Society 365 / 2014

DIPLOMATIE
WELCOME TO AUSTRIA
Fotos: Dragan Tatic, SOCIETY/Pobaschnig
Highlights of WA
“WA” offers an amazing list of events and programmes
with the purpose of introducing foreign
diplomats to the Austrian history and culture.
“WA” visit of the Vienna Boy’s
Choir at Palais Augarten
•
Special tours
Highlights of this Spring were behind-the scenevisits
to the Vienna State Opera and the Wiener
Sängerknaben (Vienna Boy’s Choir). The former was
a very special guided tour through the “bowels” of
the magnificent opera house, with glimpses into
the prompter’s box and the brand-new electronic
live-stream system. At Mahler-Saal “WA” was greeted
by director Dominique Meyer. The visit to the
Vienna Boy’s Choir at their home in the Augarten
Palace was no less fascinating. “WA” was allowed to
see how the boys live and study, and could attend a
rehearsal for their next programme.
•
Exhibitions and talks
Welcome to Austria offers its members special
invitations to art exhibitions even before they are
open to the public. As a part of the Russian-Austrian
Cultural Season “WA” was invited to a preview
of the Fabergé Exhibition at the Art History
Museum. The exhibition presented the works of
Russia’s most influential jeweller and goldsmith
Carl Fabergé who created his art, including the
magnificent Imperial Easter eggs, at the turn of
the 20 th century.
Interesting talks organized by “WA” tried to
establish links between the past and the present.
Professor Manfried Rauchensteiner, famous Aus-
trian historian, gave a lecture on the “Causes for
the Outbreak of the First World War”. Tina Walzer
presented “600 Years of Jewish settlement in Vienna,
pogroms, persecution and restitution”.
•
Cuisine
Apart from art and culture, cuisine is an eminent
part of “WA” programmes. During Carnival
season, “WA” members were treated to an afternoon
with Austrian “Krapfen”, a typical Carnival
sweet, and an interesting neighbourhood walking
tour in the lower parts of the 4 th Viennese district
was rounded out by a lunch at “Zur Herknerin”.
Stefanie Herkner, one of Vienna’s recent culinary
shooting stars, opened her restaurant especially
for “WA” to offer a meal of typical Viennese home
style cooking.
•
Rehearsal of the
Vienna Boy’s Choir
WELCOME
TO AUSTRIA
WA “Welcome to Austria”
was founded in 1997 by Dr.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who
was then State
Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, with
the overriding
objective of introducing
foreign
diplomats and
international civil
servants assigned
to Vienna and
their spouses to
the Austrian way
of life. The aims of WA are to
promote the awareness and
understanding of Austria’s
rich heritage of culture and
history past and present. WA
would welcome newly accredited
diplomats and their
spouses to join the club.
•
WA invites you to join:
■ You will meet many
interesting Austrians in a
relaxed atmosphere and
make new friends.
■ You will be offered a
wide choice of excellent
programmes and learn
a great deal about your
host country.
■ You will be invited to private
homes and through
WA events you will enjoy
many things which you
would not have access to
outside our Association.
•
THE BOARD OF
“WELCOME TO AUSTRIA”
• Dr. Benita Ferrero-Waldner
Founding President
• Foreign Minister
Sebastian Kurz – President
• Gabrielle Schallenberg –
Honorary Vice President
• Ambassador Dr. Angelika
Saupe – 1 st Vice President
• Mag. Agnes Stillfried – 2 nd
Vice President
• Robert Thum – Treasurer
• Mag. Gertrud
Tauchhammer – Public
Affairs, “Schriftführerin”
• Dr. Elisabeth Wolff – Music
• Dr. Heidelore
Almoslechner – German
• Anne Thun-Hohenstein –
History, Art
• Dr. Stefanie Winkelbauer –
Applied Arts, Cuisine
• Mag. Adelaida Calligaris –
Liaison Officer
• Ellen Spallinger – Liaison
Officer
•
OFFICE HOURS
Mo-Tue-Wed: 2 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thurs-Fri: 9 p.m.–12 p.m.
Gabriela Znidaric, Secretary
Hofburg, Stallburg, Reitschulgasse
2, 1010 Vienna
Phone: +43-(0)1-535 88 36,
Fax: +43-(0)1-535 88 37
office@welcome-to-austria.org
www.welcome-to-austria.org
SOCIETY 1_2014 | 73