Sauberflöte. It was not the best experience, but ill get to that later. There were not too many positives in my experience, but to start, the music was beautiful.

Every song was wonderful and angelic in my ears and I even recognized a few of the tracks since I downloaded the Top 100 Classical songs of all time recently. The play also had a few funny moments amid the action, like poking fun at women at some parts (obviously not men because that may have been frowned upon when the play was first written). Luckily there were also small translators so I was able to follow the story plot quite well, especially when they were singing because that didn't sound anything like German.

The tickets we bought were 3 Euro, and the placement of our seats (especially mine) reflected the cost. were were up on the 5th level and I was on the far stage-left side, so I could only see 20% of the actual stage, and that was only when the woman infront of me wasn't standing up to see. Although the play was translated, my translator was on the side opposite from the stage, so when there was action on that side, I would have to look back and forth to first read what was going on, then hope to look over in time to see what was happening.

If I were to see it again, I would definitely try to get better seats, but this time all in all I guess it was worth only paying 3 Euro

Opera Puccini's LA BOHEME

This is my first time to go to the opera, and I was so excited and looked forward to it before I came. Stacie and I planned to go to the Staphansplatz opera one and a half hour earlier before the opera began, but when we arrived, there were already nearly 30 or more people waiting outside of the opera. It was Monday, and I thought that there would not have many people to come to the opera. The passions -- Viennese to the opera are really out of my expectation. The tickets go on sale 80mins before the opera starts, and there are three section for standing tickets: Partere, Balkon and Galerie. We bought the Partere tickets. It is 4 euro, only one euro expensive than the other two sections, but the position is the best. It is at the second floor, and directly faces the stage, and the other two sections are at the side of the stage.

The most important thing: Please remember to bring an extra scarf with you! Because it is standing ticket, so you need to tie your scarf at the railing in front of you to occupy your position. I forgot to bring my scarf, so I cannot leave my position just standing there. It is very crowed, and five or more people stand at each line. When the opera begin, the light turns down, and the music goes up.  I could not even feel any crowed, but just focused on the stage. The atmosphere was wonderful; I felt that myself was personally on the stage, and speed of my heart beating up and down with the music. There is a small screen in front of each person with the English subtitles. It is useful to me to understand the opera better than just watch.

Being honest, the standing position is a little bit uncomfortable.  We need to arrive at the opera two hours earlier, and watch the opera for two more hours keeping standing for four hours. Next time I think I will buy a seat ticket to enjoy the opera better.