In the last week of the summer term, the German, History and Music Departments led a new, experimental, interdisciplinary trip to Vienna. In this new trip concept, the three disciplines pursued their own subject-specific programmes in the mornings, whilst afternoons and evenings were available for joint activities, opening up each others’ eyes for parts and sights of Vienna they would not normally investigate as part of single-subject excursions.
Apart from the obvious outings, such as a visit to the Prater and Wiener Schnitzel night in a local restaurant, the Germanists showed the musicians how Austrians deal with 39 degrees temperature by swimming in the Danube, and led them on a visit to the United Nations Headquarters. The historians guided the whole group around Schönbrunn Castle and the Musicians not only showed everyone around the Mozart House but also performed a concert for everyone in the ORF Radio Café.
Students also got the opportunity to watch live Opera (Othello) on a balmy evening outside the Wiener Staatsoper, and almost everyone preferred the Monet to Picasso Exhibition at the Albertina to the Club Night happening at the same time on the Albertina Terrace overlooking central Vienna.
Everyone had a wonderful time in the amazing city of Vienna, and this is an interdisciplinary experience we hope to repeat in years to come.
