ACF-postcards

Welcome ACF members!

Postcards From Vienna is like going to four private recitals in four weeks, all with your very own expert guide: orchestral conductor Jonathan Berman.

We avoid music terminology and focus on what matters: listening and watching closely, enjoying the music and seeing brilliant artists perform. We hope you enjoy the series, and of course we hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful Austrian Cultural Forum in London in use. We filmed in July 2020.

Every Wednesday for four weeks

Click on a postcard to reveal the relevant episode.

How it works

Every Wednesday for four weeks, you will receive via email exclusive access to one episode or 'postcard' to watch at a time that suits you. For the specific schedule, please refer to the FAQs below or to your ACF email.

Each episode consists of a short talk followed by a recital. Each one is roughly 30 minutes long.

Live discussion

As part of Postcards From Vienna, you're also invited to an optional live video discussion with Jonathan Berman.

The discussion will be held on 10 March 2021 at 5-6pm UK time / 6-7pm Vienna time.

Join the discussion

To join, just click the button above at 5pm on 10 March 2021. Alternatively, open Zoom and type in Meeting ID 846 2728 9290 and passcode 478907.

Ask questions, share your observations or make a request for next time. It's up to you. This is an informal discussion and there's no need to prepare anything in advance.

The music

‍1. Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 1 by Johannes Brahms [1833-1897]
2. Um Mitternacht (At Midnight) from Rückert-Lieder by Gustav Mahler [1860-1911]
3. Piano sonata in E flat No. 59, 1st movement by Joseph Haydn [1732-1809]
4. Six Little Piano Pieces Op. 19 by Arnold Schoenberg [1874-1951]

Just listen to the music

About the artists

Jonathan Berman

Jonathan Berman is a Conductor who performs with orchestras all over the world. He is known for his unique approach to communicating complex ideas with all audiences. He goes above and beyond the traditional role of a conductor, forming the trust of audiences from traditional listeners to the next generation. He is currently in the process of recording the complete symphonies and promoting the music of Franz Schmidt. At the start of lockdown, he began the website standtogethermusic.com in order to promote artists who have had cancellations.

George Fu

Described by the Boston Music Intelligencer as a “heroic piano soloist” with “stunning virtuosity”, Chinese-American pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu is establishing a reputation as a captivating performer with distinctive intelligence and sensitivity.

Lotte Betts-Dean

Australian mezzo soprano Lotte Betts-Dean is a versatile and dynamic concert artist, whose performance experience encompasses opera, oratorio, contemporary music, art song recital/chamber music, early music and non-classical collaborations. She has been based in London since 2014 and works internationally, most often in the UK and Australia. Lotte is Associate Artist with Southbank Sinfonia, and is a member of London-based contemporary music group Ensemble x.y. She is also a City Music Foundation Artist for 2017-2019, recently won the 2019 Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform, and was selected as a 2020 Samling Young Artist. Lotte is a regular collaborator with guitarist Andrey Lebedev with whom she won the inaugural 2018 New Elizabethan Award. Lotte is one 2018 bursars with the Imogen Cooper Music Trust and in 2019 became a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Postcards From Vienna work?

Every Wednesday for 4 weeks, you will receive access to one episode of this 4-part series. You can watch at any time that suits you.

The schedule is:
10 February: Postcard 1 on Johannes Brahms
17 February: Postcard 2 on Gustav Mahler
24 February: Postcard 3 on Joseph Haydn
3 March: Postcard 4 on Arnold Schoenberg

How do I access the episodes?

On each Wednesday during the free access period, you will receive an email from ACF containing the password for the new episode. Simply click on the relevant episode image above, type in the password and you'll be able to watch.

What happens if I miss a day?

Shhhh... we won't tell anybody. Once released, the episodes will be available to watch until the 10th of March 2021.

You can watch more than one video in a day. You can even watch all four videos in one day if you really want to! But we encourage you to watch one per week so that you have time to reflect on the music, and think about the artworks.

I've lost my password or didn't receive it. What should I do?

If you have any problems, please email the Austrian Cultural Forum at office@acflondon.org

What is Greengage Ventures?

Greengage is a production company and a platform that specialises in digital performances in theatre and music. We create paid work for artists and are committed to making brilliant performances more accessible to wider audiences.

You can read more about Greengage here, or browse its online shows here.

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Postcards From Vienna