Vienna Philharmonic ‘devastated’ by terror attacks

Vienna Philharmonic ‘devastated’ by terror attacks

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norman lebrecht

November 03, 2020

Message from the Vienna Phil, who are about to fly this weekend to Japan.

Die Wiener Philharmoniker sind bestürzt über die blutigen Verbrechen von gestern Abend in der Wiener Innenstadt. Wir stehen in unseren Gedanken bei den Opfern, Verletzten, ihren Angehörigen und allen Beteiligten.
Unsere Büros bleiben auf Empfehlung des Bundesministeriums heute geschlossen.

The Vienna Philharmonic are devastated by the recent attacks that took place in downtown Vienna last night. Our thoughts are with the victims, injured, their families, and everyone involved.
On the recommendation of the Federal Ministry, our offices remain closed today.

The orchestra will give concerts in  Kitakyushu, Osaka, Kawasaki and Tokyo.

UPDATE: South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza writes: ‘I cancelled dinner in the first district with a friend of mine . She is at the restaurant there and they are lying on the floor because some restaurants are being attacked too. It’s like a film.’

Comments

  • E Rand says:

    import the 3rd world, become a 3rd world.

    • Inaustria says:

      Current reports indicate that the shooter who was killed was an Austrian.

      • Jon says:

        Actually, although he also had Austrian citizenship, he was a North Macedonian Albanian and had criminal record for membership of Terrorist Organisation, and for trying to travel ti Syria to join ISIS

        • Comparer21 says:

          Indeed.
          He’s as Austrian…
          as Skippy the rat is a Stallion, for living in a horse-stable.

        • Stereo says:

          Why does Europe in general allow these people to live here.

          • Marvin D says:

            Because it corresponds to the multicultural globohomo hegemony; that the mainstream governments and business support; and thus that the voters support… as long as they will continue to vote mainstream parties, or the internationalist left.

      • Pull up the Drawbridge says:

        He was not an indigenous Austrian, he was a “blow in” and was previously in prison in April 2019 for supporting Islamic State. He should have been barred from entry on security grounds.

        • Freddy Q says:

          Deport Islamists.

        • Williams R says:

          This is a visible incident of a much larger silent incident:
          the silent creeping eradication of the autochthonous population and their identity, heritage, customs and ways.
          Demographics! And no sovereignty.

      • Kym Nunez says:

        So, Kujtim Fejzulai was Jewish?

    • A.L. says:

      You don’t have to import the 3rd world to become the 3rd world. But you can emulate it. Ergo, Donald Trump. Sincere apologies to banana republics everywhere.

    • Seán Hurley says:

      Appalling comment. It is an echo of the sort of racist comments made by Karl Lueger who was Mayor of Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century. Only difference is that his target was eastern European Jews and we know how that ended. Disgusting.

      • On the side of the CRIME VICTIMS says:

        You’re appalled by a mere comment as you embrace terrorism while your fellow man’s blood rushes out of them into the gutter…

        People like you need to stay quarantined PERMANENTLY!

        Why do you think our people flee to other lands in the first place.

  • Sharon says:

    Emulating the 3rd world? I do not want to minimize the tragedy but in certain countries such as Syria,
    parts of Nigeria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Central African Republic and now in the Balkans (Azberjian-Armenia) something like this would be so trivial in comparison to other terrorist violence that it might not even make the local news.

    As far as “importing” the 3rd world is concerned, most immigrants from these countries are trying to escape this type of violence. Many if not most of erstwhile Latin American immigrants stuck in Mexico are immigrating because of the lawlessness and terror in their own countries and the economic problems related to it.

    • John Borstlap says:

      Indeed. The confusion of information and evidence fuels the hatred of a polarized society. To relate psychopaths to refugees is crazy and reveals the need to seek therapy.

      • Opportunity calls says:

        To relate refugees to opportunists who come because of the social and wealth benefits is crazy and reveals shortsightedness.

        (The benefits your citizenship should have for YOU and YOURS is melting away. How long, before you don’t have a say anymore.)

      • Pull up the Drawbridge says:

        Freedom of movement within EU compromises security and biosecurity John, in this rapidly changing world, one must act quickly and decisively to defeat agents of terrorism, Schengen was a big mistake. Thank god for Brexit.

    • Helden Sopran says:

      Azerbaijan-Armenia are in the Caucasus (Kavkaz), the Balkans is the former Yugoslavia. Perhaps if you learned some geography you might be a bit less smug and condescending about the rest of the world outside NYC!

    • Karl says:

      “most immigrants from these countries are trying to escape this type of violence.”
      So you admit some are coming to spread terror. Unless we can figure out a way to tell which is which shouldn’t they all be kept out?

    • Sue Sonata Form says:

      “Most” isn’t “all” though, is it. There’s the rub.

  • Pull up the Drawbridge says:

    The EU’s porous borders (Schengen) are inherently flawed from a security and biosecurity perspective. Any Tom, Dick or Harry can wander about the place willy nilly.

    At least post Brexit Blighty has the channel if the French could get their arses in gear and do something about that migrant camp of theirs. We are fed up with their rubber boats in our shipping lanes.

    No verified ID, background checks and documentation no entry.

    EU need to hold a summit and tighten/secure their border, freedom of movement was a very bad idea.

    • Sue Sonata Form says:

      Completely agree. And inviting thousands in willy nilly – and, by default, having them tramp en route through other sovereign countries without permission – was and is a disaster. A borderless world is a dystopian one.

  • Papageno says:

    At first I thought it was Vienna, Virginia USA and not Austria.

  • William Safford says:

    I am saddened by this attack in Vienna.

    It is a phenomenon that has become normalized in the U.S., to our detriment.

    Best wishes to the Viennese, and may it be a one-time event.

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    Thoughts. We all love you.

  • Garech de Brun says:

    Anthem: O Lord make they servant Elizabeth
    William Byrd
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4j3ZSxu2jo

    O Lord, make they servant Elizabeth
    Our Queen to rejoice in they strength.
    Give her her heart’s desire
    And deny not the request of her lips;
    But prevent her with thine everlasting blessing
    And give her a long life
    Even for ever and ever. Amen.

    Anthem: Behold O God, our defender
    John Blow

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYILH4qhRqA&list=PL9rzaeQ6cfJiAv8j2dK22apS6KwiWQJWb&index=21&t=0s

    Behold O God, our defender
    And look upon the face of thine anointed.
    Great prosperity givest thou unto thy King
    And will shew loving kindness
    Unto thine anointed for evermore.
    The adversaries of the Lord
    Shall be broken to pieces.
    Out of heaven shall he thunder upon them.
    But he shall give strength unto his King
    And exalt the horn of his anointed.
    Amen.
    After Psalm 84, v 9, Psalm 18, v51 and I Samuel ii, v 10.

    • Doc Martin says:

      Garech, clearly the yahoos do not understand real music. You are our defender against the philistines.

      They were sung at the Coronation in 1953.

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