AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE GRAFENEGG FESTIVAL
americanfriends@grafenegg.com
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE GRAFENEGG FESTIVAL, Inc.
The American Friends of the Grafenegg Festival, Inc. is a foundation formed in 2014 for the purpose of supporting the advancement of the Grafenegg Festival. The foundation will endeavour to do this in three ways. Firstly, we strive to make the festival known to lovers of classical music in the United States by inviting them to join us in organized trips to Vienna and the Festival. Secondly, we support the inclusion of American orchestras, ensembles, conductors, soloists and composers in the festival programme. Finally, we sponsor young American musicians to participate in new educational activities that are being established at the Grafenegg Campus.
GRAFENEGG FESTIVAL
Within the space of a few years, Grafenegg has grown into a festival of international renown, delighting audiences and artists with its unique atmosphere. Situated not far from Vienna, the Wolkenturm open-air stage was created in the historic gardens as a focal point of the Festival. This «Tower in the Clouds» is now acknowledged to be one of the world‘s acoustically superior outdoor venues. The extensive concert programme, composed of orchestral concerts, recitals, chamber-music preludes and matinees, is under the artistic direction of star pianist Rudolf Buchbinder. The castle, one of the leading examples of Romantic Gothic Revival in Austria, provides the perfect contrast to the contemporary architecture of the new stages, surrounded by seventy five acres of landscape gardens. During the festival, Grafenegg is transformed into a place of cultural encounters: the audience strolls through the historic gardens, past ornamental lakes and an amazing array of ancient trees. The season runs till mid-September and features ensembles such as the Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic on the stages of the Wolkenturm and the Auditorium concert hall. Artists such as Rene Fleming, Joyce DiDonato, Lang Lang, Sir Simon Rattle and Andris Nelsons bring the highest qualitiy of music to Grafenegg. Composers such as Tan Dun, Krzystof Penderecki, Brett Dean, Jörg Widmann and Matthias Pintscher write specially commissioned works for Grafenegg.
GRAFENEGG CAMPUS
After the successful establishment of the Grafenegg Festival, the stage was set in 2014 for the creation of an educational campus at this beautiful site. The Grafenegg Campus offers talented young musicians the opportunity to enhance their capabilities and meet masters of their art in an inspirational setting. Concert life is supplemented by education and debate. Grafenegg aims to be a place that makes room for education and discussion, providing unforgettable experiences and insights to new generations through master classes, workshops for young performers and composers, alternative concert formats and interaction with professionals of the classical music world. The Grafenegg Campus endeavours to be a place that shapes the future of music and thereby, the future of our society. In addition to the performance venues, Grafenegg has created 17.000 ft2 of rehearsal facilities in the castle giving young musicians space to practice and develop. As a next step, accommodation is being built in the grounds which will allow 130 students the full campus experience.
«The contribution made by the American Friends is essential for the further development of the Grafenegg Festival. Thanks to this contribution, a number of important projects can be implemented.» Rudolf Buchbinder · Artistic Director
« Bringing American friends and Austrian friends together at the Grafenegg Festival will strengthen the cultural links between these two wonderful countries.» Kathleen Robbins · President
«Austria with all its musical history has always benefitted from cultural influences coming from the outside. We are delighted to welcome the American Friends to our home.» Tassilo Metternich · Vice President
American Friends of the Grafenegg Festival, Inc. c/o Morris & McVeigh LLP, 767 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE GRAFENEGG FESTIVAL President Kathleen Robbins Vice President Tassilo Metternich-Sándor Director Marife Hernandez Treasurer Stefan Lang Secretary Richard J. Miller, Jr.
American Friends of the Grafenegg Festival, Inc. is an organisation exempt from income tax under section 501 (c) (3) and is classified as a public charity under Section 170 (b)(1)(A)(vi) of the international Revenue Code.
CONTACT Stefan Lang T: +43 699 14400311 americanfriends@grafenegg.com americanfriends-grafenegg.com Schloss Grafenegg, 3485 Grafenegg, Austria Cover: Grafenegg
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Alexander Haiden | Fotos: Alexander Haiden, Manfred Klimek, Marco Borggreve