Just in: Late Russian maestro to receive grave of honour in Vienna

The sad, early death of Yakov Kreizberg four months ago continues to draw tributes from all over the world. The latest is from the city of Vienna which has decided to award the Russian-America conductor the rare privilege of a grave of honour in the Zentralfriedhof. Kreizberg was born Jewish. No-one seems to have noticed that the burial will take place on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Here’s the announcement sent out to family and friends:

Dear Friends,
Our beloved Yakov will receive an honorary burial from the city of Vienna on October 8th, 2011 at 1 pm in the Zentralfriedhof.  He will be buried in the cemetery where Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and many others rest in peace.  We will start with a small ceremony in a nearby hall where music and musicians will perform.  There will be a few speeches and words of love.  Then we will proceed to lay his urn to rest in a section where honorary Austrian citizens are buried.  There under the moon, stars and heavens people will be able to pay respect to this artistic and wonderous man.  He is very much here in spirit, and I believe that the soul lives on in other mysterious realms and that we all meet again.  Although I know many of you cannot make the long trip, the burial is open to the public and we would very much enjoy seeing any of you who could come, or who are in the area.
Amy Kreizberg