Wine and music have a great deal in common. Words used to describe a good wine are strikingly similar to those used to characterise musical compositions - like vivacious,
effervescent, elegant, rich.
Wine has always played a significant role in music; the popular aria "Finch' han dal vino" (Champagne Aria) from Mozart's Don Giovanni, is a
fine example. A majority of lovers of classical music are also great wine lovers as well.
Inspired by the fine taste buds of people for Wine and Music (WAMs), a group of serious Austrian music specialists came together and created the concept of combining these two beautiful form of arts into one work.
Josef Vejvoda, director of the Concerto Classic Wien orchestra, also a
musician in this orchestra, assembled a crew of professional
musicians, including conductor Leopold Hager, baritone Anton Scharinger,
Dr. Eduard Strauss (great-grandson of Eduard Strauss and
great-great-grandson of Johann Strauss I) and the orchestra
Concerto Classic Wien..
Josef also found an ideal partner in the Austrian Wine
Marketing Board headed by the effervescent, vivacious, and elegant (one is not sure how rich he is but he is very congenial-editor) and elegant Willi Klinger.
Austria produces awesome wines especially, white wines like Grüner Veltliner and Sauvignon Blanc and dessert wines including icewein. Together, they selected three pieces of music to fit each of eight types of Austrian wines*. Concerto Classic Wien has performed for this special double-CD, released last month.
Wine and music fans can test which of their preferred pieces of music fit best to the wines;
a challenge that is not always easy, but nevertheless is very exciting
and certainly entertaining. To mind comes Roberto Bava of Barolo who is as passionate about music as wine (delWine-calls such people WAMs) and organises similar musical pieces to match each of his wines and organises wine dinners with this theme.
More details are available at either of their websites. For more info on the CD that is priced at € 29.90 contact bestellung@ccw.co.at
* Eight type of Austrian wines selected- Muskateller (light and zippy), Grüner Veltliner (fresh and elegant), Grüner Veltliner Reserve (intense yet touching), Riesling (brilliant and spirited), Sauvignon Blanc (piquant and extravagant), Zweigelt (charming and harmonious), Blaufränkisch (noble and fiery) and Beerenauslese (exotic rarity, liquid gold) |