Music Film Festival Vienna

From June 27 to August 30, 2009, the Vienna City Hall Park is a pulsating meeting point for classical fans and night owls – with lots to please the palate as well as free film shows.

Against the backdrop of the illuminated City Hall, a first-rate program on a giant screen gets the hearts of all music lovers beating faster as darkness falls. The selection of classical superhits ranges from opera and operetta to dance and concert performances .

In addition, around 20 top restaurateurs invite you to embark on a culinary world tour starting in the morning, with lavish delights from all over the world.

27.6.–30.8. 2009
1., Rathausplatz, wien-event.at

Film starts:
daily at nightfall / International cuisine: 11 a.m. to midnight

from wien.info

Vienna’s Danube Island Festival: The biggest free open-air party in Europe

The Danube Island in Vienna is to be the venue for Europe's biggest open-air party with free entry for the twenty-sixth time. The extraordinary Russian-Balkan-Ska formation “Russkaya" is as much a part of the party this year as Austro pop-rockers Wolfgang Ambros and Joesi Prokopetz, EAV, cabarettists Alfred Dorfer and Alf Poier as well as the musical troupe of United Stages Vienna. In total, some 2,000 artists and up to 3 million visitors are expected to attend this unique open-air spectacle.

This year, the three-day mega fête – which is also dubbed the most peaceful festival in Europe – is dedicated entirely to international pop and rock music. Over 300 music, theater and cabaret groups will be offering around 600 hours of live performances on 21 themed islands and 13 stages .

A diverse program will be offered on the 4.5 km long festival site , with something for everybody: from rock, pop, hip-hop, electronic, jazz, blues, world music, Viennese songs and country to cabaret. An action-packed entertainment program for children will run throughout the festival.

A wide range of culinary delights and accompanying drinks will be offered at the 250 catering stands – from juicy steaks and crispy grilled chicken to freshly drawn beer and cool cocktails.

Danube Island Festival
26.–28.6.2009
For more details visit www.donauinselfest.at

From the new Site of wien.info

Come to visit "The best zoo in Europe" in Vienna

Schönbrunn Zoo emerged as the best zoo in Europe in an independent study carried out in 2009, which compared 40 zoos in 16 countries. The world’s oldest zoo is also its most modern – and now has the added attraction of a new orangutan house.

The former imperial orangery was converted into a paradise for the red-haired primates, the orangutans: Where exotic plants and citrus fruits once spent the winter, apes now play in climbing trees, on nets and ropes. And they can be proud of their new home, because the zoo has been named the best in Europe.

The shaggy orangutans swing through the air eleven meters up. This is equivalent to their natural habitat in the forest canopy and they definitely prefer it. The redesigned orangery provides the apes with a 750 m2 outdoor enclosure with climbing trees, nets and ropes. It is also possible for visitors to watch the behaviors of the great apes from close up.

The zoo’s information center provides information both on the evolutionary history of the great apes and also on their lives and the dangers they face. At Café Nonja, named after a special artist, the orangutan female “Nonja”, visitors to the zoo are treated to Asian delicacies. Pictures of Nonja are also on display here.

Tiergarten Schönbrunn
13., Schönbrunn
U4, Tram 10, 58, 60:
Hietzing
www.zoovienna.at

Opening hours Nov - Jan: daily 9a.m. - 4.30p.m. Feb: daily 9a.m. - 5p.m. March, Oct: daily 9a.m. - 5.30p.m. April-Sept: daily 9a.m. - 6.30p.m.

from wien.info

Musical and Dance :: “Rudolf – Affaire Mayerling”

This new historical musical tells the tragic tale of the life of Crown Prince Rudolf and his love of Mary Vetsera. The show is in German but is still a great night out even if you don’t speak the language — the music and acting tell the story.

Crown Prince Rudolf was the right man at the right time and place — a visionary whose ideas could have transformed the ossified Habsburg Empire. He was driven by passion, idealism and courage, but lacked political talent. His ardor could have ushered in a new age, but his opponents were able to thwart all his reforms. Finally Rudolf met the love of his life, Mary Vetsera. Her refusal to compromise gave him the strength to take the final journey to Mayerling, “united in love until death”.

The cast promises an outstanding production, with top musical star Uwe Kröger, Wietske van Tongeren, Carin Filipcic (all acclaimed for their roles in “Rebecca“ at the Raimund Theater), Claus Dam and Drew Sarich on the bill. The script was inspired by Frederik Morton’s novel “A Nervous Splendor”, and the score is by “Jekyll & Hyde” composer Frank Wildhorn.

The musical was premiered in Hungarian at the Budapest Operettszinhasz in 2006, and was staged at the Szeged open air festival during the summer of the same year. Now “Rudolf” is finally coming to Vienna’s Raimund Theater in a German language version.

from wien.info