Linz is “Culture Capital” '09

Linz, Austria’s third largest city behind Vienna and Graz has been designated European Capital of Culture for 2009 (www.linz09.at). The signature event in the year-long schedule of more than 30 diverse programs and activities is September’s Klangwolken (Clouds of Sound) which is expected to draw huge crowds to Danube riverbanks for fireworks and orchestral music.

Other culture-year exhibitions are planned for Linz’s Lentos Modern Art Museum and the futuristic, interactive Ars Electronica Center. Audiences anticipate Brucknerfest (Sept. 14-Oct. 8) in the world-class Brucknerhaus concert hall, followed by a Vienna Philharmonic guest appearance on Oct. 26.