Final Programme - EUFOS: European Federation of Oto-Rhino ...

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www.eufos-vienna2007.org
HOFBURG CONGRESS CENTER & REDOUTENSäLE
The Hofburg Congress Center & Redoutensäle Vienna occupies a unique
position among the congress centers of the world. The Hofburg Palace
complex was built between the 13 th and 20 th century. The different wings
of the former imperial residence portray the architectural periods of
Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque up to Classicism.
Until 1918 the Hofburg Palace was the seat of the Habsburg dynasty.
Here, in the Cermonial Hall, during annual symbolic footwashing ceremonies on Holy Thursday, Emperor
Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth washed the feet of 24 elderly people; here, on March 5, 1810,
Napoleon I asked for the hand of Marie Luise.
The conference will be
held today in the same
hall where the Emperor
held his audiences, gala
dinners and royal balls,
or where Empress Maria
Theresia was baptized
on May 15, 1717.
Since 1958 the Hofburg
Congress Center has
been situated in parts
of the Old Castle, New
Castle and the Leopold
Wing. The take-over of
part of the Hofburg complex
was a new starting
point from which to
carry on the continuity
of this historic building.
RENDEzVOUS wITH HISTORY
The Hofburg Redoutensäle Vienna, which are connected to the Hofburg Congress
Center Vienna, have retained the architectural and cultural brilliance of their past
up until today.
Built as an opera house in 1705 under Emperor Joseph I, grandiose baroque operas
were performed in the Redoutensäle. In 1748 Maria Theresia commissioned Jean
Nicolas Jadot to redesign this part of the Hofburg. In the festival halls numerous
concerts, “Redoutes” (masked balls), as well as the magnificent wedding banquet
of Joseph II and Isabella of Parma took place.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s 8 th Symphony was performed here
for the first time, the composers Josef Strauss and Franz Liszt
conducted concerts in these glittering halls, and a number of
smaller Mozart operas were performed.
The rooms were restored after the fire of 1992 partly in their
original design, and partly combined with contemporary
art. Furnished with the most modern technical conference
equipment, the Redoutensäle were opened again in 1997.
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