2.3. Franz Peter Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert was born on 31 January 1797 and died on 19 November 1828, was an Austrian composer.

In a short lifespan of less than 32 years, Schubert was a prolific composer, writing some 600 Lieder, ten complete or nearly complete symphonies, liturgical music, operas, incidental music and a large body of chamber and solo piano music. Appreciation of his music while he was alive was limited to a relatively small circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased significantly in the decades immediately after his death Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers of the early Romantic era and, as such, is one of the most famous composers of the nineteenth century.

The most popular of Schubert’s works are Six Musicaux, The Fifth Symphony, The Eighth Symphony “Unfinished”, Pianoworks for four hands. (see app. pic.9)

Vienna is a cradle of classical music of 17^th – 18^th centuries. Classical music and Vienna are so closely linked – most immediately one thinks of Vienna as the music capital of the world.

Vienna’s musical buildings

Opera State Building

The building was the first major building on the Vienna Ringstrabe commissioned by the Viennese "city expansion fund". The work started in 1861 and was completed in 1869, following plans drawn up by architects August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll. It was built in the Neo-Renaissance style.The building was, however, not very popular with the public. On the one hand, it did not seem so big. The opening premiere was Don Giovanni, by Mozart, on May 25, 1869.

The Vienna State Opera (see app. pic.10) is closely linked to the Vienna Philharmonic, which is an incorporated society of its own, but whose members are recruited from the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera.

The Wiener State Opera is one of the busiest opera houses in the world producing 50 to 60 operas per year and ten ballet productions in approximately 300 performances. It is quite common to find a different opera being produced each day of a week. As such, the State Opera employs over 1000 people. As of 2008, the annual operating budget of the State Opera is 100 million Euros with slightly more than 50% coming in the form of a state subsidy.

The opera company operates a repertory system: more than 50 productions are staged every year, and there is a performance every day for ten months of the year.

3.2. The Golden Hall

The Golden Hall of Musikverein (see app. pic.11) is where Vienna New Year's Concert is held every year. The concert hall is known for its visual beauty and impeccable acoustics.

Musikverein means "music society" in German. In 1812 the "Society of Music Lovers of the Austrian Empire" was founded. The Society's original building no longer stands. It had an auditorium designed specifically for piano recitals and chamber music. For orchestra concerts, they used the Redoutensaal in the Hofburg, or the Winter Riding School.

It was obvious, that the Music Society needed a larger concert home. In 1863 Emperor Franz Josef gave them a site close to Karlskirche. The Society chose the project of the architect Theophil von Hansen, an outstanding representative of neoclacissism. Von Hansen had studied and worked in Greece, and was interested in ancient Greek and especially in Byzantine architecture. These influences can be clearly seen in the gabled facade, Orpheus, the ionian columns, lApollo and the nine Muses on the ceiling of the Golden Hall, and the many caryatids.

There are several factors, which explain the remarkable acoustic of the Golden Hall. The room has ideal proportions. The ceiling is made of wood and is not simply mounted but is hung from the rafters, which allows it to vibrate and resonate with the music. Under the floor there is a hollow area, which functions like a resonance chamber. The balance between raised and flat surfaces provides for an ideal spread of sound waves. It is remarkable that von Hansen has created this marvel of acoustics following his intuition, as the science of acoustics emerged only in the 20th century.^[5]

CONCLUSION

Vienna is Austria’s cultural, economic, and political centre.

Many destinations are synonymised by their most famous export and the refined heritage and culture of Vienna has earned it a reputation as a hotspot for lovers of civilisation and class.

Aside from the plethora of world-class composers whose influence is a legacy rightly cultivated, Vienna radiates an array of things to see, be it grand palaces, statuesque churches and buildings noteworthy in their architectural elegance. Indeed, come to Vienna and you will be struck by how well put together everything appears. The buildings have purpose and the people poise.

In conclusion I would like to say that people from the whole world visit Vienna to go to opera and ballet in theatrical season. The most famous singers, actors and other creative people are proud that they perform in Vienna.