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Harry
Kopietz - The Donauinselfest
Summer
is coming, and, for the Viennese, the Donauinselfest is coming as
well. And, this live action party on Vienna's Danube Island (The
Donauinsel) has become the number one
summer spot for thousands of people. And, it's all thanks to one man
and a dream.
In
early1983, Harry Kopietz, a young socialist city councillor, stood
on the newly completed Danube island and had an idea.
And, what he was thinking was simple. This brand new island,
which had been created as part of a flood control
programme, could be used for much more than just picnics and
taking doggies for walks. It could be the perfect place for a party
as well. A party for the citizens of Vienna. And, so
it was that Harry Kopietz and a few of his friends started organizing
the very first Donauinselfest.
And,
it was a very simple affair. With practically no
budget at all, Harry Kopietz and his friends put a
programme together and started spreading the word.
Many musicians agreed to play, and Vera Russwurm and Nora Frey, two
young TV and radio personalities at the time, were to moderate. And,
then the day came. And, Harry Kopietz and friends nervously waited
for the people to come. At best, Harry Kopietz believed, maybe
15.000 people would turn up. But, he was wrong!
All
in all, more than 160,000 people showed up for
this open-air party. And, the evening was not only successful, but
tremendous as well. Harry Kopietz and his friends had done much
better than expected. They were more than delighted
and quite rightly so. But, then came the shock!
It
was the litter. Tons and tons of paper cups, beer
cans, cigarette ends and so on. And, it all had to be cleared.
Again, Harry Kopietz put out the word. And, again people came.
More than 200. And, the litter, too, became part of the fun. And,
the fun didn't stop there. The next Donauinselfest was soon in the
planning. Now, there was no going back.
And,
the Donauinselfest has not only become the biggest Viennese festival,
it has also become the biggest open-air event in the world. A
remarkable achievement. Each year, hundreds of
thousands of fun loving people make their way to the Donauinselfest
for three or four days of the best music there is. And, all because
of one man!
Harry
Kopietz stood on the island and saw what it was. A
place for good fun. And, that's how it's been ever
since! And, that's how it should be. Vienna, after all,
is a city of music and fun. The Donauinselfest was something that
was waiting to happen! The right man came at just the right time, and
with him a dream the Viennese are still dreaming! Thank you Harry
Kopietz. And, maybe, we'll all meet on the island this summer.
There's no better place - and the fun is the best!
Vocabulary
-
achievement –
Errungenschaft
affair –
Angelegenheit
after all
– nach dem
all in all – alles
im allem
as well
- auch
at all – überhaupt
cleared –
zusammengeräumt
created –
erschaffen
delighted -
erfreut
flood control programme
- Überflutungsschutzsystemen
it's
– it has
litter -
Abfall
showed up (show
up/showed up/shown up) – kamen
spreading the word –
Wort
verbreiten
stood
(stand/stood/stood)
– stand
turn
up (turn
up/turned
up/turned up) – kommen
Questions
What
was Harry Kopietz's dream?
When
did Harry Kopietz have his dream?
Where
was Harry Kopietz when he had his dream?
How
many people did Harry Kopietz believe would come to the party?
How
many people really came to the first Donauinselfest?
Who
moderated the first Donauinselfest?
What
was Harry Kopietz's shock?
Have
you been to the Donauinselfest?
