Encountering Famous Musicians in Vienna
Virtually every great German musician lived in Vienna for a time, as well as a few non-German ones. We encountered past deeds and houses of Gluck, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Mahler, J. Strauss, and even Chopin. I'm sure there were others, too, as well as many more sights that could have been visited using this theme. We did not visit any cemeteries, and only managed to visit one of Beethoven's some 40-odd residences. We merely glanced at the possibilities that Vienna offers the musical pilgrim. We attended no concerts, though people dressed as Mozart were continually trying to sell us tickets to some.
Statue and monument to Mozart, Ringstrasse, not far from the opera house.
Large Michael's House, Michaelplatz. Haydn lived in one of the tiny garret rooms, relegated to 2nd class citizen when, as a boy, his voice broke. He complained of snow getting inside in Winter, and the sun pouring in during the summer.
The Esterhazys were Haydn's patron and employer, and they had a palace in the city. Haydn would perform his marionette operas while in Vienna. This is the actual wine cellar at the rear of the palace, with Esterhazy estate wine still served in this little place. I had an incredible glass of white wine for $3.25 Canadian, or 2.1 Euros. This is a wonderful and cozy little gem, and I hope to return.
Deb stands in the entrance to the Beethoven Shop (ground floor) and Beethoven Museum (way, way up stairs, four flights to be exact). This is the Pasqualati House.
None of Beethoven's pianos exist today (he likely beat them to a pulp), but this elegant model would have been current when the composer lived in this building. Note the five pedals!
Original version of one of the most famous paintings of Beethoven, from the early 1800s.
While living here the composer worked on Fidelio, his sole opera, as well as parts of the 7th and 8th Symphonies, and the 4th Piano Concerto.
Why do I feel so small and insignificant next to Brahms?
Statue of Gluck we came across in our wanderings.
Chopin spent a winter in Vienna, in a house that once stood here.
Once a palace, now one of the oldest sheet music stores in the world. I bought a book of Schubert Impromptus. I will learn the first one after my current concert program is concluded.
There were more than a few non-musician tributes as well, even to philosophers. Imagine a statue in Windsor dedicated to a philosopher. Difficult, isn't it? Note the stone relief at the center far right of the photo, so typical of little things seen while wandering the streets of Vienna.
Mapman Mike
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