It was a memorable evening at the Wiener Musikverein: the Vienna Philharmonic under Daniel Barenboim performed in front of 100 spectators in the Golden Hall yesterday. A five percent occupancy rate in the magnificent building, which would otherwise hold around 2,000 people, would be a miserable quota – in normal times. In corona virus times, this corresponds to 100 percent; after all, only 100 people are allowed to attend an event in June due to virus prevention.
They were able to experience Mozart’s concerto for piano and orchestra (KV 595), which Barenboim conducted from the piano before Beethoven’s 5th symphony was intoned – for CoV reasons, a break had been avoided, as was the opening of the buffets. The hitherto unheard of acoustics of the Golden Hall was extraordinary when, given the personal equality between a full Beethoven orchestra and only 100 people in the audience, the sound characteristics of the legendary concert room completely changed. The warm, rich sound, which is also thanks to sound-absorbing 2,000 people, gives way to a cathedral-like reverb.
Music association director Thomas Angyan and state opera director Dominique Meyer, who both resigned at the end of the month, were awarded honorary membership of the Philharmonic Orchestra on the open stage. “It is very emotional for me,” said Meyer. “The cohabitation between the Philharmonic and the State Opera is potentially a difficult one – but it was pure joy.” The reputation of the music association is also related to the sound of the Philharmonic and vice versa. “It is therefore an award that means so much to me and that really touches me,” says Angyan.
Tomorrow ORF2 will show today’s Musikverein concert in the “Matinee” from 9.40 a.m. Ö1 will also broadcast it live in the “Matinee” tomorrow at 11:03 a.m.
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