Raise the curtain on Linz09!

31.12.2008

The Federal President, Dr. Heinz Fischer, has officially declared Culture Capital Year open Representatives from politics, art, culture and the business community were among the guests atthe solemn opening gala in the Brucknerhaus.

The Brucknerhaus was filled to capacity with guests from Linz, Upper Austria, the rest of Austria and from all over Europe, who had come to Linz for the opening of Capital of Culture Year. Interventions, a musical programme that included the world premiere of “Instant Anton”, the quintessences of Anton Bruckner’s symphonies, and a cocktail address delivered by Kammerschauspielerin Elisabeth Orth were the mainstays of the programme. In addition to a host of visitors from former and future Capitals of Culture and from cities twinned with Linz, the audience included an assortment of top municipal, provincial, federal and EU politicians. In a symbolic act to mark the end of the gala, Feder President Heinz Fischer, the President of the Parliament, Barbara Prammer, the provincial Josef Pühringer and the Mayor of Linz, Franz Dobusch cut a Linzer Torte, which was shaped to resemble Austria.

Now that Linz is officially open the new watchword is: Welcome to Linz, European Capital of Culture 2009!