With making-of documentary and highlights of the gala concert from the Salzburg Mozarteum – from 9:05 a.m. on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – Over the past ten months, Austria’s choirs have had the opportunity to present their musical skills, their creativity and their joy in singing together to a wide audience at various national events through the “Austria Sings Again” initiative. The Austrian Choir Association and the ORF have thus continued the success story that began in 2011 with the “Österreich singt” project initiated by ORF-TV culture director Martin Traxl and was continued at the European level with “Europe sings” (2014). This year’s initiative reached its climax with the final gala concert in the Salzburg Mozarteum on October 21st. Ten outstanding choirs – one from each federal state plus South Tyrol – were invited to present their diversity, joy of singing and quality. In the “matinee” on Sunday, October 29th at 9:05 a.m. on ORF 2, “Austria Sings Again – The Documentary” by Madlene Feyrer accompanies the choir initiative until the grand finale in Salzburg. Afterwards, the highlights of the gala in the Salzburg Mozarteum (9.30 a.m.) are on the program with “Austria Sings Again – The Concert”. Teresa Vogl will lead the concert.
ORF-TV culture director Martin Traxl: “People who grow beyond themselves”
“’Austria sings again’ is about community, about joy, about passion. “It’s about the music, of course, but it’s mostly about togetherness, about how you can set goals that may seem too high at first, but can still be achieved if you stick together,” describes ORF-TV -Cultural director Martin Traxl describes the spirit of this year’s choir initiative. And: “The audience can expect choral singing that they may not be familiar with. Young, but also older people who make music together, but not only that: who think of choreographies and forms of presentation that fit the respective music. It’s simply about watching people grow beyond themselves,” continues Traxl.
“Austria sings again – The documentary” (9:05 a.m.)
Following on from the successful joint choir projects “Austria sings” and “Europe sings”, the Austrian Choir Association and the ORF are launching the “Austria sings again” initiative in January 2023. After two challenging years of the pandemic, singing in Austrian choirs is set to receive a new boost. “Austria sings again!” offers those who want to sing the opportunity to present their musical skills, their creativity and the joy of singing together to a wide audience. The documentary recalls the beginning of the success story in 2011, traces the importance of choir singing today and shows the highlights of the numerous events of this year’s initiative.
“Austria sings again – The concert” (9.30 a.m.)
The “Austria Sings Again” initiative culminates with a large gala concert at the Mozarteum Foundation. Ten outstanding choirs were invited to this grand finale to present their diversity, joy of singing and quality. The audience already knew some of them from 2011: the Styrian youth choir Cantanima, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023, the Gumpoldskirchner Spatzen or the chamber choir KlangsCala. There were also exciting formations such as Hard-Chor – The New Generation, which proves how outstanding Austria’s youth are carrying on choral singing in the next generation. The program, directed by Leopold Knötzl, shows the highlights of the event, which ORF culture presenter Teresa Vogl leads through.