Austria’s Consul in
Pattaya, Rudolf Hofer, represented Pattaya at the event.
Elfi Seitz
Austrians marked the 100th
anniversary of their embassy in Bangkok by unveiling a street sign
officially renaming the street on which it sits after the country’s
most-famous export: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatra and Austrian
Ambassador Johannes Peterlik unveiled “Soi Nada-Mozart” at the embassy’s
Jan. 14 celebration in the capital. Buddhist monks blessed the new
street and nun Mae Chee Brigitte Schrottenbacher from Austria was on
hand with a string quartet performing Mozart melodies.
Bangkok’s Nandha family, which owns the avenue, gave
its blessing for the change from “Soi Nandha” as family members are both
fans of Mozart and Austria.
The celebration drew more than 200 ambassadors and
luminaries from around the capital, as well as male and female Mozart
impersonators who welcomed guests and handed out “Mozart balls” of
pistachio marzipan covered in nougat and dark chocolate. Guests
including Thai-Austrian Society President Vicky Thananan presented
flowers.
The crowd enjoyed an Austrian buffet prepared by Dean
& Deluca, whose Senior Operations Manager John Barton has a mother who
hails from Vienna.
Ria-Ursula Peterlik, the ambassador’s wife, once
again offered Mozart t-shirts for sale with proceeds going to the Child
Protection & Development Center in Pattaya.
Austria founded its first embassy in Bangkok in 1912,
which was staffed by Rudolf Wodianer of Magl๓d, who resided both at the
embassy and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
