Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Vienna, Day 2 (Wednesday, October. 8): Kunsthistorisches Museum, Paradise Chinese Restaurant, Third Man Museum, and Strauss and Mozart Concert

Our group of 52 students separate into two groups of 26 students, designated as Group A and Group B.  Dr. Lerner and I go with Group B.  Group B tours the Kunsthistoriches Museum first and then the Third Man Museum.  Group A does the reverse with Herr D.

A towering statue of Maria Theresa, the only female ruler of the House of Habsburg and the Holy Roman Empire.  She started her 40-year reign in 1740.  She bore 16 children, including Queen Marie Antoinette of France and Holy Roman Emperors Joseph II and Leopold II.

 The Naturhistorisches Museum stands to one side of  the statue of Maria Theresa.

The Kunsthistoriches Museum stands to the other side of  the statue of Maria Theresa.  Both museums opened in 1891.


The hours of the Kunsthistoriches Museum.  You can use this picture to learn the names of the days in German, starting with Monday.

Group B on the steps of the Kunsthistoriches Museum

The Kunsthistoriches Museum showcases the Habsburgs' extensive art collection, which spans 5000 years. The museum has five major sections: the Kunstkammer Vienna, the Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities, the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection, the Picture Gallery, and the Coin Collection.  I choose to explore the Kunsthammer Vienna because it sounds most Viennese and Austrian.  The Kunsthammer Vienna features goldsmith work, goblets, automatons, and clocks.

The automatons fascinate me.

File:Kunsthistorisches Museum 09 04 2013 Automaton Cittern player 1.jpgThis automaton plays the cittern.  (I found this picture and the next two from the Internet because I cannot take a clear picture inside this museum with my cell phone.)

The ship below serves as a centerpiece for an imperial table.  As the ship moves across a table, the miniature musicians on board play their instruments.


File:Kunsthistorisches Museum 09 04 2013 Prayer nut.jpg Are you a prayer nut?  This picture shows another prayer nut.  This early 16th-century rosary pendant depicts the Passion of Christ.  When completely closed, it reduces to the approximate size of a tennis ball. An incredible amount of detail in such a small amount of space.  Wow!

We ate lunch at Paradise Chinese Restaurant, which is conveniently located across from our hotel.  

 Austrian ginger ale.

Spicy soup.

All glasses at restaurants in Austria and Germany show volume markings.


After a little bit of free time, we head to the subway for a ride to The Third Man Museum.

Outside The Third Man Museum.

Our tour guide.

Film projector.


Lowering a screen.


The screen coming down.


The screen completely down.


We watch two minutes from the movie The Third Man. Filmed in Vienna shortly after WWII, the movie shows how Vienna looked due to the destruction of WWII.



The physical length of two minutes of film.

Stars in The Third Man.



Anton Karas played the soundtrack for The Third Man on this zither.

Clocks and other memorabilia that play the Harry Lime Theme from The Third Man.


Recreating the scene in which Harry Lime attempts to escape through the sewers of Vienna.

After the tour of The Third Man Museum, we returned to the hotel and dressed up for the Strauss and Mozart concert.

Immediately before leaving for the concert, the SGA representatives pose a question to the students in the hotel lobby.
Hannah: "How many of you want to learn how to waltz . . .
Jake: " . . . and not pay for it?"  
Nearly all students raise their hand.  The SGA reps agree to book a waltzing lesson for our group.


Walking to the subway for the ride to the concert.

Going down the escalator to our train.

We switch trains at Längenfeldgasse.

Jacob, me, and Joel.

We crowd into the subway.  

In the lobby of the Kursalon Concert Hall.
In the front row: Lexi, Stefanie, Rachel S., me, Sydney, and Michelle.
In the back row: Ben, Chris, Bryan, Laura, Sarah Jane, Jake, and Kristina.

The stage of the concert hall.

The concert hall seats a maximum of 300 people.

Our large group sits in three sections. Section 1 appears in this picture.

Section 2.



Section 3.

Rows of our group.

The musicians.

Chandelier.

Curtains.

Balcony.

The Concert Program

Bandit Gallop, op. 378, Johann Strauss
Treasure Waltz, op. 418, Johann Strauss
Aria
Viennese Bonbons, Waltz, op. 307, Johann Strauss
Aria
Overture to the opera "Le Nozze di Figaro," KV 492, W. A. Mozart
Rondo alla turca from the Piano Sonata in A major, KV 331, W. A. Mozart
Champagne Gallop, opus 14, ballet, H. C. Lumbye

Intermission

Overture to the comic opera "A Night in Venice," Johann Strauss
Vocal duet
A Little Night Music, KV 525, W. A. Mozart
Duet from the operetta "Viennese Spirit," Johann Strauss
On the Beautiful Blue Danube, waltz opus 314, ballet, Johann Strauss

Ballet dancers waltz to the music.

A soprano sings to the music.


A tenor sings to the music.

Another performance by the ballet dancers.

Applause for the performers before the intermission.

An orange juice toast.  From left to right: Meghan S., Kenny, Joe, Rachel S., and Rachel S.

A duet.

More dancing.

The final bow.

Herr D pays for checking in the students' coats.

Dr. Lerner and Dallas converse.


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