Until May 11

“wean hean” festival inspires across Vienna

At "wean hean", sufficient space is also given to the future of the Wienerlied and Schrammel music.(Bild: Helmut Stippich)

The iconic "wean hean" festival has been taking place for the 24th time since April 11. Viennese songs and Schrammel music will be celebrated at unusual venues in the city until 11 May - in both classical and contemporary forms.

Under the motto "wean hean", the Viennese song has been at the center of events for some time now. In both classical and contemporary form. The event organized by the Wiener Volksliedwerk celebrated its premiere in 2000 and is taking place for the 24th time this year. On Thursday, April 11, there was already a celebrated premiere at the Otto-Wagner-Areal, now the event will continue to provide enthusiasm on different days until May 11. The program is mixed with established artists and young talents and will take place at rather unusual venues throughout Vienna.

Strong-voiced and rustic: the fiddly singing trio Hollatrio.(Bild: Daniela Fuchs)

A longing for death and literature
But the rest of the program is also more than impressive. On April 16, a series of performers in the Hofburgkapelle will explore the cliché-laden longing for death of the Viennese under the title "Leicht im Abgang?". Three days later, the Hollatrio, consisting of Tini Kainrath, Marie-Theres Stickler and Maria Stippich, provide plenty of traditional local color at the City Farm Augarten. April 22nd is all about the name Kraus in the Liebhartstaler Bockkeller. Here, the iconic writer will be juxtaposed with Viennese song composer Ludwig Gruber ("Es wird a Wein sein"), whose birthday is also 150 years old.

On April 30, friends of the religious will get their money's worth at Theater Akzent. Johannes Silberschneider recites Wolfgang Teuchl's translation of the New Testament into Viennese and is supported musically by the duo Soyka and Stirner. On May 2, things will get more modern at Club U: the Stippich Electric Project and DJ Nora Anna will be playing Viennese songs with electro beats. On May 6, the Liebhartstaler Bockkeller will host the "Schrammelini Monday" for the next generation, and on May 9, the Weana Gschroppn will create an imperial atmosphere with a multi-instrumental radio play at the same venue. "wean hean" concludes on May 11 with the expanded quintet Trio Lepschi at Porgy & Bess.

Breaking bread with Johannes Silberschneider, Stoyka and Stirner aka Jesus and his Hawara.(Bild: Herbert Zotti)

Program and tickets
In total, more than 70 artists will be creating excitement across the city and, above all, impressively proving that the Viennese song with its tradition in all its classical and more contemporary forms still generates enthusiasm and cheers. All dates, tickets and further information on the individual evenings can be found at www.wienervolksliedwerk.at.