A Portrait of the Social Contract
In the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, there hangs an obscure painting that speaks volumes about the modern dilemmas of government, about the natural tension between individual freedom and the ties that bind us together. The masterfully rendered work, dating from 1899 by the Dutch painter Otto Eerelman, shows hundreds of soldiers costumed in the dress blues [...]
Population Meltdown
For a European country the size of Germany, with 80 million, or France, with 60, the loss of half a million people might not mean all that much – about the number living in your average Paris suburb. But for a state like Bulgaria, which applied for EU membership in 2001 with a population of [...]
Austria: Armed for Business
When you think of Austrian exports, what are the first things that pop into your mind? Sausages? Beer? Those little round chocolates with Mozart’s portrait on the foil cover? All of these are valid answers. But if you didn’t think of the Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol with short recoil, locked breech and a tilting barrel, [...]
Texas in Vienna
Arriving at the International Theatre of Vienna on a Tuesday evening, I am greeted by soft golden light, the warm tones of polished wood furnishings, and a kind face at the ticket booth. There is a quiet intimacy, a calmness and confidence in the air. I am reminded of a speakeasy, some private and classy [...]
The Gate Crasher: Chow Down at Yamm!
“Wow. That’s such a beautiful Lexus! The 200S I believe? My father knows the dealer…” Confided my friend Alfons with satisfaction. He took a swig of Ottakringer. The group, at a momentary loss for words, was standing on the Veranda of Yamm!, Vienna’s new vegetarian eatery. “I am ready for another beer,” Alfons said, adding [...]
A Lord of the Dance
In his latest dance confection for Vienna, Staatsoper ballet director Manuel Legris has brought us three hitherto never-danced-in-Vienna pieces from master showman Jerome Robbins (née Rabinowitz). Robbins was a polymath of dance, with the most eclectic collection of awards of any of the great choreographers, from an Oscar for film direction (West Side Story) to [...]
Letters to the Editor: Jun. 2011
Response to “Austrian Efficiency? It’s a Miracle!” by Nicholas K. Smith, Vienna Review, March 2011. I want to say thank you Nicholas K. Smith on a very interesting and well written article. And as someone that is co-founding a company ClearKarma.org (an online community dialogue between food producers and consumers.) I do agree with the [...]
Gustav Mahler: From the New World
The 35th Music Festival at the Konzerthaus is in full swing, with this year’s motto “Mahler and America” to commemorate Mahler Year 2011 (the centenary of his death). And while the festival continues until Jun. 21, the four concerts of the San Francisco Symphony from May 21 to 25 have already been a brilliant focal [...]
The Strauss-Kahn Madness
In the two weeks since IMF Chairman Dominique Strauss-Kahn was charged with the attempted rape of a chambermaid at his New York City hotel room and marched in handcuffs before the media, debate has been heated, with hard feelings ricocheting off every side. The French have been outraged, I think fairly, over Strauss-Kahn’s humiliation at [...]
CommentaryJune 2, 2011No CommentRead More