Also: “The Culture Week” – on April 21st from 9:05 a.m. on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – The “matinee” on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 9:05 a.m. on ORF 2 will initially undertake an exciting cultural-historical journey of discovery on the 150th anniversary in the documentary “Water for the Imperial City – The Vienna High Spring Pipeline,” which was created in 2023, together with actor Erwin Steinhauer as the narrator -year anniversary of the special Austrian achievement. Afterwards, a film portrait focuses on a largely unknown contemporary of Mozart and Beethoven: “Marianna von Martines – The Forgotten Composer” (10:00 a.m.). The ORF cultural morning presented by Peter Schneeberger ends with “The Culture Week” (10.45 a.m.) with reports and tips on current cultural events.
“Water for the Imperial City – The Vienna High Spring Pipeline” (9:05 a.m.)
On October 24, 1873, a high water fountain shot for the first time from the high-jet fountain on Vienna’s Schwarzenbergplatz – that was the starting signal for the commissioning of the first Viennese high-spring pipeline. After countless discussions in the local council, intrigues and problems during construction, this technical masterpiece was finally completed. The times when Vienna’s water supply was considered one of the unhealthiest in the world were finally over. The cultural documentary by Thomas Macho, which creates a cinematic monument to the “father of the high spring pipeline” Eduard Suess, tells how this epoch-making innovation came about and at the same time paints a picture of an entire era: between cholera outbreaks, political quarrels, scientific disputes and conflicting economic interests. But outstanding historical figures also played a role, such as the aforementioned geologist and mastermind Eduard Suess, mayor Cajetan Felder and the doctors Carl von Rokitansky and Josef von Skoda. In particular, Vienna’s fight against cholera in the 19th century shows numerous parallels to the defining event from the recent past, the corona pandemic: even back then, the match was business versus science. There were protests against the restrictions on personal freedom and diffuse fears of progress. Political sentiments, fake news and denial of facts delayed construction. In the fight against cholera, not only the origin of the drinking water but also its disposal played an important role: the city also “owes” the creation of its modern sewer network to cholera. And isn’t it the wastewater from which scientists today gain important insights into the type and quantity of viruses circulating in the city?
All of this is narrated and acted out by Erwin Steinhauer. He follows the historical and physical traces of the high spring pipeline and its protagonists and brings to life the excitement, misery, ignorance, intrigue, comedy and euphoria of this important stage on Vienna’s path to becoming a cosmopolitan city. Experts from the areas of urban and medical history, water supply and the author Alexander Bartl, whose book “Waltz in Times of Cholera” served as inspiration for the film, reveal a lot of insightful information about this time.
“Marianna von Martines – The Forgotten Composer” (10:00 a.m.)
The Viennese composer Marianna von Martines has only recently appeared in recent music research, although she was famous during her lifetime (1744–1812) and, as an active salonière, promoted and supported musicians such as Ludwig van Beethoven. In the filmic journey of discovery designed by Barbara Weissenbeck, her story is brought to life through reenactment and her musical work is viewed from the perspective of today’s research and music practice. The Viennese composer Johanna Doderer and various music historians, among others, have their say in the documentary produced in 2019. A look at the social and musical history of Vienna in the 18th century opens up a world in which it was difficult or impossible for female talent in music and art to take a step out of the second row and thus dare to have a career.