Musical delicacies from classical, jazz and world music along the ancient Roman road in Kötschach-Mauthen, Dellach im Gailtal and Oberdrauburg: from July 12 to August 18, the Via Iulia Augusta Cultural Summer is dedicated to the question of where from and where to and presents internationally renowned stars as well as young, up-and-coming talents.
The Via Iulia Augusta Cultural Summer is a local cultural provider. Year after year, artistic director Helga Pöcheim brings the wide world of music to the area along the ancient Roman road. The three communities (two in Gailtal, one in Drautal) together create a cultural experience that combines musical delicacies, the beauty of the landscape, history and topicality. Audiences from near and far particularly appreciate the unusual concert venues: unforgettable sound experiences await the audience this year at a romantic mountain lake in the Plöcken region, in a castle ruin, in the former restaurant of a gourmet chef and at the Temple of Hercules on the Gurina, where Celts and Romans once settled.
MOTTO where from? where to?
The 2024 season of the Via Iulia Augusta Cultural Summer focuses on people on the move, whether voluntarily or forced. Moving from one place to another has always been inherent to being human
from one place to another has always been an inherent part of human existence, and the change of location has always been an integral part of culture: from nomadic hunter-gatherers to historical migratory movements and adventurous journeys to distant lands, to
summer retreats, vacations and excursions. The program takes into account the different omens and motivations. Climatic conditions and natural disasters, war, violence and economic hardship have always forced people to leave their homes and find refuge abroad. Others are lured out into the world by the desire for freedom, curiosity and the spirit of discovery. Happy are those who can return to a safe home after a journey.
Oberton String Octet © Marija Jancic
Program insights
The VIA Cultural Summer 2024 offers 12 exciting events, including nine concerts, a lecture with musical accompaniment, a hike over the Plöcken Pass and a trip to Aquileia. Dr. Wolfgang Waldner will open the festival, shedding light on topics such as migration and the fate of displaced Jewish composers. Highlights include performances by Jon Sass and Wolfgang Puschnig as well as modern interpretations of traditional music by artists such as Diknu Schneeberger and Basma Jabr. For children, there is the opera "GOLD!", which encourages respectful interaction with nature. The OBERTON STRING OCTET and the TONČ FEINIG TRIO provide musical variety, while both excursions offer musical surprises and insights into the history of the Via Iulia Augusta.
July 12 to August 18, 2024
VIA Gurina © Andreas Lutche
