Dear Friends of Concerto*Fest*Austria,
Mark Sunday May 27 at 3pm for a very
special event. Why so special? Well, did you ever wonder what it
would be like to be a guest for an afternoon "musical salon" in
an aristocratic home on Vienna's Ringstrasse at the
turn-of-the-last-century? Moreover, that your host was a patron
of Mahler and Klimt? Imagine yourself, seated on furniture
designed by Josef Hofmann and the Wiener Werkstätte, surrounded
by art of the Vienna Secession and Art Deco eras, and listening
to your host's newest musical protégé, a young piano virtuoso recently
graduated from the Conservatory playing your beloved Viennese composers.
And ending... aber natürlich!... with an
obligatory tour-de-force of Strauss waltzes. Champagne,
Viennese pastries and savories followed, while guests admired the elegant
surroundings, engaged in animated conversation and the latest gossip swirling
around the Imperial Court and State Opera House. If that was ever your
fantasy, then you won't want to miss joining us on May 27!
Unlike those special musical moments
we have all experienced in the large music halls of today... on Sunday May 27
we are re-creating right here in Los Angeles that most intimate of musical
experiences.... a true musical "salon." You'll be taken back
in time, surrounded by beautiful Austro-Hungarian Jugendstil - art
nouveau furniture and artwork of SZALON Gallerie
in Beverly Hills, where indeed, a young Vienna-trained piano virtuoso, Jovanni
de Pedro, will perform Viennese music in this extraordinary setting. And
yes, he'll conclude with Dohnanyi's tour-de-force on
Strauss's "Schatz-Walzer." For this brief
moment, the gallery district of La Cienega Boulevard becomes our Ringstrasse. The
event is under the sponsorship of the Austrian-American Council West and
our gracious host, Budapest-born Judith Hoffman of SZALON Gallerie.
It promises to be an elegant afternoon you will not soon forget.
This is a private invitation to my
friends before official invitations are issued. I want you to know about
it early since the seating is very limited in this extraordinary but intimate
space, and we recommend your reservations as early as possible. The event
is to benefit Concerto*Fest*Austria, our summer festival
celebrating now its 11th year in Austria. Your contribution is
tax-deductible and our "salon" is intended as a thank-you for your
support. In the event that you are unable to join us that day we would be
delighted and grateful if you could consider a gift nevertheless. Gifts over
$100 will be acknowledged in the printed program. For further information and
reservations (required) please call 818-507-5904.
Hope to see you on May 27. Auf
Wiedersehen!
Robert
