Saturday 16 December 2006

Dreaming of a White Christmas

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Desperate measures?
Film crew on location at the MuseumsQuartier

Dreaming of a White Christmas
and Christmas Music
An Appreciation


For many many years I've enjoyed
the beautiful seasonal music programms of
"Washington's Classical Music Station",
WGMS at FM 104.1
and, thanks to the web,
I'm able to continue to listen to the music and to the voices
of Diane Hollander, John Chester, James Bartel, Renee Chaney, Chip Brienza, Bill Day, Art Gliner, Andrew Mitchell and Hillary Howard (I do miss Dennis Owens, "The Voice", who for so long brightened my early mornings with his knowledge, wit and his great voice, - besides, he knew his German and Italian! -, wherever he is, I hope he enjoys finally being able to sleep in!).

So it is with great sadness that I hear that this wonderful radio station has been sold to the owner of the "Washington Redskins". Soon the programming will switch from classics to sports. WGMS was the last station in the immediate Washington area that offered classical music after the Washington Public Radio station ceased its music programms and went to an all news format.

Today, I read that hope is on the horizon for Washington music lovers:
The Washington Post reports that "Public broadcaster WETA (90.9 FM) is considering dumping its news-and-talk programming and returning to being a classical broadcaster if the music dies on WGMS, WETA's management said yesterday." You go, Dan DeVany!

Connection to "Vienna for Beginner's"? It is so much easier to get adjusted to a new home if you can carry on a love affair from your old one! :-)
Plus: Dennis Owens always remembered Mozart's birthday!
Thanky you, Dennis.

P.S.;
Right now I'm listening to Kathleen Battle,
"O Come All Ye Faithful".
Isn't the web a wonderful tool?

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6 comments:

  1. Hi,

    Your blog is a great find for me as I am planning my first Austrian trip.

    My husband and I will be atttending a Wiener Symphoniker concert at the Musikverien next week. Do you know what the dress code is?

    I've asked this question on some travel forums, but the answers are pretty vague, which are something like "not formal" or "no jeans and sneakers." (Musikverien's website doesn't mention anything about this.)

    Happy Holidays!

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  2. Welcome!
    As far as I know there is no (written) dess code but people here tend to dress up, dark business suit for gentlemen, for ladies a little black dress, something that expresses a festive mood (or a nice business suit, sometimes you don't have time to go home before a concert). Even little kids dress up. As far as I know, nobody would exclude you for wearing jeans and sneakers, but you yourself would feel a little out of place.
    Wishing you a great time in our city,
    Merisi

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  3. Thanks so much for the reply. It sounds very much like concerts in our city, Boston. Cheers!

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  4. My pleasure!
    I loved to listen to the Boston Pops on Weta.
    Have a great time in Vienna,
    Merisi
    P.S.: Don't forget to make dinner reservations early, the good restaurants tend to be booked out fast, especially during the holidays.

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  5. Thanks for the tip! Leaving tomorrow...wish there will be more snow in Vienna. We haven't seen real snow this winter in here yet. Strange warm weather.

    If you ever come to Boston, Tanglewood (www.tanglewood.org) is a great experience.

    Merry Christmas!

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  6. Kornhäuslturm
    Salzamt
    Zum Schwarzen Kameel: you can just walk in and have one of their tasty tramezzini, coffee etc. (or have a sit-down lunch/dinner - but the restaurant is very small and busy, but very good)
    DIGLAS serves very good food in its cafe, no reservations
    Cafe Central is a very nice experience, best to walk by and make a reservation for later (live music sunday and some other afternoons)
    Demel's: best hot chocolate, excellent coffee and in my opinion the best cakes (best seats: right at the counter). Be warned: Demel's not a coffeehouse to linger in, but a pastry shop with coffee service.
    Just a few places that usually don't disappoint,
    bon voyage,
    Merisi

    ReplyDelete

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