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Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Vienna's Golden Hall: A journey of musical triumph and humbling embarrassment unfolds
An unforgettable experience has its embarrassing moment, though it won't detract from the wonder of it all. Two profoundly memorable things happened to me, at the same time, while on holiday this month. One fulfilled a lifelong dream and left me jubilant and wondrously awed. The other will be recorded as one of the more embarrassing moments of my long and mostly uneventful life. Both happened in Vienna, famously known as the City of Music because of its rich history as the classical world's cultural centre and home to those composing icons Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss. As an aside, it is also known as the City of Dreams, home to the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, who believed dreams helped to access the unconscious mind and who, in 1938, fled Austria before Nazi Germany annexed it and began persecuting Jews. Another aside: Vienna is also known as the Capital of Europe's Spies, situated so closely as it is to the Iron Curtain of old. A surprising number of spy thrillers of the 20th century take place here, my favourite being John le Carré's A Perfect Spy, in which he used Vienna as a backdrop for his Cold War spy story. But I want to concentrate on cultural Vienna, a city with fewer people than Soweto, the locus of my amazement and humiliation. My love of classical music and opera has taken me to many magnificent venues – The Met in New York, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy, among them, each with its own special beauty. But nothing prepared me for the magnificence of the Golden Hall in Vienna's Musikverein, which is home to the renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. It was a drizzly grey day when we, a party of four in the city to celebrate a friend's milestone 70th birthday, arrived at the imposing building. Immediately I noticed that we were hopelessly underdressed — me in sneakers and under a cosy, unflattering puffer jacket covering a bulky sweater and casual slacks. It was 11am on a Sunday morning, but this 'subscription concert' (where you buy a season ticket and therefore have first pick of seats), inspired Vienna's societal elite to don their finest garb. People dress up for these events, and oh, what a spectacle it was. Formal fashion Women glided along in floor-length, mid-length and short evening gowns, some covered in sequins that ignored the daylight etiquette rule (though whose rule that is remains unknown). Furs, high heels, one tiara, gleaming jewels; men in jacket and tie or dress suits with traditional white silk opera scarves… the fashion was formal. Scent wafting off the concertgoers perfumed the foyer. Traditionally guttural German tripping of tongues sounded unusually melodic and sweet. But none of this — not even the thrill of the dress-up — prepared me for the inside of the Musikverein. We climbed and climbed flight after steep flight of stairs to get to the boxes lining the edges of this magnificent gilded hall, opened on 6 January 1870 by Emperor Franz Joseph. And then, breathless but exhilarated, we were in our eyrie beneath a canopy of golden splendour, the ceiling mural adorned with images of Apollo and the nine muses. Columns shaped like ancient female figures — golden caryatids — added to the grandeur of this space that is known for its acoustics and rated as one of the three finest concert halls in the world, along with Amsterdam's Concertgebouw and the Boston Symphony Hall. Remember, we had to contend with what tickets were left over after regular concertgoers had booked their season tickets, so we could hear but only see the orchestra if we craned over seated heads to glimpse the mostly penguin-suited men below. Dotted in between were women in demure black, mostly on violin or percussion instruments. The introduction of women musicians in the orchestra is a new phenomenon — it was, astonishingly, the sacred preserve of men until 1997. This concert taking place on a cool damp Sunday morning in the City of Dreams was particularly special and highly unusual for Vienna: all the main roles — composer, conductor and piano soloist — were played by women. Up first was Lithuanian composer and pianist Raminta Šerkšnytė's 2009 composition, Midsummer Song, for which the instrumentation was described as 'string orchestra with optional percussion with one performer: triangle, shaker, rain stick, wind chimes and vibraphone'. The 50-year-old composer named nature 'with its metaphorical comparison to the archetypical states of the human mind' as her main inspiration, describing her work as a 'pantheistic song, like a long journey to eternal light and to our inner peace of mind'. It was melodic. I found it moving. I loved it. But they're a hard lot to please, these knowledgeable Vienna music lovers. A woman seated close by muttered: 'I doubt that will ever be played in this hall again!' Dark-haired and petite with a powerful waving conductor's arm, 38-year-old Lithuanian Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (her credentials include serving as musical director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), was more warmly received. Not so much the globally controversial 38-year-old Beijing-born American pianist Yuja Wang, whose skimpy attire fashion sense has been universally criticised. She emerged from the wings in a silver bare-backed bandage dress that barely covered her modesty, finished off with six-inch Louboutin red-soled heels. Sequined, modest-gowned women in our box bristled. 