«If any further proof were needed that I have lived: here you can see and hear until both pass you by, but then still remain with you.»

Nobel Prize-winning author Elfriede Jelinek is the focus of this year’s «Musikverein Perspektiven» – a joint venture by Wien Modern and the Musikverein in its third edition, following on from Georg Baselitz and Peter Zumthor. The life and work of this trained organist have been deeply shaped by music. The programme includes, amongst other things, the premiere of a composition by pianist Marianne Schroeder, in which Jelinek’s old Steinway grand piano is given a new lease of life after 30 years of being neither tuned nor played. The long-standing friendship and artistic collaboration between Jelinek and Olga Neuwirth will be honoured – through a multimedia installation, concerts and films – as will be Jelinek’s musical fixed stars Messiaen, Ligeti, Schubert and Mahler. Last but not least, some texts which are little known up til now and collected on Jelinek’s website – will be read in public for the first time by Josef Hader, Birgit Minichmayr and many others: «Besser wird’s nicht»! [It won’t get any better than this!]