Yewon Ma, Regional Researcher of Austria

 

<2024. 3. 29.>

Hi, my name is Yewon and I’m a student at Sejong Global High School in South Korea. I’m delighted to connect with Austrian friends through this opportunity. 

My hometown is Seoul, the capital city of South Korea. Seoul is not only technologically developed but also holds a rich history as the capital of the Korean peninsula.

I enjoy watching musicals and my favorites happen to be those from Austria. While watching musicals, I became interested in Austrian history and culture, especially about the House of Habsburgs and Empress Elisabeth, so I would love to learn more about Austria.

<2024. 4. 16.>

Hi! I’m Yewon, the regional researcher of Austria and this is my first posting on the country Austria. Before I talk about things like history, I will talk about some major tourist attractions in Austria.

A brief introduction about Austria- the country, located in the center of Europe, is surrounded by many countries like Germany, Slovania, and Hungary. At the same time, a part of Central Eastern Alps belongs to Austria.

 

Austria, with its beautiful nature and culture, has several tourist attractions. Today, I’ll introduce you one of the gorgeous places of Austria.

 First, and my very favorite, is the Schönbrunn Palace, or Schloss Schönbrunn- a Unseco World Heritage.

The 1,441-room Baroque (Rococo on the inside) palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in the country. It has been a major tourist attraction since the mid-1950sFrom the 18th century to 1918, Schönbrunn was the residence of the Habsburg emperors. Tourists that join the tour can see the rooms the royal family used- which is a good chance to get to know about the history.

 

Also, concerts are played once in a while in the palace. Mozart and Salieri used to perform in Schönbrunn’s Baroque Orangeryand the Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra and Ensemble continue the tradition with regular concerts. Those days, musical concerts like Elisabeth In Concert Schönbrunn are played, too.

 

Not only the palace itself, but also the gardens are worth seeing. It even has the world’s oldest zoo still in operation.

So far, I gave a very simple introduction about Palace Schönbrunn. I wish you enjoyed it, and I recommend you to visit the palace if you have a chance!

<2024. 5. 11.>

Hi, this is Yewon, the regional researcher of Austria. 

Today, I’ll introduce you to Belvedere Palace, or Schloss Belvedere. Just like Schönbrunn Palace, it’s located in Vienna, Austria. It was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of the Habsburgs, who is famous as an art collector. The palace consists of two Baroque palaces; the Upper Belvedere and the Lower Belvedere. 

The Upper Belvedere is larger than the Lower Belvedere and houses a museum. The museum boasts a collection of Austrian art, including works by Gustav Klimt, and Egon Schiele.

Its most famous artwork is ‘The Kiss’.

There are many other gorgeous artworks in the museum, as well; this is one of my favorites.

Next is the Lower Belvedere. Built slightly earlier than the Upper Belvedere, it also exhibits beautiful style and features. Today, it hosts temporary exhibitions and events.

The palace has a garden, too. The garden features fountains, sculptures, and horticulture. 

In short, I have simply introduced Palace Belvedere. The palace not only holds historical values but is also an artistic place to visit in Austria, so I recommend you to visit the palace at least once when you have the chance.

<2024. 6. 11.>

Greetings! I’m Yewon, the regional researcher of Austria.

What museum is your favorite? Historical museums? Science museums?

I prefer art museums, and today, I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorites—the Kunsthistorisches Museum, located in Vienna.

I personally got to know the museum thanks to the National Museum of Korea, where a special exhibition that exhibited several artworks that are originally located in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, commemorating the diplomatic relationship between the two countries that dates back to more than 130 years ago.

To introduce you to some landmarks around the museum, there is the Maria Theresia statue, located in between the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Natural History Museum Vienna.

The museum itself was built in 1891, during the governance of Franz Joseph. Not only the artworks in the gallery, but also the museum and its structure are gorgeous.

One of the many famous artworks is the portrait of  Margarita Teresa. Back when the portrait was painted, the House of Habsburgs had power over both Spain and Austria. They repeated the practice of 

consanguineous marriage in order to keep their dynasty from another family. The princess in the portrait got engaged with his uncle, who was doomed to become the Emperor of Austria. After the engagement and before the marriage, the Spanish empire sent those portraits to Vienna for 12 years.

So far, I briefly introduced you to the Kunsthistorisches museum. I would appreciate it if you could recommend me any other museums in Austria to visit! Starting from the next post, I’m planning to talk about music in Austria, as well as some historical figures I’m highly interested in.

