The Honorary Consulate General of Austria invites citizens to sample tastes, sounds and vistas of the rich culture of this European nation, starting with its food today
Liptauer bread
Time to get Mozart on your playlist and Rainer Maria Rilke in your hand, as the Austrian Culture Week begins this week. From food to music and film, soak in the culture of one of the richest countries in the world. Kicking things off today is a food festival, to be followed by a chamber orchestra concert and a film screening.
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Apfelstrudel and Liptauer Bread are classic Austrian dishes
“My father, Jasu Shah, has been the Honorary Consul General of Austria for over 35 years. Our association with Austria includes fond memories, like hosting the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. This year, we want to present Mumbai with Austria’s rich culture, and show its music, dance and food. The festival will coincide with the traditional celebration of the Austrian National Day which is on October 26,” says Maulik Jasubhai, the Vice Counsel of Austria.
Salzberg Youth Chamber Orchestra will be playing compositions by Mozart and Strauss
Drool over traditional specialties such as Serviettenknödel — a bread dumpling that plays an integral role in the culinary traditions of Austria and Apfelstrudel — the traditional Apple Strudel as well as variety of dishes that make up Austrian cuisine. Its cuisine taps into the varied produce, textures and flavours of Central Europe. Based on meat, chicken, root vegetables, dairy and grains, there is an array of dishes that one can taste at the week-long festival. The sweet-toothed can savour chocolate, fruits, soft cheese and jams.
For Classical music aficionados, the Salzburg Chamber Youth Orchestra Concert, which would feature Joanne D’Mello — an Indian soprano from Goa, will recreate compositions by John Strauss II and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The itinerary will also include waltzes and polkas as part of a Viennese Ball. A rare screening of Strauss’s operetta Die Fledermaus, and a concert of the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta will close the celebrations.