Probe takes the Capital of Culture to a higher level – “Sounds of the Ice” and enchanting tours for kids

July 9, 2008
Cooperation between Linz 2009 European Capital of Culture
and Dachstein World Heritage

Out-of-the-ordinary partnerships often make for sit-up-and-take-notice marketing campaigns! Dachstein, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Obertraun, Austria whose infrastructure has just gotten a cool makeover by students and faculty at Linz Art University and is also one of the venues of this year's Upper Austrian Province Expo, is now working together with Linz09.
“Iceberg Probe” by Agnes Meyer-Brandis, an art installation set up in an tent directly in front of the Dachstein terrace on Schönbergalm, is spreading the word about Linz 2009 European Capital of Culture and the “Tiefenrausch” exhibition being produced jointly with Linz’s OK Center for Contemporary Art. This is a very appropriate way to acquaint up to 150,000 Dachstein World Heritage visitors with what’s happening at Linz09—not just via in-your-face advertising but subtly through an artistic intervention. And this is just the way Dachstein World Heritage will be going about it during 2009 in Linz. We’re working together to make Dachstein, with its breathtaking natural wonders and new-look facilities, a prime destination for outings by guests visiting Upper Austria’s Capital of Culture.

Artistic Productions in the Caves Too
In addition to artistic productions being staged in the three show caves, Dachstein will also be the setting for some very cool concerts. “Bach Goes Modern” is the theme of this year’s Sounds of the Ice series. This promises to be an array of extraordinary listening experiences—due to both the musical perfection and diversity of the program as well as the venue itself: the world’s coolest concert hall, the DACHSTEIN World Heritage giant ice cave.

Once again, we’ll be setting up a stage before the impressive backdrop of the Gralsburg for a program that runs the musical gamut: classical, improvisational jazz, swinging blues and boogie. The lineup includes musicians from all over the world, some of them featured performers in top orchestras. Their brilliant musical artistry will transform this one-of-a-kind ambience into a concert hall whose interior temperature won’t be the only thing to give listeners goose pimples! An experience combining elemental nature, superb artistic skills and a nicely orchestrated ancillary program that guarantees supreme audience enjoyment.
Peter Brugger is the musical director of this concert series, which kicks off on August 1 with “Pure Bach” featuring eccentric variations and suites for violin and piano. On August 8, there’s “Sensuous Tonal Spheres on Marimba and Vibraphone,” a display of musical fireworks situated between romantic Baroque and virtuoso contemporary stylings. If, on August 15, it seems to be getting hot even amidst Dachstein’s eternal ice, then that can only be due to the heat released by the encounter of classical music with fiery South American spirit. “Bach Meets Tango” on this evening, during which concertgoers will go on an excursion following the traces of Piazzolla and enjoy the enchanting sounds of cello and accordion. Fans of fine jazz will get all they can handle on August 22 at “Spirit and Rhythm” at which baroque esprit blends with tasty improvisation. And the grand finale on August 29 will put a real exclamation point at the end of this year's Sound of the Ice series! Swinging blues and boogie variations on works by Johann Sebastian Bach will definitely live up this evening’s theme: “Bach Keeps Smiling.”
But lovers of great music aren’t the only ones in for a cool time on Dachstein. Our Bibi Blocksberg tour means there’s fun in store for kids too. The nice witch Rabia von Katzenstein accompanies our youngest visitors on an excursion through the giant cave and shows the actual locations where the beloved Bibi Blocksberg children’s film was made. Youngsters equipped with lanterns and a treasure map and escorted by their parents will follow Rabia through the chilling darkness of the mystical ice caves, where they’ll have a wide array of tasks to carry out. There’s adventure aplenty, a real live witches circle, an owl hunt, and at the end of the tour every child gets his or her own magical owl staff to take home as a memento of an unforgettable experience.

Information Box: “Sounds of the Ice” concertgoers are requested to gather at 4:3 p.m. at the valley station of the Krippenstein cable car. The all-inclusive package (47.50 euros) includes round-trip transportation via cable car, an Ice Cocktail reception, a tour of the giant ice caves, the concert of course, followed by a Sounds of the Ice buffet. Details are available online at www.dachsteinwelterbe.at

The Bibi Blocksberg Tours are offered daily from July 5 to August 31. Tours begin at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the entrance to the ice caves. It’s advisable to be at the cable car’s valley station one hour in advance.