<2024. 7. 9.>

Hi, I’m Yewon, the regional researcher for Austria. When you think of classical music composers, who comes to mind? Who is your favorite composer? Mine are Beethoven and Mozart. Most of you probably think of composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, and Mahler. These four composers have one thing in common—they all have their roots in Austria. Thanks to these musicians, Austria has developed a rich history in music. Today, I’d like to talk mainly about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the musical “Mozart!”.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. Born in Salzburg, Austria, he was a child prodigy who began composing music at the age of five. Mozart created over 600 works, including symphonies, operas, chamber music, and concertos, that are celebrated for their melodic beauty and formal perfection. Despite his early death at 35, his music remains an enduring cornerstone of Western classical repertoire. His remarkable ability to blend technical mastery with profound emotional expression continues to captivate audiences worldwide. One of his widely known pieces is the Requiem, his last composition, which is even mentioned in the movie “Amadeus.” 

His birthplace has become a famous tourist attraction of Austria, andMany people visit his birthplace to feel and see traces of him. 

▲ Mozart's Birthplace

Now I’ll move on to the musical “Mozart!”—one of my favorite musicals. The Austrian musical, written by Michael Kunze and composed by Sylvester Levay, sheds light on the talent gifted to Mozart, offering a different perspective on his life. After its first performance in Vienna in 1999, it has been performed in 8 languages across 10 countries, with over 2,400 shows and an audience of 2.5 million. Despite the bright and happy image of Amadeus portrayed in several movies, the play reveals the downsides of his talent and how it led to depression and restricted his true desires. He couldn’t create music freely, nor dress and behave as he wished. This led him to think, “It would’ve been better if I weren’t a genius.” By dividing 'Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart' into the ordinary man 'Wolfgang Mozart' and the child prodigy symbolizing genius 'Amadeus Mozart', it more effectively illustrates the internal conflicts and external struggles he experienced. This aspect of the musical—the desacralization of historical figures and offering audiences a new point of view—is what I like the most, along with the magnificent numbers performed throughout the show.

So far, I have written about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a renowned musician from Austria, and the musical “Mozart!” which depicts his life. In my next post, I will introduce you to Beethoven, another iconic musician from Austria. Stay tuned!

<2024. 8. 12.>

Hello! 

Today, I researched Ludwig van Beethoven, the legendary composer. Although he was born in Bonn, Germany, he spent most of his adulthood in Wien, Austria. Beethoven’s music served as a bridge between the Classical and Romantic eras, celebrated for its emotional depth, structural complexity, and innovation. Despite losing his hearing later in life, he continued to compose some of his most famous works, including Symphony No. 9 and Für Elise, which have profoundly shaped the future of classical music. His legacy lives on through his symphonies, sonatas, concertos, and chamber music. Below is the iconic portrait of him with a red scarf.

While Beethoven was renowned for his musical genius, he faced significant personal challenges, including health issues, tumultuous relationships, and financial difficulties. One of the great mysteries surrounding his life is the identity of the “Immortal Beloved,” a woman he referred to in an unsent letter found after his death. Though he never married, Beethoven had relationships with several women. 

                                       

Among numerous candidates mentioned as the ‘immortal beloved’ of his, one strong candidate is Antonie Brentano, the wife of the Frankfurt banker Franz Brentano, from whom she lived apart for some time in Vienna. There she became acquainted with Beethoven, whom she soon met every day. What makes a strong case for Antonie is the fact that on 2 July 1812, which Beethoven mentions in his letter as the date of their last meeting, she was in Prague, as was he. She also became a mother eight months later, giving birth to Karl Joseph, whose father is presumed to be Beethoven.

                                        

This relationship has even inspired a musical—"Beethoven Secret"—written and composed by Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze. The musical delves into Beethoven’s life, focusing on his passionate, unfulfilled love for Antonie Brentano. With powerful music and dramatic storytelling, it captures the essence of Beethoven's genius and the emotional turmoil he faced, portraying him as not only a musical icon but also a deeply human figure driven by love, pain, and an unrelenting pursuit of artistic perfection.

When "Beethoven Secret" first premiered in South Korea, reactions were mixed, as the musical focused more on Beethoven’s love life, which contrasts with his often tragic public image. Despite the feedback, I personally enjoyed the performance and the story, which explored the more human side of such a famous artist. I found it fascinating to learn about the different facets of historical figures, and I appreciated how the musical numbers were inspired by Beethoven’s original compositions.

