Austria
It's been nearly 250 years since the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the prodigious and precocious composer who stunned the world with his talent. He dressed in the trendiest fashions, tweaked eighteenth century moralities with his vulgar sense of humor and chased women—just like many of today's divas and demigods. But while their tunes will be forgotten by this time next year, Mozart's music is as popular today as it was centuries ago.
On Mozart's birthday, January 27, Salzburg and Vienna will begin a year-long series of celebrations in his honor.
Salzburg —Although Mozart was born in Salzburg, he began performing throughout Europe at age six. After experiencing the large cities of other countries, his hometown seemed provincial, but it is precisely that small-town charm that today attracts visitors from around the world.
Salzburg is dissected by the Salzbach River, hemmed in by lofty mountains, and towered over by the Hohensalzburg Fortress. This citadel, perched on sheer rock, protected the Catholic enclave during wars between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy in the eleventh century, and was used as military barracks into the late nineteenth century. It's one of Salzburg's most visited sites and for good reason—the castle's Golden Room is a prime example of ornate Gothic style, the grounds are pristinely restored and the view of the city from the fortress' vantage point is stunning.
One of the most dominant features of the city below is the dome of the Dom, an immense eighth century cathedral constructed from white marble and decorated with elaborate frescoes and detailed statues. Mozart was baptized in the cathe-dral's font and, after being appointed organist in 1779, played his court-commissioned compositions on its 4,000-pipe Baroque organ.
Salzburg's narrow, cobbled streets lead to Old Town, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site filled with Mozart memories. In 1883 he first performed his Mass in C-Minor at the Monastery of St. Peter, which is also the site of the oldest restaurant in Europe, which was built in 1803.
Old Town's longest and busiest street, the Getreidegasse, is lined with inviting shops and cafes, as well as Mozart's childhood home, which has been transformed into a museum in his honor.
Mozart-year celebrations begin January 27 with a two-day citywide party of music, dance and lectures. In May and June the Kontra.com festival (yes, that's the name of the event, not a website address) will contrast Mozart's music with that of modern masters. There will be concerts, readings and performances at venues across the city.
But the city's greatest undertaking will take place July 23 through August 31—a six-week staging of Mozart's entire music-theater oeuvre (22 operas, musical comedies and other works).
Vienna — Craving creative independence, at age 25 Mozart left a secure, but tedious job at the Salzburg royal court to freelance in Vienna. He thrived during his ten years in Vienna, composing such classics as "The Marriage of Figaro" and "The Magic Flute," along with hundreds of other songs, marches and masses.
He lived his first months in a small pension in the first district near St. Peter's Church but was married in the grand St. Stephen's Cathedral, a Gothic master-piece which for many years was the tallest building in Europe, measuring approximately 450 feet.
Two years after his marriage, he moved into a large apartment at Domgasse number 5, now called Mozarthaus, which has recently been restored so as to be ready for the flood of visitors expected during the birthday year. Not far away is Vienna's oldest inn and current restaurant, Griechenbeisl, where Wolf-gang etched his name on the ceiling.
In 1791 Mozart, then heavily in debt, was forced to leave Mozarthaus and move back to the first district. He was working on his Requiem For the Dead when he became mortally ill. After a ceremony in St. Stephen's Cathedral, parts of his unfinished piece were performed during his wake. He was buried at St. Marx Cemetery in a mass grave. His re-mains have never been identified, but a special section of the cemetery has a monument in his honor.
During the birthday year the city's best musicians will play Mozart's music, both in the Vienna State Opera, which is one of the most beautiful venues in the world, and in the orangery (a garden and music room) of the Schonbrunn Palace, where Mozart competed with his archrival Salieri.
Other Mozart sites include the Haus der Musik, a high tech interactive museum, where visitors can virtually conduct like a maestro or remix the opera "The Magic Flute" in a sound gallery—then take their very own composition home on a CD.
Also, the Albertina Museum, a neo-classical palace, will host the "Mozart-Exper-iment Enlightenment," a comprehensive exhibit that will examine the composer's involvement in Freemasonry, his influence in areas other than music and some of the social movements that occurred during his lifetime.
To learn more about Vienna, log onto www.vienna.info
For Salzburg, go to www.salzburg.info
For more on Austria's Mozart celebrations, see www.mozart2006.net
Note: Prague, where Mozart also spent several years, is also celebrating his birthday. To learn more, see www.mozartprague2006.com
Asheville, NC
It's not that easy to impress relatives, especially when their last name is "Vanderbilt." But when young George III—grandson of Cornelius, the railroad tycoon—invited his family to Christmas Eve dinner, some jaded eyes opened wide.
One hundred ten years ago December, his relatives traveled by private railway car from New York to the then-small town of Asheville, NC. There amid the mountains of southern Appalachia, George welcomed them to his new home, a luxurious estate that rivaled the grandest French chateaux.
Today the Biltmore Estate (named "Bilt" after the area in Holland where the Vanderbilts came from and "more" after the Olde English word meaning "rolling hills") hosts a Christmas extra-vaganza that would do the family patriarchs proud.
Of course, even without the Christmas glitter, the estate is statistically and artistically staggering.
Add to this the Christmas decorations—ornament-laden trees in every room, ranging from small table-top models to a forty-foot tall fir, plus countless flower arrangements, garlands, wreaths and gift-wrapped boxes.
While Vanderbilt was most concerned with his own home, he also wanted a livable space for his workers. In 1889 he purchased property near the estate, tore down the dilapidated buildings, and built a new planned community, where all streets radiated fan-like from the focal point, All Souls Church. Biltmore Village was incorporated as a town in 1893, two years before Vanderbilt moved into his own mansion.
Today the old buildings have been restored and are used as specialty shops, restaurants and galleries. Despite two hurricanes that caused devastating flooding this year, Biltmore Village plans to celebrate the holiday season in style. By December 3 when the Village is transformed into Nineteenth Century England for its annual Dickens Celebration, nearly all of the shops will be open for business.
For more information: www.biltmore.com and www.exploreasheville.com