Sisi + Franz ... Bringing Austria close to you ... Sissi & Franz

The Artists of the Emperors

mike — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:13:55 +0000

Sisi’s husband Franz Joseph I was a big art admirer as like all of the kings of Austria. The museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden close to Vienna shows masterpieces from collections of the Habsburg’s dynastie.

It will be open from 20th February to 14th of June 2009. Art historian Götz Adriani prepared the exposition over many years which features works from Albrecht Dürer, Rubens, Tizian and Velázquez.

We can also find masterworks from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which was inaugurated by Franz Joseph in 1891 . Many hanks to ddp correspontend Nike Luber for this interesting information

Cristiana Capotondi is the new Sisi

mike — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:42:19 +0000

The italian actress Cristiana Capotondi is playing Sisi in the new TV prodution (2 times 90 minutes) directed by Franz Xaver Schwarzenberger, script by Ivan Cotroneo and Monika Rametta. By Munich based summerset production. Franz Joseph’s mother Sophie will be played by Martina Gedeck.

Cristiana was born in Rome 28 years ago and is well known and respected in Italy. She said that she is honoured to play the role of Sissi – once played by Romy Schneider who she adored.

She is also active for Tommy Hilfigers where she named as ambassador along with Claudia Gerini for the limited edition bag initiative, which benefits Breast Health International.

Cristiana deputed as a supporting actor in the movie Vacanze di Natale ’95 (christmas holidays in Aspen Colorado) as Marta Colombo. Lets hope the new Sisi movie will have a slighlty more profound plot but will also be entertaining and represent the authentic charme of Kaiserin Lisi.

A more recent contribution in 2008 is the drama “Rebecca, la prima moglie” – based on a story from Alfred Hitchcock – an italian article automatically translated into english

The Trailer – Vacanze di Natale ’95:

She seems a pretty interesting actress and we are looking forward to see the new Sisi production. Find more about her on cristianacapotondi.com

Win your house in Austria

Mario — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:41:50 +0000

As the most of you already know, Sisi was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia as spouse of Emperor Francis Joseph I. On www.auxionit.com you are able to win your own house or villa in Austria – the first lotteries will start in a few days!

Sissi-acts in Kurtheater with elaborate costumes

Mario — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:50:34 +0000

The costume creator Elisabeth Hannas designed perfect costumes for Sissi acts in Eilser Kurheater…
For more information visit www.sn-online.de

Australia in Sisi fever

mike — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:33:51 +0000

The world class musician AndrÃ© Rieu is performing “down under” this year 2008. “A romantic night in Vienna” is the title of the performance with hundreds of artists performing around a 1:1 replica of the Schoenbrunn Castle. Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane are on the tour list through OZ.

We can not confirm if Susan Erens will act as the Empress Sissi also this time – but she was stunning in earlier performances.

AndrÃ© Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchesta:

a slide show with music:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi6Ei5R88Kk]

AndrÃ© Rieu World Stadium Tour: Imagine yourself in Vienna for an evening… the most romantic city in the world… The World Stadium Tour “A Romantic Night in Vienna” will take place against the background of the biggest transportable set ever: AndrÃ© Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra and Choir, many well-known soloists, the Platinum Tenors, the Vienna State Opera Ballet, 80 Vienna Debutantes, the golden coach with the Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz-Joseph, the Vienna Figure Skating Association, famous skating champions, traditional Viennese horse-drawn carriages with horses and footmen, a complete golden ballroom with real golden chandeliers, fabulous costumes, gorgeous music, magical waltzes and so much more…

A full-size reproduction of the SchÃ¶nbrunn Palace, the Empress Sisi’s castle in Vienna
The golden coach with six white horses carrying the Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz-Joseph.
80 Vienna Debutantes from Vienna’s famous Elmayer Dance School.
The world-famous ballet of the Vienna State Opera.
More than 250 artists are taking part, all resplendent in the most romantic of costumes.
We are building for your delight a real golden ballroom with gilded chandeliers.
Music includes the Blue Danube, the Emperor Waltz, Gold and Silver, My Heart Will Go On (from the Titanic).
Fantastic melodies from operas, musicals and of course, waltzes.
14 real Viennese coaches with 36 horses.
2 real ice rinks where the world’s best skating artists will be pair up to dance.
60 skaters of the Vienna Figure Skating Association will be performing
The Platinum Tenors, Carmen Monarcha, Carla Mafioletti, Mirusia Louwerse, Suzan Erens, the Johann Strauss Orchestra and Choir will be there
Waltzes by Strauss and LehÃ¡r, melodies by Stolz and much more…

please refer to Andre Rieu tickets at ticketEK for more information.

