SPOT ON: JIDDISCHKEIT
FESTIVAL OF JEWISH CULTURE RINGS IN THE NEW SEASON AT THE VIENNA KONZERTHAUS
SEPTEMBER 13 - 14, 2008
Vienna - The Vienna Konzerthaus concert hall is starting its new season with a mini festival of Jewish culture. Spot On: Jiddischkeit will take place on September 13 and 14.
The Konzerthaus will come alive with the sound of artists such as Giora Feidman, Doron Rabinovici, Chava Alberstein, Idan Raichel, and the Avishai Cohen Trio. In a total 17 different events ranging from readings to concerts, from classical to Cantor singing, jazz, and DJs, the festival's jam-packed program will offer a tantalizing glimpse into the dazzling diversity of Jewish culture.
"The festival is an exploration of the cross-fertilization and enriching experience that can occur when different cultures meet," says the Executive Chairman of the Vienna Konzerthaus, Bernhard Kerres. "I'm very much looking forward to the interchange with Jewish artists this September. We have an exciting topic lined up for next year as well. The 2009 Spot On festival will be devoted to Turkish culture."
Wiener Konzerthaus
Lothringerstraße 20
1030 Wien
www.konzerthaus.at
WIEN MODERN 2008
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 16, 2008
Vienna - Following its foundation in 1988, the Wien Modern contemporary music festival very quickly established itself as a leading international forum for the latest developments in new musical thinking and trends.
Three composers are in the spotlight at this year's festival, which is being staged a variety of different venues throughout Vienna: Karlheinz Stockhausen, Enno Poppe, and Peter Ablinger.
Another key focal point will be Music and the Brain, an exploration of how music originates in the brain and how it affects the brain. In five unique projects, leading international neurologists at the forefront of brain research will enter into dialogue with music makers and audiences.
Wien Modern 2008 will also showcase the works of New York-based video artist, filmmaker, musician, and composer Tony Conrad and Israeli composer Chaya Czernowin. A not-to-be-missed event on the festival's program is a marathon evening of works by young Viennese composers.
www.wienmodern.at
TANZQUARTIER WIEN
OPEN UP SEASON 2008-2009
Vienna - The Tanzquartier Wien is Austria's first institution dedicated exclusively to the genre of contemporary dance and performance. Located in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier - one of the ten largest cultural complexes in the world - it has positioned itself as an experimental, discussion-oriented, and open center for movement art.
In the 2008/2009 season, the Tanzquartier Wien is planning to do nothing short of turning the whole house inside out and upside down. Together with selected artists and colleagues, TQW will take a fresh new look at recent dance and performance work and explore formats beyond conventional representation practices. Ten different "program islands" have been identified that open up new territory for contemporary dance and performance. Events focusing on the first four will take place in the last quarter of 2008.
Island No. 1: Woodstock of Thinking - A ten-day think-party happening; a hands-on exploration of the future of dance and performance (September 10-20).
Island No. 2: Quick Change - This island is positioned at the crossover between fashion design and choreography. It includes performances, theory events, and installations (October 13-25).
Island No. 3: It's Our Pleasure - Public + artist + pleasure = theatre? TQW takes a close look at an age-old question (November 17-29).
Island No. 4: ALLREADY - All about dancing, producing, and seeing for the first time (December 15-20).
Tanzquartier Wien
Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Wien
www.tqw.at