In short, I discussed Ludwig van Beethoven and “Beethoven Secret,” a musical about his immortal love, Antonie Brentano. My next post will be about Marie Antoinette, Queen of France—originally Maria Antonia, a princess of Austria. 

Thank you for reading my post!

<2024. 9. 9.>

Greetings, everyone! 

I believe most of you would’ve heard of Marie Antoinette, the renown queen of the French King Louis XVI. Although she is famous as the French queen, I suppose many people don’t know that she also is a princess of Austria, which is why I decided to introduce you to the story of Marie Antoinette, or Maria Antonia of Austria. In addition, I will talk about the musical ‘Marie Antoinette”, too. Marie Antoinette, born Maria Antonia in 1755 in Austria as the 11th daughter of Queen Maria Teresa, became Queen of France at 14 after marrying Louis XVI. Her marriage was part of an alliance between Austria and France. Known for her extravagant lifestyle and love of fashion, she became unpopular as France faced economic hardship, with people blaming her for the monarchy's excesses. Though she was unfairly attributed with the infamous phrase "Let them eat cake," she became a symbol of royal indifference.

As the French Revolution unfolded, the royal family was imprisoned, and Louis XVI was executed in 1793. Later that year, Marie Antoinette was tried and convicted by the revolutionaries. She was executed by guillotine on October 16, 1793. Her life remains a subject of fascination, embodying both the decadence of the monarchy and the tragic consequences of revolution.

Her tragic yet iconic life became a source of numerous movies, dramas, and musicals all around the world—and as I mentioned above, I will now talk about the musical ‘Marie Antoinette’. The musical, written by Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze was first performed in Japan. Premiered in 2006, it was later performed in a couple more countries like Germany in 2009 and South Korea in 2014. Both the Munich and Korean versions were adapted to suit the sentiments of each culture. In the case of the Korean version, a productor in Japan really liked it, and ended up re-importing the Korean ‘Marie Antoinette’—it is being performed in Japan since 2018.

As the Korean version was performed in Korea for 10 years, and the original Japanese production has been performing the Korean version as well, I will introduce you a brief synopsis of the musical based on the Korean version. With the phrase ‘What is the justice we dream of?’ as the whole theme and main quote of the performance, the musical talks about the story of 3 main characters—Marie Antoinette, Margrid Arnaud and Count Axel von Fersen. Below is Marie Antoinette in the musical!

Count Axel von Fersen is depicted as an attractive and brave Swedish aristocrat who loves Marie Antoinette, envied by all women. He understands Marie Antoinette's true self, and he always stands by her side when she needs help without any greed, even though he knows she can't end up being her own person. 

Margrid Arnaud, a street beggar and an advocate of revolution has a strong anger at the unequal world. Margrid Arnaud and many other citizens (revolutionists) complain about the unfairness of life throughout the whole musical. Amid this, public discontent exploded, and the so-called 'Reign of Terror' centered around the Jacobin Party began. Count Axel von Fersen attempted to escape, but was arrested and returned to Paris, suffering the humiliation of being executed by guillotine after her husband, Louis XVI. Marie Antoinette also died in the morning after a public trial. Watching this entire process, Margrid begins to ask herself what true justice is.

‘Gefühl und Verstand’ is promoted as its main number, but I personally enjoy most of the other songs such as ‘Wenn”!

The main reason I thought the musical was very interesting was because it allows the audience to think again about the life of Marie Antoinette, or maybe Maria Antonia—a young princess of Austria, along with mentioning the chaos of the French society during the era, making everyone wonder about ‘What is the justice we dream of?’ along with Marguerite asking herself the same question. I believe the trait is what makes the musical, and many other works of Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay remarkable—the producers don’t try to tell us how they think of the characters. They always give us the chance to think about how we viewed the history of the characters. 

So far, I have introduced you to the story of Maria Antonia, also known as Marie Antoinette, mainly focusing on the musical ‘Marie Antoinette’. I hope you enjoyed my post 

<2024. 10. 8.>

Hi, this is Yewon again! This month, I’ve decided to write about one of the most 

famous women in Austrian history—Empress Elisabeth, more commonly known as 

Sisi. Born in 1837, she became one of the most iconic figures of the 

Austria-Hungary Empire.