'She lets down women,' my neighbour whispered. 'Prostitute,' another woman said under her breath, but loudly enough to be heard. Transfixed Then Wang began playing that most popular concerto ever written, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor, her fingers expertly moving across the keys, her short black hair flying, her small body swaying, vibrating, moving to the music. We were transfixed as the exposed muscles in her shoulder blades rippled. My humiliation (and my friend's embarrassment) came at the first lull in the music when, with much enthusiasm and vigour, I began clapping. My neighbour waved her hands wildly in my face, shouting at me in German. Someone interpreted: She says stop clapping. You DO NOT clap between movements. The typical concerto is in three movements, or sections: a fast movement in sonata form, a slow and lyrical movement, and then another fast movement. I now know that the convention is that you do not clap until the end, a red-faced lesson learned in Vienna, in the beautiful Golden Hall. I remained seated and silent during the Sibelius Lemminkäinen Suite that ended the concert. What is it with women and the arts through the ages? I saw a series of exhibitions across London and Vienna — Dürer, Bruegel, Arcimboldo, Bassano, Edvard Munch, Goya, the impressionists Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso, Cézanne. Not one single woman artist among them. Did women choose not to paint or sculpt or draw? The art history books tell us it was not encouraged and they were left to expend their creative energy on traditional arts more suited to women — like embroidery. I must admit that I was surprised by how recent was the admission of women to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. I wonder, too, why these older women concertgoers perpetuate women-hating stereotypes. Calling a young woman a prostitute because of her fashion choice seems a bit archaic in 2025. DM Charmain Naidoo is a journalist and media strategist.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Mayor Who Led Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Steps Down After 9 Years
A force of nature, a 'Queen of infrastructure' and the woman you knew would be at every weekend event - Sandra Hazlehurst will leave quite the legacy. Hastings' charismatic and indomitable mayor has announced she won't seek re-election as Hastings mayor after nine years at the helm. Hazlehurst's advice to whoever she hands the chains over to is to do what she at times struggled to do - ask other people to help out a bit. She said while she would miss being out in the community opening every skatepark, attending every concert 'in hindsight I should have shared the load with councillors'. The 66-year-old said she felt honoured and privileged to have served the Hastings community as a councillor and mayor over the past 15 years, and she had mixed emotions about her decision. She said the timing of her mayoralty couldn't have been better. 'My two daughters are living overseas so they haven't had to deal with any negative comments, but most people are respectful even if they don't agree with some of our decisions. 'My husband Mark has been incredibly supportive and he's excited he might see more of me," she laughed. Known for her passion for fashion and her huge smile Hazlehurst says community has always been part of her life. 'My parents owned Warren's Bakery so we were always part of any community festivities.' She said the past three years had been the hardest. 'Cyclone Gabrielle has had a devastating impact on the lives, livelihoods, and property of our people. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has played a part in our ongoing recovery – rebuilding lives, reconnecting communities, and restoring vital infrastructure. 'But everyone has been engaged. We've faced huge challenges. I'm thrilled at how much we have got done. We have rebuilt infrastructure, and invested in housing developments, the CBD is looking vibrant which has attracted more businesses. 'I'm particularly proud of how far Flaxmere has come. That has all come from listening to what people in the community want and that was homes. 'We are public servants so we do listen to the community. That's exactly what we did with the Opera House in 2014. 'We had 3000 submissions for and against rebuilding it. 'But what finally made our minds up was a group of schoolboys including Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono singing in the chamber and then asking us 'where will we sing if you don't rebuild'?' On Sunday, June 8, Emmanuel, who is from Flaxmere, will be singing at the Toitoi Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre in Hastings before he heads to the international opera stage. He has been accepted into the Merola Opera Program in San Francisco and the Jette Parker Artists Programme at London's Royal Opera House. 'That is what makes local governance worthwhile.' She says the council needs stay on course in the next few years. 'While my time as Hastings' mayor will end in October, I am excited to continue to serve our community in other ways. I am a loud and proud Heretaunga Hastings champion and will continue to passionately support all festivals and events. 'In the meantime, there is much to do as we consider the future of delivering drinking water, wastewater and stormwater through the Local Waters Done Well Reform and continue rebuilding our infrastructure after Cyclone Gabrielle. 'To the people of Heretaunga Hastings, thank you for your support, trust and aroha over the years, for which I am very grateful. It has been a privilege to serve you.'
