Reise mit Musik - over 70 musicians

Our beautiful tour through Austria/Germany in May featured music - music - music. Peter our tour guide and the leader of Die Sandler, said that during our 2 week tour we saw over 70 live muscians/entertainers. There was NEVER a day without music. One of our first performers was the beautiful Vivan Lindt. Her parents own the Gasthaus Oeller near Passau and she entertained us along with the Gletscherfetzer band.

One evening Hans Fuchs and his Oberkrainer Show entertained us after dinner at the Donauschlinge Hotel. We were lucky enough to be entertained by a talented musician at the Donauschlinge Hotel ever night by the name of Willy Brandstetter. When we went to Linz there was a fest going on and we saw several talented muscians, but later we went for a boat ride on the Donau and had the whole boat to ourselves. The Linzer Stadmusikanten played while our group went up and down the Donau.

We also went into the Czech Republic and during our lunch a Country music band played music Czech style. Our visit to the Slavko Avsenik museuem was topped off with a traditional meal in the fest hall with authentic Oberkrainer musik.

One of our favorites was the evening when we were entertained by 3 great entertainers. We were in Millstadt at the Hotel Alexanderhof and none of us suspected that we were in for such a treat that night. Styrina started the program and when peter told us she was a "firecracker" he was not overstating it. Styrina is scheduled to be at German Fest here in Milwaukee this weekend and if you are going, be sure to catch her show. The band Kristall was also featured and they will be in the USA in November for a Christmas Show tour (Styrina is in that show too).

Then came Bernd Roberts. Just 2 weeks later he competed with his song "Hoer auf den Herz " in the Austrian Vortentscheid for the Grand Prix der Volksmusik. Bernd Roberts has been to the US previously and a real favorite along the East coast. He is one of many stars that Gisela Lewis brings to the US each year.

On the day that we toured Vienna, we went to Grinzing in the evening. We had some great house muscians playing old Vienniese tunes and soon it became a sing-along. That night one of our tour members, Wolfgang Ribbert, sang a beautiful song for us. Later Harry Steiner came by and really got our group up on their feet.

While we were at the Hotel Alexanderhof and young talented singer, Sandro, entertained us one evening. He gave us a 2 hour show and did not let us just sit there listening to him sing. He had us up on our feet doing the polanaise and had the men line up to show how well they could sing too. We had a lot of fun that night.

On our way to the Lammertal we went to the Laimeralm where the well known Laimer family provided the music with an absolutely breathtaking view of the valley below. When we got to Bavaria we stayed at the Hotel zur Post in Rohrdorf. The first evening we were entertained by Bettina Stark. She is quite a BIG talent on the tuba. She has been to the US in the past and several of our group were familiar with her. She also had some other entertainers with her, like Werner Buchner, who had some great songs. Also, Max Zantl, a famous yodler in the area gave us a sample of his fine voice.

We also saw a real Bavarian schuplatter group and had a typical bavarian meal. Our last evening in Germany, we went to the neighboring town of Neubeurern whose Stadt kappelle Musikkapelle Neubeuern was celebrating their 125th anniversary. It was held in a huge tent that held about 2,000 people. The local mayor tapped the first keg of beer and the little guy pictured to the right was ready. This Bavarian festival was also serving their beer in the traditional maas. It was a great way to end a fabulous trip.