With Prof. R. Hausner
Vienna _1981
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Professor
Hausner enrolled me in the prestigious Goethe
Institute for an intensive 3-month course in German
entirely at his expense. After the three months had passed,
he summoned me to his office to test my proficiency. Judging
that I didn't speak well enough, he sent me back for another
3 months. I gave my all. At the end of this second period,
he found my proficiency up to level and told me to meet
him at his home the next day.
The next
morning, I took the train for Modling,
15 kilometers south of Vienna.
Crossing the town on foot, I passed in front of Beethoven's
house. Later, I learned that Brahms, Wagner and Egune Schiller
had lived here. Professor Hausner's home was in the
upper town at the foot of a hill. A dream house with a Mercedes
600, a Ferrari
and a dark gray Rolls
Royce "Phantom"
parked out front! I was impressed
by all this wealth. I rang at the intercom and walked up
to meet the professor. He took me to his studio, 5O meters
farther and higher than his house, surrounded by trees,
next to the pool. It was a modern fortress, a digest of
glass and black marble with a breathtaking view of the distant
hills.
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