Renowned for her beauty, independent spirit, and tragic life, Elisabeth married 

Emperor Franz Joseph I at the age of 16. Despite her glamorous image, she 

often struggled with the constraints of royal life, rebelling against the rigid 

protocols of the Habsburg court. 

She sought freedom through extensive travel and developed a deep connection 

with Hungary, where she was adored by the people. Her life was marked by 

personal tragedies, most notably the death of her son, Crown Prince Rudolf. In 

1898, Elisabeth was assassinated in Geneva by an Italian anarchist, solidifying 

her legacy as a tragic and enigmatic figure in history.

Today, her image remains widespread, with portraits and souvenirs celebrating her legacy across Austria and Southern Germany, particularly in Bavaria, where 

she was born in Munich. 

Like many historical figures I’ve discussed before, Elisabeth’s dramatic life has 

inspired numerous films, dramas, and musicals. Among these, the musical 

Elisabeth holds a special place in my heart, as it introduced me to the world of 

Austrian history and musicals. First premiering in Vienna in 1992, the musical, 

written by Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze, has become one of the most 

successful German-language productions of all time. It has been performed 

around the globe, captivating audiences with its emotional depth, powerful music, 

and its romanticized yet tragic portrayal of Elisabeth.

The musical blends history with fantasy, focusing on Elisabeth's desire for 

freedom, her struggles with the oppressive Habsburg court, and her relationship 

with Death, who is personified as a seductive character. Death plays a central 

role throughout the show, and I find this character especially fascinating. 

Depending on the actor and the audience's interpretation, Death can symbolize 

many things: Elisabeth’s fate, her depression, or even the downfall of the 

Habsburg Empire itself.

The musical opens with Elisabeth&s assassin, Luigi Lucheni, being asked why he 

killed her. In the first number, the Prologue, Lucheni acts as the narrator, and it 

feels as if the people around Elisabeth begin to tell their own stories about her. 

This framing device gives the audience a darker, more complex view of 

Elisabeth, challenging the well-known image of her as merely a beautiful 

empress. This element of questioning and reinterpreting history is another reason 

why Elisabeth is one of my favorite musicals. It encourages us to look beyond 

the surface and consider her life from a broader, more critical perspective. So 

far, I have briefly introduced you to the life of empress Elisabeth, and my 

favorite musical Elisabeth. I recommend you to look up more about her life—I 

personally think her story is one of the most interesting dramas in history. 

<2024. 11. 7.>

Hi everyone, today I would like to change the topic from historical figures to an art movement which started in the grounds of Vienna, Austria—the Vienna Secession.

The Vienna Secession (Wiener Secession) was an art movement and association founded in 1897 in Vienna. The word Secession has its root in the Latin word 'secedere'—meanig ‘ go apart’. This group of artists broke away from the traditional and conservative art institutions of their time, particularly the Austrian Association of Artists, which upheld classical academicism and rigid artistic norms. In contrast, the artists of the Secession sought creative freedom and embraced new forms of expression that broke away from established conventions. The movement played an important role in the development of modern crafts and architecture.

Below is the Vienna Secession building, exhibiting the works of the artists which were part of the movement—founded by Karl Wittgenstein, a wealthy entrepreneur also well known as Ludwig Wittgenstein’s father.

Among the members of Vienna Secession, there are few well-known artists. The first artist to be introduced is Gustav Klimt. Gustav Klimt  was an Austrian Symbolist painter and a central figure in the Vienna Secession movement. His works were known for his highly decorative, sensual, and symbol-laden works.

Also, there was Egon Schiele— an Austrian Expressionist painter known for his raw, emotive, and often provocative works. Schiele’s art pushed boundaries with its exploration of sexuality, psychological intensity, and themes of isolation and mortality. Despite his short life, Schiele made a lasting impact on modern art, helping define the Austrian Expressionist and Wiener Secession movement.

The Vienna Secession embodied the motto, “To every age its art, to art its freedom,” championing the belief that art should freely express and evolve with each new era. By breaking away from traditional conventions, they introduced fresh perspectives to Vienna's art scene, establishing a new aesthetic for the modern age. Key figures like Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele explored the depths of human emotion, imagination, and beauty through their unique styles and themes, celebrating the values of creative freedom and expression. Their work demonstrated that art could not only provide aesthetic pleasure but also challenge and reflect the times, continuing to influence and inspire generations today.