Melbourne – Telstra Dome: November 14th & 15th, 2008
Adelaide – AAMI Stadium: Tuesday 18 November 2008
Sydney- ANZ Telstra Stadium: Saturday 29 November 2008
Brisbane – Suncorp Stadium: Wednesday 3 December 2008

Austrian wine is very successful all over the world

Mario — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:51:31 +0000

In 2007, over 51 million liters of wine was exported from Austria. The most customers are Germans, Swiss and Americans.

The Austria’s vineyards cover about 51,000 hectares which, for the most part, lie in the east and southeast of Austria. Amongst the wines produced here, white wines make up the larger portion â€“ cultivated in 70% of the vineyards are 22 white wine varieties permitted for high quality wine production. Nevertheless, red wine (13 varieties) has come to represent 30% of the vineyards in recent years.Austrian wine-growing areas:

Austria as a wine producing country is divided into four wine-growing areas: â€˜Weinland Ã–sterreichâ€™ comprises the federal states of NiederÃ¶sterreich (Lower Austria) and Burgenland with a total of 12 wine regions; â€˜Steirerlandâ€™ with its three Styrian wine regions, and â€˜Wienâ€™ (Vienna), Austria’s capital, which comprises 700 hectares of vineyards. The other states of Austria are collectively referred to as the â€˜Bergland Ã–sterreichâ€™ (mountain country Austria), where small vineyards are thinly scattered.

Kaviar from Sisi

mike — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:20:19 +0000

Not the famous empress herself but another successful woman with her name.

The lady is originally from West Austria but moved to Alaska in 1973 to catch fish with her family. Sissi Babich-Fritz (53) is actually from Little Walser Valley (german: Kleinwalsertal) and running her own business Northern Keta Caviar where they catch salmon and halibut, with their speciality keta-kaviar.

For further information refer to press articles from Der Standard and Allgaeuer Anzeiger in German.

Musical “Elisabeth”: Sisi comes to Berlin

Mario — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:13:58 +0000

Nobody forgot the wonderful Sisi-films of the 50s. But Sissi was a powerful and amazing than presented in these films…

The musical “Elisabeth” is the most successful original German-speaking musical ever. Over seven million viewers have seen the musical which presents the live of the Austrian empress Elisabeth, which was known as”Sisi” all over the world.

On 8th of April 2008 in the “Berliner Theater des Westens” the successful musical “Elisabeth” will be presented by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay…

For more information, have a look at the Website of the musical Elisabeth ..

Corfu, Greece – Achilleon, one of Sisi’s Palaces

mike — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:11:50 +0000

Empress Elisabeth had the pleasure to travel a lot and to reside in different locations across the Empire. Franz Joseph bought her the Villa Braila in Corfu, Greece and she started to redecorate it in 1888. Among others Berlin based scupltor Ernst Herter formed a statue of mythical greek Trojan hero Achilles and also of Heinrich Heine. Sisi spoke ancient and modern Greek fluently and was a big fan of the poems of Heinrich Heine.

The home, south of Corfu Town, was later sold to German Kaiser Wilhelm, was used as a military hospital during World War I and was then a casino from 1962 on. In 1981 it was featured in the James Bond film â€œFor Your Eyes Onlyâ€. Now it is home for the Greek government which operates a small museum during summer time.

For further information consult the Achilleion WIKI entry or the Kaiservilla website.

Sisi-museum shows milk tooth and christening robe

Mario — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:36:13 +0000

The museum of vienna shows the milk tooth and christening robe of Sisi.

One of the empressâ€™s milk teeth together with its case has been preserved, and visitors will also have the opportunity of seeing these two unique exhibits. The case is made of gilt brass and displays the crowned arms of alliance of Duchess Ludovika in Bavaria.

Despite the romantic appearance of the christening gown and the empressâ€™s seemingly auspicious date of birth, it is as well to remember that the riches and happiness prophesied for Sundayâ€™s children were bestowed at the expense of a short life.