Muscat Daily
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Muscat Daily
Stigma of mental health tackled through creative expression
Muscat – The third edition of 'Freud Got Talent', Oman's only multidisciplinary creative arts competition focused on mental health awareness, concluded with a showcase of artistic expression. Organised by Not Alone, the event took place in two phases – semi-finals on May 17 and finals on May 22 – at Downe House School Muscat. The programme included a panel discussion on mental health at Royal Opera House Muscat on May 21. The discussion featured Sheikha Hala al Khalifa, Director of Culture and Arts Directorate at Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, and Cairo-based Dr Nasser Loza, Director of The Behman Hospital and Maadi Psychology Centre. Both emphasised the role of creativity in mental well-being. Dr Loza urged young people to break free from ideological constraints. 'If one is limited to his external thoughts then there would have been no Van Gogh or Nirvana. One also need not start his art with the very thought of making money else the journey will be less travelled and not fully cherished,' he said. Sheikha Hala noted that art offers a pathway to healing. 'Art has an incredible capacity to heal mental illness as it creates an avenue to cherish the good impacts of creations,' she said. Freud Got Talent brought together amateur and professional artists from across Oman, providing a platform for children and adults alike to share their personal journeys with mental health through visual arts, music, writing, digital media and performance. Sayyida Amal al Said, one of the judges in the literary category, said, 'Art heals. It gives shape to emotions we can't often articulate. Freud Got Talent proved that creativity is one of our strongest tools to de-stigmatise mental health.' The competition was open to participants in four age groups – Kids (6–11), Teens (12–17), Youth (18–25) and Adults (26+) – and included both citizens and residents of Oman. Submissions were evaluated by judging panels comprising artists, writers, designers and mental health professionals. 'We looked for works that spoke honestly about emotional struggles and triumphs. Vulnerability is strength,' said Sara al Mukhaini, judge for the digital visual category. Finalists were assessed on originality, emotional impact and clarity of message by panels that included Dr Abdul Monem al Hassani, Amal al Raisi and Sayyida Afra al Said.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Myleene Klass turns heads in floral midi dress as she enjoys an evening at The Royal Opera House
Myleene Klass looked ready for summer as she enjoyed an evening at The Royal Opera House in London on Wednesday. The radio presenter, 47, turned heads as she slipped into a multi-coloured midi dress with a floral print. The garment featured a v-neckline and layered detail while Myleene cinched her waist with a gold chain belt. Adding height to her frame with a pair of white heels, the former Hear'Say singer added to her outfit with a matching handbag. Styling her brunette locks into a ponytail, the mother-of-three also sported a pair trendy sunglasses. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Wearing a light palette of makeup, Myleene completed her look with a pair of gold earrings. Earlier this month, Myleene led the stars celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday as she hosted a tribute concert at the Royal Albert Hall. She was joined in her hosting duties alongside Katherine Jenkins and Dan Walker and pulled out all the stops on the night in an eye-catching red gown. The singer certainly brought the glamour as she displayed her toned frame in the thigh-high split dress, which was adorned with a huge bow detailing. The event, sponsored by the Daily Mail, featured a show-stopping performance from mezzo-soprano Katherine and dancing from Strictly Come Dancing stars. The show also included first-hand recollections from military veterans and those who lived through the conflict. Former pop star Myleene, whose father served in the Merchant Navy, said it was 'both humbling and an honour' to be involved. She said: 'With it (VE Day) being 80 years now, and as our serving personnel from that time reach an age many never thought they'd see, it's essential we keep their sacrifices and memory alive.' Adding height to her frame with a pair of white heels, the former Hear'Say singer added to her outfit with a matching handbag Her co-host, former BBC Breakfast star Dan, told the Mail he considered it 'a real privilege' to be 'standing on that stage introducing some amazing people'. 'Those values of freedom and democracy matter today.' Marking the anniversary, King Charles also used a keynote speech to call for greater efforts towards global peace. With conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and across the African continent, His Majesty suggested it was timely to remind ourselves of the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said: 'Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war.' 'In so doing, we should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict,' he said. 'For as my grandfather [King George VI, who was monarch during the Second World War] put it: "We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will." 'Just as those exceptional men and women fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God, bound by an unshakeable commitment to nation and service, in turn it falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy – so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: "they too bequeathed a better world".'
