News Archive

Since 2005, Linz09’s editorial staff has documented Capital of Culture events and activities in more than 700 articles. From rundowns on preliminary projects and reports about the many productions staged throughout 2009 to interesting updates from other Capitals of Culture, they’re all available here in chronological order.

Zipfer presents Linz09 Beer (30.01.2009)

Press Conference Zipfer, 30 January 2009

Here’s a great way to drink a toast to the Capital of Culture year! Zipfer Linz09, the official beer of the Capital of Culture, premieres today.

First Presentation I LIKE TO MOVE IT MOVE IT Berufsschule 8, 28 January 2009

Linz’s Vocational School 8 is the first of 90 Upper Austrian educational institutions to present its project in conjunction with I LIKE TO MOVE IT MOVE IT, Linz09’s big school project.

Theatergoers are giving rave reviews to “Territories,” a thrilling drama currently being staged at Eisenhand. After the February 2 performance, there’ll be a panel discussion with author Betty Shamieh, the production’s director, designers and cast, and Linz09’s Airan Berg.

The “Best of Austria” is attracting throngs of visitors, but it’s also polarizing them and raising their tempers! What are “the best” artworks and selects them? And is such a thing even admissible? The Lentos Art Museum Linz invites the public to attend a panel discussion.

Travel industry professionals attending the actb trade show displayed keen interest in the 2009 European Capital of Culture. After all, Linz09 is the centerpiece of Austria's cultural offerings this year!

In 1989, Linz’s Posthof launched a daring enterprise: a whole month’s program dedicated to local and regional musicians. The result was a hit! During the Capital of Culture year, Heimspiel (Home Match) celebrates its 20th anniversary.*

Instead of solving homicide cases, “Tatort” detective Udo Wachtveitl will be investigating literature on January 28. The actor will read from the works of Adalbert Stifter.

Hear music, feel sounds, create your own works—youngsters can get hands-on musical experience at “Compose!” workshops being held on January 27 by Linz09 and the Anton Bruckner Private University.

“Linz is well worth a trip!” say the editors of MERIAN, the leading German-language travel magazine. Now, they’ve dedicated a whole issue to the Capital of Culture and its surrounding region. Act now to reserve seats for the presentation on Wednesday, January 28!

Part of the Kepler Salon’s mission is to foster understanding of science and research. Sharp young minds will get busy doing just that on Saturday, January 24 at Salon of the Sly Foxes.

115 languages are spoken in the City of Linz, home of countless ethnic communities and associations. Now, Linz09 is making Hafenhalle09 available as a setting in which the city’s minorities can present themselves to the public.

Theatre Mania 1: Snowstorm is bringing world-class artistry to Linz. Here’s a brief rundown of two outstanding productions.

The “Doing Magic” exhibition opens at the Nordico Museum in the first week of February. This will be a fascinating look at what wizards, magicians, illusionists, hypnotists, fortune-tellers, escapologists and other masters of amazement have up their sleeves.

The Stadtkino project is underway. 5:30 PM daily, the Moviemento art house theatre is the place to be for cinéastes.

It seems that lots of travellers are tired of cookie-cutter hotel rooms! The response to Linz09’s very innovative Pixelhotel project has been enthusiastic indeed. Two new facilities have just opened.

The Capital of Culture year’s first major international theatre and dance festival is running through mid-February. Tickets are still available for all shows in the Theatre Mania 1: Snowstorm line-up. One production has been postponed due to illness.

Upper Austrian musician Hubert von Goisern toured Europe the past two summers with his band and crew traveling and performing aboard a tug-driven barge converted into a floating stage. In 2007, they sailed eastward to the Danube Delta; the 2008 destination was the North Sea. The grand finale of this musical journey will happen in July 2009 in Linz Harbor. Tickets are on sale now.

Classical music is establishing closer bonds between Capital of Culture candidate city Lüttich (Liège), Belgium and this year’s honoree, Linz. A concert featuring works by Haydn and Bruckner will be broadcast live on the internet.

Liverpool staged quite a festive European Capital of Culture “changing of the guard” ceremony. 35,000 well-wishers turned out for the grand finale of the English metropolis’ one-year reign and to welcome Linz as their worthy successor.

Twelve up-and-coming young acts from the new EU-member states will be leaving their musical calling cards at Linz’s Posthof during the Capital of Culture year. This acoustic journey through Eastern Europe kicks off on January 16 with four bands from Slovakia.

Loneliness, fear and the consequences of an obsession with power are the themes of Franz Hummel’s opera “Fouché.” This work commissioned by Linz09 premieres on January 9th.

In addition to literature, author Adalbert Stifter loved to entertain guests in his home. “Zu Gast bei Stifter” is dedicated to both passions, and offers a great way for lunch-hour audiences to satisfy their hunger for intellectual and physical sustenance.

Right at the outset of the Capital of Culture year, a storm will be raging across Linz stages and blowing a breath of fresh air into the local theatrical scene.

Lively discussions have been prompted by the “Best of Austria” exhibition in the Lentos Museum of Modern Art Linz. What criteria do works of art have to fulfill to be designated “the best”? And who’s qualified to pass these judgments? Join the debate!

Johannes Kepler lived in Linz from 1612 to 1627. Beginning January 12th in the scientist and astronomer’s former residence, the tradition of intellectual inquiry will be carried on there.

Cineastic goodies made in Austria are in store for the visitors of “Stadtkino”. With a programme that ranges from internationally acclaimed classic features such as “Die Siebtelbauern” to music videos and experimental films they’re in for a series of treats.

