PASSION

Description

PASSION is a spectacular tribute to the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. It portrays all members of this orchestra, the heart of the Vienna State Opera and one of the world’s most important orchestras. Grouped by the 16 instrumental sections, the members of the orchestra are shown together, all black and with their instruments, and individually the way the musicians wish to have themselves portrayed. Both the group portraits and the individual pictures show the many facets that make up the uniqueness of the orchestra. In a playful way, each instrument was assigned a specific area of the opera building, resulting in two consonous narratives.

The extraordinary story of the orchestra, the claim to international leadership, and the unconditioned striving for highest quality make the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra an ideal collective of classical music and also an example of entrepreneurial ambitions. The musicians perform as employees with the Vienna State Opera and as equal co-proprietors of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, this double function making them unique “objects of study” for artistic aspirations.

THE TEXTS

Dominique Meyer, Director of the Vienna State Opera, Franz Welser-Möst, General Music Director of the Vienna State Opera, and Michael Bladerer, chair of works council of the Vienna State Opera, have provided introductions to the book.

In addition, one musician per instrumental section has contributed texts about their instruments: Charlotte Balzereit-Zell, Franz Bartolomey, Michael Bladerer, Friedrich Doležal, George Fritthum, Mark Gaal, Martin Gabriel, Paul Adolf Halwax, Clemens Hellsberg, Rainer Honeck, Thomas Jöbstl, Daniel Ottensamer, Hans Peter Schuh, Wolfgang Schulz, Michael Strasser, Michael Werba and Klaus Zauner.