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Kurhaus (Baden-Baden)
Encyclopedia
The Kurhaus is a spa resort, casino, and conference complex in Baden-Baden
, Germany
in the outskirts of the Black Forest
(Schwarzwald).
, who is responsible for the Corinthian columns and paired-griffins frieze of the grand entrance and the neo-classical interiors. Although a casino was incorporated from the inception of the Kurhaus, it only began to achieve international fame in the mid-1830s, when gambling was forbidden in France. This legal barrier encouraged gamblers to cross the border where they could try their luck at Baden-Baden's gaming tables. Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Gambler was inspired by the Russian author's visit to the Kurhaus casino. At one point in her life, Marlene Dietrich
declared that this was "the most beautiful casino in the world."
Over the course of nearly two centuries, the famous resort has experienced its ups and downs. The number of wealthy tourists diminished, for example, during the midst of the First World War. However, by the 1920s, some of those who were made wealthy by the Great War were displacing the titled Europeans who had contributed to building Kurhaus's reputation as a resort and casino.
was convened in the Kurhaus. The 84th session of International Olympic Committee
(IOC) meeting was expanded to encompass a broader range of representatives interested in the success and evolution of the Olympic movement. The Congress brought together delegates from the 147 nations that compete in the Games and participants from 26 international sporting federations.
In addition, each of the five cities seeking to be named as an Olympic venue sent representatives to Baden-Baden. Each group made an official presentation, and the next day the I.O.C. voted. Calgary
and Seoul
were selected to host the 1988 Winter
and Summer Olympics
.
was a working dinner in the Florentine Room (Florentiner Saal) on the evening of April 3, 2009 at the Kurhaus. The large horse-shoe table was set with 28 places, allowing each leader to see and hear each other as they ate and talked together.
A brief classical program of classical music in the Kurhaus auditorium preceded the dinner, with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter
playing works from European and American composers, including selections from Johannes Brahms
' Hungarian Dances and the Hoe-down from Aaron Copland
's Rodeo.
The videocamera placement for NATO's live streaming webcast of the concert hall and the meeting room caused the ornate Kurhaus chandeliers to be featured.
For this special occasion, a series of poles for each of the flags of the NATO allies had been erected along the edge of lawn paralleling the steps of the main entrance.
For this one event, the lighting after nightfall was modified. The lights of the portico behind the colonnade were colored blue for NATO, in contrast with the illuminated white exterior of the flanking walls.
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the outskirts of the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
(Schwarzwald).
History
The main structure was designed in 1824 by Friedrich WeinbrennerFriedrich Weinbrenner
Friedrich Weinbrenner was a German architect and city planner admired for his mastery of classical style.- Birth and education :...
, who is responsible for the Corinthian columns and paired-griffins frieze of the grand entrance and the neo-classical interiors. Although a casino was incorporated from the inception of the Kurhaus, it only began to achieve international fame in the mid-1830s, when gambling was forbidden in France. This legal barrier encouraged gamblers to cross the border where they could try their luck at Baden-Baden's gaming tables. Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Gambler was inspired by the Russian author's visit to the Kurhaus casino. At one point in her life, Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German-American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
declared that this was "the most beautiful casino in the world."
Host to international gatherings
From time to time, Kurhaus has figured prominently in the international news across the span of centuries. The Baden-Baden conference center has hosted international events, congresses and summit meetings.Chess tourney
In 1925, twentieth step in the international chess masters' tournament was played at Kurhaus., The Kurhaus round of play spanned the period between April 16 and May 14, after a rest break was scheduled before the twenty-first and final round would begin in Marienbad on May 23.Olympic congress
From September 23 to September 28 1981, the XIth Olympic CongressOlympic Congress
An Olympic Congress is a large gathering of representatives from the different constituencies of the Olympic Movement, organised by the International Olympic Committee . As detailed in chapter 1, rule 4 of the Olympic Charter, the IOC President is responsible for convening a Congress, presiding...
was convened in the Kurhaus. The 84th session of International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC) meeting was expanded to encompass a broader range of representatives interested in the success and evolution of the Olympic movement. The Congress brought together delegates from the 147 nations that compete in the Games and participants from 26 international sporting federations.
In addition, each of the five cities seeking to be named as an Olympic venue sent representatives to Baden-Baden. Each group made an official presentation, and the next day the I.O.C. voted. Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
were selected to host the 1988 Winter
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
and Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
.
NATO summit
The first official event of the 2009 Strasbourg-Kehl summit2009 Strasbourg-Kehl summit
The 2009 Strasbourg–Kehl Summit was a NATO summit of heads of state and heads of government held in Strasbourg, France, and in Kehl and Baden-Baden, Germany, on 3–4 April 2009. The summit marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of North Atlantic Treaty Organization...
was a working dinner in the Florentine Room (Florentiner Saal) on the evening of April 3, 2009 at the Kurhaus. The large horse-shoe table was set with 28 places, allowing each leader to see and hear each other as they ate and talked together.
A brief classical program of classical music in the Kurhaus auditorium preceded the dinner, with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter
Anne-Sophie Mutter
Anne-Sophie Mutter is a German violinist.- Early life :Mutter was born in Rheinfelden, Germany. She began playing the piano at age five, and shortly afterwards took up the violin, studying with Erna Honigberger, a pupil of Carl Flesch...
playing works from European and American composers, including selections from Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
' Hungarian Dances and the Hoe-down from Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
's Rodeo.
The videocamera placement for NATO's live streaming webcast of the concert hall and the meeting room caused the ornate Kurhaus chandeliers to be featured.
For this special occasion, a series of poles for each of the flags of the NATO allies had been erected along the edge of lawn paralleling the steps of the main entrance.
For this one event, the lighting after nightfall was modified. The lights of the portico behind the colonnade were colored blue for NATO, in contrast with the illuminated white exterior of the flanking walls.