Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 – the Pastoral – is a firm favourite. I’m happy to listen to it anytime, anywhere. But where better to listen to it than in Vienna, and what’s more on the Beethoven Walk (Beethovengang) in the Viennese suburb of Nussdorf?
A couple of years ago my wife and I took the tram from the centre of the city to this pretty neighbourhood and then strolled along the Beethovengang as we listened to the Pastoral Symphony on our headphones. This is where the great composer himself used to walk, gaining inspiration for this symphony from the woods, vineyards and open countryside around him, and walking in his footsteps brought an entirely new perspective to his music.
And to cap it all, we then enjoyed a simple meal and a glass of wine in the ‘Heurige‘ (wine tavern) in nearby Heiligenstadt which Beethoven himself used to frequent when he lived for a time in the village, and where he worked on his Symphony No.9. Like Beethoven’s music, it was simply delightful.
For more details of wine-focussed activities in and around Vienna, see here