As every year, the first morning of 2008 was dedicated to - what else than - the Neujahrskonzert in the Musikverein in Vienna. This time, moreover, the concert was broadcasted for the 50th time by the Austrian TV around the world, including Serbian (RTS 2) and Croatian (HRT 1) state TV stations. Since I found the comments by Katarina Glićić and Helga Vlahović-Brnobić rather interesting, especially from the point of political context/s of the two countries, was trying to follow both. And it came out the result of comparison could be a kind of the continuation of your Wechsel-Blog from the Balkan perspective. One of the most prominent TV announcers in Croatia during the last four decades, Mrs. Vlahović, saw the Neujahrskonzert as a remain of the Habsburg world, of course rather idealised and seen as the embodiment of the ball halls, the magic valse music, and other sings of the good old and unfortunately past time in Croatian history too. Those signs she stressed as a possible model for her countrymen today: for instance, as she claimed, Sisi was adored by her people since she was an excellent horse rider, and ate only soups, fruits, and ice-cream - very healthy lady was she, the Empress of Austria? Interestingly enough, the nostalgic tone related to the horses was possible to hear in the comments of Katarina Glišić too: announcing the Sport Polka, played by the Vienna Philharmonic in the red-white shawls referring to the UEFA European Football Championship that will be held in Austria and Switzerland in June 2008, the young Serbian TV announcer said that, on the contrary to today popularity of football, the Biedermeier era known better kinds of sports, like horse riding, for instance? The traditional New Year greetings, this time expressed only in German language by the conductor, Georges Prêtre, and the Philharmonic members, Mrs. Vlahović found "sweet" (well, that French accent...), but yet clear and understandable enough. Mrs. Glišić didn?t have any remarks neither about language pronunciation, nor about healthy food, maybe because this question in Serbia is seen in quite different way, even by the candidate for the Serbian king, who actually doesn?t speak very good Serbian, and likes traditional Serbian food beside the crown.
But, if Serbia regains the status of monarchy, the SGA can be only happy because the Habsburgs will confirm their domination at even wider geography area (try with the buttons from 11ff.) Even the new country code (RS) could stay the same, since it can be understood not only as Republika Srbija, but also - as monarchists explained - as Royal Serbia, or Royaume de/du Serbie.

Ah , there we go : OLD APPLE post mortem ! - I think we've known this guy vigorously indicated by FireStats & Google Analytics ( > mind that : GA doesn't show any results about visitors from China ) .
Talking about New Year's Concert , you may discover some funny sides of the Philharmonics' "Temporary Reduced Website Function" ( + some backstage infos @ www.inadaequ.at ) .
But still : Residing at the very border to Slovakia , we really don't miss the poor
"Bundesheer"- boyzs ( formerly condemmed to "gard" the beautiful "cis"- riverside of the
March ) . HNY to all !