150 YEARS OF THE OPERA HOUSE ON THE RING
Vienna
The great operatic temple of Old Europe is celebrating its birthday. Originally known as the Vienna Court Opera, the Vienna State Opera officially opened in 1869 with a performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. The inauguration was attended by Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi. To celebrate its birthday, an official ceremony has been organised with nine premieres and 311 functions including opera, ballet, recitals and concerts on the stage, which is graced by the best performers every year.
The programme of 50 operas includes six new productions, one of which is the world premiere of Die Weiden (The Willows), a work commissioned by the opera that is loosely based on the novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.
The Vienna State Opera is a true institution in Austria. Just last season, it received more than 600,000 visitors with an average daily occupancy of 98%. You can also explore it during guided tours: 40-minute-long walks into the depths of the temple that are even available in Spanish (find out more on the official website, wiener-staatsoper.at/en). Also taking place during the month of December is a live-broadcasted performance of opera and ballet on a 50-square-metre screen in the Herbert von Karajan Square, just in front of the opera building.
garde restaurants in the Austrian capital, the Salonplafond, an innovative interpretation of a traditional Viennese tavern designed by architect Michael Embacher.
Another more contemporary representative of Viennese gastronomy is the Skopik & Lohn, which has a ceiling that has been splattered with black paint by artist Otto Zitko. Enjoy French-inspired cuisine that fits perfectly with its location next to the Augarten in the second district, Leopoldstadt: Vienna’s new modern and cool neighbourhood. The Augarten is another fabulous public park that measures 52 hectares. It boasts the oldest baroque gardens in Vienna and is also home to the Porcelain Museum and the Filmarchiv Austria. During the Second World War, the authorities built two gigantic concrete cylinders in the middle of the park in order to defend against the allied bombings. These bunkers still stand today.
The tallest building in Austria is not far from the flora landscapes of the Augarten. The 57 Restaurant is situated on the top floor of the DC Tower, giving you the opportunity to dine with Vienna and the Danube at your feet. At 220 metres tall, the venue promises a carefully crafted menu of signature Meliá cocktails that are to be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s an ideal way to end the day, sitting in the midst of the Vienna sky.
SKOPIK & LOHN – CONTEMPORARY VIENNESE GASTRONOMY AT ITS FINEST.