Dear Readers,

In this first edition of 2007 we are glad to present an interview with the Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck who has recently been appointed Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He speaks of the start of his career, his experiences as conductor of many orchestras around the globe and plans for his new assignment beginning September 2008.

The beginning of the year was marked by the building of a new Austrian coalition government composed of the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) inaugurated on January 11.

Other articles include the story of retired Jewish Chaplain Rabbi Lapp, who was born in Austria, served in the U.S. Armed Forces and, upon invitation by Vienna’s Jewish Welcome Service, visited the city in 2000. Since the establishment of the organization more than 25 years ago, the project, “Welcome to Vienna,” has made it possible to invite thousands of Austrians who were forced to flee the country in 1938 for a return visit.

On the sad occasion of the passing of Ambassador Friedrich Hoess, we bring a guest article highlighting his contribution to Austrian-American and transatlantic relations during his tenure as former Austrian Ambassador to the United States from 1987-1992.

Included in this issue is also an updated list of Austrian summer schools offering a broad range of academic programs throughout the country.


Sincerely yours,

Wolfgang Renezeder
Editor-in-Chief