A Viennese evening full of music in Prague

On 28 May, the International Office of the City of Vienna held its traditional networking event in Prague. The evening provided an opportunity for in-depth exchange between the two cities, continuing the events after a recent joint workshop on bike sharing.

This year, City of Vienna's Office in Prague chose the Hotel Pytloun in the lower part of Wenceslas Square, as the venue for its annual meeting. Due to adverse weather conditions, the event was relocated from the roof terrace to the hotel restaurant, but this did not affect the atmosphere. The relaxed Wednesday evening was dedicated to Johann Strauss and featured a performance by Austrian musicians.

The event was met with great interest. Participants included representatives of the Prague city administration, municipal organisations, Czech media outlets and Austrian institutions such as the Cultural Forum and the Embassy.

Celebrating Johann Strauss

In collaboration with the Austrian Cultural Forum in Prague, the talented Austrian duo Minerva performed a modern interpretation of the traditional Viennese repertoire to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the birth of the composer Johann Strauss II. The performance was part of the NASOM (New Austrian Sound of Music) federal funding programme, which aims to raise the international profile of Austrian music. A DJ then provided the musical accompaniment for the rest of the evening.

Around 60 guests took advantage of the opportunity to discuss current developments, meet new people and strengthen existing relationships. The evening also provided a forum to explore concrete approaches to future cooperation. Thus, the networking event once again emphasised the importance of personal encounters for ongoing dialogue and strengthening city relations.