Star Wars at Schoenbrunn

At the imperial palace Schoenbrunn in Vienna, a Summer Evening Concert was held, where more than one hundred thousand people had the opportunity to listen to one of the best orchestras in the world, the Vienna Philharmonic, reports Euronews.

An unforgettable event at a breathtaking location. In front of the beautiful Schoenbrunn palace, one hundred thousand people also experienced a surprise. The Vienna Philharmonic performed the soundtrack from Star Wars by John Williams, što was particularly fitting given that this year’s concert theme was ‘Music – Planets – Stars’. The unusual theme of this year’s concert was covered by more than 60 television stations worldwide, which is truly a planetary success backed by careful preparation. Maestro Franz Welser-Most conducted the orchestra. The program was unusual for a traditional orchestra like the Vienna Philharmonic, but this was not a coincidence but the result of a specific cultural policy goal, as explained by violist Heinrich Koll. He has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic for 30 years. He stated that they tried to provide something very popular to people who usually do not attend concerts, and that it is extremely fun for them to perform such a different piece once a year.

Although tradition is one of the pillars of Viennese culture, the orchestra can also express an intangible element, whether it is the city that is synonymous with music or the dedication of its musicians. Ian Bousfield, the principal trombone in the Philharmonic, explained that there is nothing so musical in the whole world as Vienna. Music is performed in Vienna like a dialect, like an accent, like a melody. It is not final; it is just beauty created in the moment, he said.  

The summer residence of the Habsburgs is an extraordinary location but presents a challenge for musicians. It is an outdoor concert, and that sometimes brings difficulties, Koll explained. We play towards the Schoenbrunn palace, and because of that, there is a strong echo; after every fortissimo, the music returns and hits the orchestra in the next performance, he continues, but sitting on stage and looking at that mass of people, one feels like a king before his subjects. For Bousfield, it is also an incredible experience, and he says that every time they sit on that platform, every member of the orchestra is ready to die for every next note in front of them. He emphasizes that for them, it is not a job but a life. He also stated that the Vienna Philharmonic has not forgotten that music is a communicative form of art, so they always try to connect with the audience in a way that the audience feels that the orchestra is musically addressing them. (Zlatko Salahović)