India Today
21-05-2025
- General
- India Today
Project Revival: Architects who are giving the past a future
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today Home issue May, 2025)ABHA NARAIN LAMBAH | 'Conservation is not only about monuments. It is about buildings people use every day'From Royal Opera House in Mumbai and Bikaner House in Delhi to the Chamba Lakhang Temple of Maitreya Buddha in Basgo, Ladakh, and the restoration of Shalimar Bagh Kashmir, conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah's (pictured above) unique approach can be found stamped on heritage buildings across the country. Lambah set up Abha Narain Lambah Associates in 1998 and specialises in architectural conservation, building restoration and retrofit, museum design and historic interiors, among other she has been photographed at The David Sassoon Library and Reading Room in Mumbai. 'We restored the original profile of the pitched tiles roof that had been demolished and replaced by a flat RCC slab, restoring the original spatial integrity of the library and restoring its interiors,' says Lambah. But, is there a building she would love to restore? 'The Watson's Hotel,' comes her quick DILAWARI | 'All historic buildings are equally good, but some suffer neglect, others wrong repairs' (Photograph by Mandar Deodhar) advertisementConservation architect Vikas Dilawari has been restoring buildings since 1990. 'I was always interested in history and was fortunate to train under architect Ved Segan, who handled the first conservation project in the country—restoration of Gaiety Theatre in Shimla,' says Dilawari. Since then, there has been no looking back. 'In the last 35 years, we have conserved at least 75 buildings, of which 19 won the UNESCO Asia Pacific Awards,' he adds. His work includes Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Byculla, Mumbai; Aga Khan Palace, Pune; Archiepiscopal Palace, Old Goa; Flora Fountain, Mumbai; and Royal Bombay Yacht Club, visited the CSMS Museum (photographed here) with him. 'I worked on it from 2019 till 2022 (for its centenary), then continued it till 2024,' says Dilawari. His work included restoring the exterior faade of the entire museum building. 'We did complete repairs of the top floor of the main building and the waterproofing of its terraces, along with repairs to the main dome and refurbishment of the key gallery under the dome from within. Also the refurbishing the two Tata galleries on the top floor and the common areas of the museum,' shares Dilawari.'I would love to restore any unloved residential buildings of Mumbai,' says the architect who thoroughly enjoyed restoring Hira Baugh in CP Tank and Lal Chimney Complex in KOHLI | 'In India we are spoilt for riches, with the vast numbers of our old historical buildings' (Photograph by Adil Hasan) Padma Shri in 1992, Sunita Kohli is an interior designer, architectural restorer and furniture manufacturer. She is known for conserving and decorating Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, the Prime Minister's Office, the bungalows of the Prime Minister's residence, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum and Hyderabad House in New Delhi. She has also designed the National Assembly Building in Thimphu, Bhutan, and conserved and decorated Naila Fort, Jaipur. All these, apart from a large number of hotels and hotel boats in Egypt and residences across India.'I was brought in to do the restoration, conservation and decoration of Hyderabad House (photographed here) for the first time in 1982 when Queen Elizabeth II had come to inaugurate the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting,' says Kohli. In 1988-89, she was brought in again, with the government giving her just nine months to complete it. 'The entire House and the gardens were restored. HH has a butterfly plan and is replete with all the idioms of Neoclassical architecture. I wanted to carefully conserve all these elements,' she shares. She not only restored the gardens designed by Lutyens but also designed, in true Lutyenesque style, the two large interior courtyards and an apparently incomplete room, which went on to become the much used Mughal Dining Room. Every room, anteroom and loggia in the House was designed, named and assigned a purpose, barring the obvious Ballroom and Banquet Hall. The Rotunda at the rear, designed to house the Nizam's concubines, was converted by Kohli into the administrative block. As of today, Kohli hopes for an army of architectural conservationists to save buildings in India from being lost owing to time and MILLER | 'I would love to restore any Art Deco building' (Photograph by Mandar Deodhar) Architect Alfaz Miller's success story is linked to the interior architecture and restoration assignment for ANZ Grindlays Fort office in Mumbai (1989). Stepping into his legacy is his daughter, Aahana Miller, now the principal architect at ABM (founded by Alfaz). 'My interest in restoration led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in Interior Architecture at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). This major is an amalgam of architecture and conservation, involving an innovative approach to transform existing buildings,' says Aahana, who during her course was fascinated by how the Japanese designed modern buildings while retaining their heritage. She joined ABM in 2018, working alongside her father who had extensive experience in restoration and adaptive took us to Blue Sea Worli in Mumbai. 'ABM undertook this transformation with a careful balance—modernising the space while preserving its essence. The banquet previously lacked a defined entryway, so we introduced a striking ACP-clad portal, flanked by two oversized urns, to create a grand first impression,' says Aahana. The building's faade, which had deteriorated over time, was completely revamped, and new outdoor lighting was installed to improve its visual appeal. 'A secondary entrance into the main banquet was designed with a stepped portal, featuring double doors and an airlock for seamless functionality,' adds Aahana, who if given a chance would love to restore New India Assurance Building, a beautiful example of Art Deco in to India Today Magazine
