Successful Opening
130,000 FLOCK TO THE OPENING OF LINZ09
Press Release, 1 January 2009
So, here we are at lastWe’re there at last: It's 2009 and Linz is European Capital of Culture 2009. And we have made awe’re off to a perfect model start with the gala opening on New Year’s Eve. Undeterred by temperatures well below zero, 130,000 spectators flocked to the Nibelungen Bridge and the Embankment to welcome the New Year with the Rocket Symphony. This world premičrepremiere by Orlando Gough (composition) and Tom Ryser (stage direction) was greeted with a storm of enthusiasm. It featured a mammoth choir of several hundred amateur singers from Upper Austria, supported by the 16 soloists of British ensemble “The Shout”, in an effusive, quirky and humorous dialogue with a series of dazzling fireworks.
The official opening took place before that, at around 10:00pm, as part of a festive gala performance in the Brucknerhaus under the aegis of Federal President Dr. Heinz Fischer. “The industrial town of Linz on the Danube has adopted a new, additionalwon itself an brand newalternative identity as a city of culture. What so many people have worked hard for, what is in fact the product of the cooperation of many different institutions will become reality in less than two hours’ time. The programme of Linz09 is impressive, exciting, and immensely varied and calls for more than just one visit.” This is the impression the Austrian head of state formed in Linz. Elisabeth Orth, the well-known Burgtheater actress, incorporated more statements by members of Austria’s political class into her spirited “cocktail address”. The cabaret trio Maschek had rummaged around in film archives and screened a mockumentary, in which Linz plays the role of a city divided by World War Two, which is finally “liberated” by being made European Capital of Culture.
Live acts such as Louie Austen, Binder&Krieglstein, Attwenger, Texta, Fatima Spa & The Freedom Fries and Modeselektor managed to keep everybody on their toesup to the mark into the early hours of the morning. The hottest venues were the Hauptplatz, the Alter Markt and those of “Good Night Stuff”.
Martin Heller, Linz09’s artistic director, was more than pleased with the kick-off: “The opening was simply entrancing. We are looking forward to what this year has in store for everyone. Culture Capital Year is not only going to change not only Linz, it’s going to change all of us.” Similarly Linz’s mayor, Franz Dobusch: “The Rocket Symphony and the biggest and most extravagant New Year party that Linz has ever seen mark the beginning of Culture Capital Year. It’s a superlative run-uprunup to 2009. Our best wishes also go to Vilnius, our twin this year.”
The opening festivities show no sign of letting up over the next days. There is the opening of the exhibition “Best of Austria” at the Lentos Kunstmuseum (from 1 Januaryy 1st, 09), the opening of the new Ars Electronica Center (2 January 2nd, 09, Open House until 4 4 January 09), and the premičrepremiere of “The Book of Disquiet” after Fernando Pessoa featuring Klaus Maria Brandauer and the film and stage director Michel van der Aa (2/3/4 January 09, Hafenhalle09).
