Music, Composers and Travel

A musical journey through Vienna homes, instruments, and traditions that shaped a genius. Following Mozart’s Footsteps Walking through Salzburg and Vienna offers a remarkable opportunity to trace Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's life through the places he called home. Each residence reveals a different chapter of his story—from the childhood rooms where his extraordinary talent first emerged to the elegant Vienna apartment that reflected his early success, and finally to the more mo

The Ludwig van Beethoven exhibition is a must-see at the House of Music (Sound Museum) in Vienna, Austria. It features a Broadwood pianoforte of 6 octaves and two pedals, a similar instrument on which Beethoven composed the Moonlight Sonata. Although the original piano of Beethoven does not exist, the Broadwood model is a similar one made for Beethoven. On the other hand, another Beethoven museum, Pasqualati House, where the composer lived between 1804 and 1815, shows a lit

Chopin’s concert at Łazienki Park was an amazing live piano experience. The guest was French pianist Marc Laforet, a 2nd prize winner of the 11th International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition in 1985. Now 59, he flawlessly played several Mazurkas (he received a Polish Radio Award), Nocturnes, Polonaises, and Scherzo No. 2, surrounded by crowds of listeners on this hot summer Sunday. What a treat for the soul! In Warsaw, Poland, few musical traditions are as elegant and time

During my recent trip to Hungary, I visited the Royal Palace of Gödöllő, the beloved summer residence of Empress Elisabeth of Austria—Sisi—Queen of Hungary. My visit was inspired by a PBS series about her life, which sparked my curiosity about this fascinating historical figure. The palace, beautifully preserved, stands surrounded by a lush botanical garden and a vast park, both inviting peaceful reflection. Inside, I admired portraits of Sisi from her 16th year through her c

Attending the evening concert at St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest was an uplifting musical experience. The basilica boasts a massive dome, making it the tallest building in the city (96 meters high). Lifting your head, you can see the image of God the Father. The large pipe organ on the balcony was built in 1905 by József Angster – the last modernization was completed in 2004 by Varadi and Songs, a Hungarian organ builder. The organ has 93 stops and 7,544 pipes, including

The Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest, a significant part of the city's cultural heritage, is located on the beautiful Andrassy Avenue. If the reader decides to take a historical M1 line, the metro will take them directly to the opera house (stop: Opera). In front of the opera theatre stands a monument to Franz Liszt, a major patron of Hungarian opera performances. The building is a magnificent sight, both from the outside and the inside, with its stunning architecture

The Béla Bartók Memorial House, situated at Csalán Street, number 29, is a place of historical significance. It was converted into a museum in 1981, in honor of Bartok's 100th anniversary of birth. The journey to this beautiful villa area of Pest is an experience in itself. I chose bus #5, a 45-minute drive through the picturesque green parks and villas of Pest. For those planning this trip, the last stop of the bus is your destination, followed by a 10-minute walk up the hil

Hungary is a land where music, history, and architecture intertwine in perfect harmony. On this journey, I’ll step into the world of legendary composers at the Franz Liszt Museum and the former home of Béla Bartók, feeling the echoes of their genius in the very rooms where they once played and composed. I’ll wander through the elegance of Liszt's museum and explore the grandeur of Gödöllő Royal Castle, once a cherished residence of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi.