Day 1 - Depart Princeton, NJ and arrive in Klagenfurt, Austria
On Friday, March 10th, the Glee Club embarked on their journey to the Balkans. Armed with their passports, concert black, and Glee folders, they left campus for Newark Airport in two groups. Group 1, led by tour manager Emily Della Pietra ‘24, flew to Ljubljana via Frankfurt. As their first flight landed, Tim Manley ‘24 commented, “I’m in surprisingly good spirits, considering what just happened.” Despite a tight layover, Group 1 made it onto their next flight, aided by Laurie Drayton ‘25, who sprinted through the airport with his European passport.
Group 2, led by tour manager Sydney Eck ‘24, took the Munich route. On their second flight, Shruti Venkat ‘23 made the acquaintance of a German teacher named Wolfgang, who promised to attend our concert in Ljubljana. Group 2 ooh’d and aah’d at the Alpine views out the bus windows on the drive into Austria. After a quick stop for lunch, the Glee Club reunited at their hotel on the shores of Lake Wörthensee.
Wasting no time, the Glee Club hopped back on the buses for a short drive into the heart of Klagenfurt, where they met their Australian (yes, you read that correctly) guide, Alex, for a tour of the small town. They first stopped at the Landhous Building to see the heraldry in the Wappensaal. After some confusion about the definition of “heraldry,” all became clear when they entered the Great Hall of Coats of Arms and craned their necks to look at the brightly-painted royal crests representing the Carinthian Estates.
Next, the Glee Club stopped at the Klagenfurt-Dom, the main cathedral of Klagenfurt. After examining a modern art installation at the front of the church, the Glee Club met the priest, who shared the history of the Rococo-style cathedral.
Finally, the Glee Club headed to the State Theater, where they met Stephan, their musical host. After admiring the ornate and intimate interior, they made their way back to the hotel.
The Glee Club ended their long day of travel with a delicious dinner at UniWirt, digging into garlic soup, vegetable curry, goulash, and chocolate mousse. They celebrated Alex Giannattasio’s ‘23 birthday with a spirited rendition of Poulenc’s “Happy Birthday.” Some Glee clubbers (including Gabriel Crouch) could not resist the tug of their heavy eyelids, and the Glee Club, tired and grateful, retired to sleep, looking forward to the Balkan adventures ahead.
~ Hannah Bein ‘22