An initial assessment of the Capital of Culture year yields a positive picture across the board! The audience of 130,000 that gathered to witness the “Rocket Symphony” on New Year’s Eve exceeded all expectations.

Writing and the written word are made the object of a hands-on experiment at the StifterHaus. “Entdeckungsreise Literatur” [Literature as a journey of discovery] is a programme attuned to families and invites grown-ups and little ’uns to take part in experiments, a fairy-tale hour and a journey through time.

In Culture Capital Year each Sunday morning is a special treat. Our first Sunday of the year offers breakfast with the Three Wise Women, guided tours at the new Ars Electronica Center, a music theatre performance, a film brunch and “Electrofrühstück”.

Cultural Capital Neighbourhood of the Month – Old Inner City

All of Linz is Linz09! CAPITAL OF CULTURE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE MONTH puts each of Linz’s twelve neighbourhoods centre stage for a month at a time. The first to go is “Alte Innenstadt” – Messrs Juhann and Jod are ready to welcome everyone at their Art Palace in the Hauptplatz.

Opening09: Views to Remember and Cherish (02.01.2009)

Hopefully, you’ll be able to experience the opening of Linz09 live. But in case you miss this spectacle—or simply want to relive it digitally—we’re setting up an online gallery featuring memorable images here.

New Year’s Tradition in front of the Landhaus (02.01.2009)

A genuine Austrian custom assumed its rightful place on the Capital of Culture’s opening program. On January 1st at 11 AM, it was time for some good old-fashioned Aperschnalzen.

It may sound improbable but it’s true – Linz’s industrial precinct boasts a cultural hotspot during Culture Capital Year: Hafenhalle09. Immediately after its solemn opening it became the scene of a triumph. The première of “The Book of Disquiet” was completely sold out.

Over the last months a striking new version of the Ars Electronica Center has been taking shape on the north bank of the Danube. The Museum of the Future has added 4500 m² of floor space to its existing exhibition area.

Linz’s launch into European Capital of Culture Year was the most dazzling event imaginable. In jubilant spirit, 130,000 people celebrated the turn of the year between the Nibelungen Bridge and the Brucknerhaus.

Needless to say, the opening series of events wouldn’t be complete without a concert lineup. One highlight is the European premiere of Philip Glass’ latest symphony. On New Year’s Day at 4 PM, a live feed direct from the Brucknerhaus will be screened on Hauptplatz.

A number of guests specially invited to the grand opening of Linz09 were given the opportunity to experience the capital under a privileged perspective: „Linz zu Hause“[Our home is your home] gave them an authentic taste of what being at home in Linz is like.

All texts before October 2006 are only available in German.

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News Archive

Zipfer presents Linz09 Beer (30.01.2009)

First Presentation of the Big Linz09 School Project (28.01.2009)

Theater Mania 1 Brings Playwright Betty Shamieh to Linz (28.01.2009)

Best of Austria: A Feast for the Eyes or Hopeless Hodgepodge? (28.01.2009)

Linz09 is a Cultural Highlight at Austria's Big Tourism Trade Show (27.01.2009)

Round-number Anniversary: HeimspielTurns 20 (26.01.2009)

Adalbert Stifter: A Case for Udo Wachtveitl (26.01.2009)

Compose Sounds and Choreograph Words (26.01.2009)

The Latest MERIAN Vacation Destination: Linz and Upper Austria (22.01.2009)

Global Warming and Climate Protection at Salon of the Sly Foxes (22.01.2009)

Place of Yearning for… (20.01.2009)

Dance from Germany, Theatre from Israel (20.01.2009)

Linz Conjures Up a Trick or Two (20.01.2009)

Great Flicks Daily (20.01.2009)

Out-of-the-Ordinary Lodging in Linz (20.01.2009)

Programming Change in the Theatre Mania 1: Snowstorm Lineup (20.01.2009)

Hubert von Goisern and Music from East and West (16.01.2009)

Bruckner and Haydn Strengthen Intercity Cultural Friendship (14.01.2009)

Liverpool says “Cheers!” to Linz as Europe’s New Capital of Culture (13.01.2009)

A Dozen of Europe: Experimental Electronics “Made in Slovakia” (13.01.2009)

World Premiere: “Fouché” Takes the Opera Stage by Storm (09.01.2009)

Zu Gast bei Stifter: Nourishment for Mind and Body (08.01.2009)

Theatre Mania1 Brings Impressive Theatrical Art to Linz (08.01.2009)

Best of Austria: The Crème de la Crème of Art in Austria (08.01.2009)

“Kepler Salon” Quenches the Thirst for Knowledge (08.01.2009)

Zu Gast bei Stifter: Nourishment for Mind and Body (07.01.2009)

Stadtkino: Austrian Film Rules OK (05.01.2009)

Initial Recap: Linz09’s Opening was a Blockbuster Hit (05.01.2009)

StifterHaus: A family outing into the realm of literature (04.01.2009)

Sunday mornings with Linz09 (03.01.2009)

Linz’s neighbourhoods join in the cultural concert (03.01.2009)

Opening09: Views to Remember and Cherish (02.01.2009)

New Year’s Tradition in front of the Landhaus (02.01.2009)

“Book of Disquiet” premièred to packed Hafenhalle09 (02.01.2009)

The new Ars Electronica Center has opened (02.01.2009)

The entire bridge one dancefloor: Alles Walzer! (01.01.2009)

Live Feed of the Opening Concert (01.01.2009)

Linz zu Hause (01.01.2009)