I’m sure blather from the HBR supported the idea that distances between factories in Seattle and Outer Mongolia were no farther than a VOIP chat, but the reality was a mess. While this idea might make sense for sourcing coffeemakers, it was a nonsense approach to assembling perhaps the most complicated and potentially dangerous machines shy of nuclear reactors. The company was convinced by one or more management consulting firms to outsource design and production of the 787’s components. The 787 Dreamliner has been vexed since its inception. With the television cameras and lights turned off for the weekend, Andrés expressed his thanks to our Channel 13 friends and rolled up his sleeves for an evening of fruitful discussions with me about the Houston Symphony’s exciting future, a future that owes a debt of gratitude to Vienna’s prominent role in the development of classical music and seeks to build upon Vienna’s remarkable history of cultural achievement.Brake problems, a fuel leak, and an electrical fire kept three Boeing 787s from flying earlier this week, eliciting reassurances from the company that its problems were similar to those of all new planes, and that they’re not changing any manufacturing procedures or sales plans.ĭownplaying the events might be standard PR practice - and they may well be minor bumps in the ongoing shakedown of the new plane - but I think Boeing needs to reevaluate its strategy in light of the fact that it has an airplane problem. Both demonstrated command of Houston’s landmarks and traditions by reciting sections of the children’s book “Goodnight Houston”, a gift brought over during a prior trip. While strolling through Stadtpark, Andrés and Julia shared stories with Gina about their courtship and busy life together in Vienna. On our walk to Stadtpark to meet up with Andrés wife, Julia, and daughter, Laura, following the concert, Gina Gaston asked us about the Houston Symphony’s role as a cultural ambassador and about the virtues and pitfalls associated with outdoor parks concerts. Quite a stunning feat given that the program, as I’ve mentioned previously, was all-Mozart. Several dynamics and phrases were noticeably different from Friday night’s performance and the concert had the feeling of a world premiere. Back inside the Musikverein, I enjoyed an afternoon Tonkünstler concert and marveled at Andrés’ endurance and spontaneity. If you look closely at the bottom right corner of my photo, you will see one of many Tonkünstler Orchester posters displayed throughout the city that feature their current music director (and our incoming maestro!). While the TV crew attempted to climb the Stephansdom’s spire for an elevated view of the city, I snapped a picture of this landmark from street level. Marathon RouteSunday brought beautiful sunshine and the sounds of the Vienna City Marathon to this music capital. One can’t help but be inspired by Vienna’s musical history and everyday performances in its many stunning performance halls. Following the driving tour, I enjoyed Verdi’s opera Don Carlos at the Staatoper while remembering Andrés’ moving story, told to Gina earlier that day, about his first concert experiences in Vienna at the age of 18. Channel 13’s Gina Gaston helped Andrés cope with his strenuous schedule (two different all-Mozart programs rehearsed and performed over a 36-hour period) by sharing some yoga stretches before continuing their interview from the day before. Johann Strauss statue in StadtparkĮarlier on Saturday, the TV crew returned to the Musikverein to see Andrés rehearsing that evening’s Tonkünstler Orchester program. Outside of the city, we paid homage to a few members of the pantheon of music – Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Schoenberg – at their monumental tombstones in Vienna’s Central Cemetery. Crowds flocked with us to Mozart’s statue in the Imperial Palace gardens, but we happened to be the only visitors to one of Beethoven’s former apartments across the street from the University of Vienna. Wanting to better understand what had drawn Andrés to Vienna in the first place, the TV crew toured Vienna on Saturday afternoon and captured footage of prominent monuments that celebrate Vienna’s inspired past. Mozart statue in the Imperial Palace gardensFollowing a very full first day in Vienna described in my first two postings, we have had the opportunity to explore Vienna’s rich musical history for a series of TV stories that will spotlight both the Houston Symphony’s upcoming centennial celebration and the appointment of Andrés Orozco-Estrada as our 16th music director. Īs I await my flight home to Houston, I am fondly recalling highlights from the final 48 hours of my visit to Vienna with a crew from our official television partner KTRK, Channel 13. Mark Hanson, Houston Symphony’s Executive Director/CEO, reports from Vienna:
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