04 Sep 2015
Music, art and luxury alpine grandeur come together in St Christoph, Austria as the arlberg1800 RESORT opens its doors to a high-altitude Art & Concert Hall time for the winter season 2015/16 on 4th October 2015.
Framed by the beautiful Tyrolean Alps at 1800m above sea level, the major new cultural centre, striking in its modern, linear form, will connect a concert hall, artist's studio, music studio and exhibition hall. Featuring exhibitions, masterclasses and music concerts and introducing rising stars, renowned artists and musicians, Kunsthalle arlberg1800 is an artistic milestone in a fascinating, historic location.
arlberg1800 Resort is also home to the iconic Arlberg Hospiz Hotel, originally built in 1386 as an inn, and owned and operated by three generations of the Werner Family, who are keen patrons of the arts.
The Arlberg hospiz hotel witnessed the birth of Alpine skiing and was soon part of the flourishing winter sport in one of the world's most beautiful regions. People of distinction flocked to St Christoph, to one of the region's first 5-star hotels. For almost 700 years, the Hospiz has cocooned its guests in a delightful atmosphere of warmth during the traditional winter ski season.
St Christoph offers some of the best off-piste terrain anywhere in the world, and has an enviable snow record. At 1800m, and located in the biggest snowfall region in the Alps, St Christoph is often deep in snow; with an average of seven metres each winter. With 340km of pistes, of which 146km are blue, 147km are red, and 55km are black, skiing in the Arlberg region is a popular choice for beginners, intermediates and experienced skiers.
Further Info:
arlberg1800 RESORT will open as an all-year, four-season mountain resort, combining the finest in tradition and hospitality along with innovation. In addition to the Arlberg Hospiz Hotel, the arlberg1800 RESORT comprises the Arlberg Suites, the Hospiz Alm Restaurant, the Chalet Skyfall, the Alm Residence Suites and the new Art and Concert Hall with adjoining arlberg1800 suites.
Concert Hall and Art Gallery
At the heart of arlberg1800 RESORT will be the new Concert Hall and Gallery. Bringing the Renaissance salons, in which the exchange of ideas and learning flourished, into the 21st century, the new arts hub aims to facilitate a dialogue between artists, musicians and the public.
Designed by Tyrolean architect Jürgen Kitzmüller, known for his contemporary take on the traditional Alpine form, the building will be an artwork in its own right; marrying streamlined, curved lines with wood cladding and concrete. Two thirds of the building, housing the exhibition and music space, are sheltered underground with light streaming in from a central gallery, while the 17 suites remain above ground in two country houses with panoramic views over the majestic Alps.
Art
The centre of the structure houses the White Space, an extensive exhibition hall measuring 600 m² and eight metres in height. This is where a bi-annual programme of exhibitions curated by section.a will take place. Alongside sits an art lounge, a project room for smaller shows and two studios for artists in residence. Themed exhibitions and shows from individual artists, including, Hans Schabus, Ulrike Köppinger, Clara Oppel and Michail Michailov among others, accompanied by an education programme and workshops will create a living, evolving art institution.
This is supported by the Artist in Residence programme. Originally founded by the Werner family in 2008, it showcases a new generation of contemporary artists, having already provided more than 150 artists with studio space.
Thanks to the newly created studio rooms, the extended Artist in Residence programme will allow guests to experience every single step of artistic production hands-on, getting to know the various artists in person. In addition, selected residencies will hold special workshops for children from six to 12. Through playful supervision and inspiring topics, the aim is to stimulate and encourage children's creative potential.
Music
Next to the arts space, will be an impressive 250 m² concert hall with excellent acoustics and seating for 193 guests. Clad in finely hewn strips of undulating wood, designed to echo the interior of the newly installed Steinway D concert piano, Europe's highest-lying concert hall will play host to an eclectic series of musicians.
Ranging from, classical, jazz, crossover and pop concerts to locally-rooted traditional folk and parlour music, the musical programme by Music Director Peter Vogel will be accompanied by masterclasses, workshops and theme weeks. All will allow visitors to engage in a direct encounter
With sound and space, composers and performers, experiencing music with all their senses. Concerts are given by renowned musicians and ensembles, with the masterclasses, theme weeks and workshops led by well-known professors and docents who are masters of their art. Additionally, interested guests can also receive private tuition.
The opening week will kick off with a concert by 25-year-old New York pianist Claire Huangci, who played at the White House at the age of ten and today graces the world's big stages. Daily soirées showcasing a crossover of different musical genres will give a flavour of the wider musical programme. This includes guest performances from 15-year-old violinist Sophie Wang, accompanied by pianist Jeanne Mikitka, the exceptional guitarist Dimitri Lavrentiev, rising star among cellists Julian Bachmann with Moye Kolodin on the piano, and the C-Jazz-Ensemble headed by pianist and composer Peter Vogel.
The week will culminate in a musical and culinary celebration, the 'Long Night of Music' on 10th October. Various ensembles and artists will perform music spanning four centuries. Chef de cuisine Mathias Seidel will serve gourmet Austrian cuisine during the interludes paired with vintages from the arlberg1800 cellar.
Guests staying at the arlberg1800 resort, will have access to the resort's five restaurants, outstanding wine cellars, from a large-bottle cellar to a wine cellar dating back to 1386, extensive sports area, children's club and a vast state-of-the-art spa.
To stay in the Arlberg Hospiz Hotel prices start from:
£175 in a double room “mini” based on two guests sharing per night.
Skyfall Chalet prices start from:
Apartments 001 or 003 (self-catered) from £587 to £1600 for 6 guests per night
Apartments 002 or 004 (self-catered) from £1,740 to £5925 for 6 guests per night.
Fully-catered on request.
