MUSIKFEST SCHLOSS WEINZIERL

One of the three most popular  Chamber Music Festivals in Austria takes place every year in May around Ascension Day at the Castle of Weinzierl in Lower Austria. The castle has been chosen as the venue of the festival because of its close connection to the founder of the string quartets, Joseph Haydn. The owner of the castle, the local nobility Baron von Fürnberg, invited the 23 years old Haydn in the year 1755 to his castle and by the baron’s order, Haydn composed the first string quartets ever. The aim of the baron was to perform the pieces of music together with the manager of his estate, his confessor and Haydn.

In the good tradition of these remarkable years middle of the 18th century, the Weinzierl chamber music festival was founded in 2009 by the Altenberg Trio Vienna. The castle was thoroughly refurbished in the years before 2011 and modernized with a roofed courtyard as well as a state of the art concert hall, which offers a perfect sound quality. Since 2011 well known international musicians such as the Minetti Quartet, Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer, Sophie Dartigalongue and others are invited by the Altenberg Trio to perform during four days music composed by Haydn but also other famous composers. More than 1200 people, among them Brits, Germans, Swiss and French visitors,  attended the 6 concerts and the so-called promenade concert in May 2018. People are indulging themselves not only by listening to fabulous concerts but also enjoy the variety of the culinary offer, not to mention the excellent Austrian wine.

The 11th Weinzierl Music Festival, which takes place  May 30th  – June 2nd, 2019 will be again a highlight of the Austrian music scene. The program will be publicly launched late autumn this year.

Peter Damisch

And some pictures from the last month:

 

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