Farewell to "Mister Wonderful": Last Honors for Harald Serafin at Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral

It was a solemn farewell to Harald Serafin, which friends and companions prepared for the "Mr. Wunderbar," who passed away on September 15, on Wednesday in Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral. The who's who of the local musical scene and society gathered for a church service. This was led by Cathedral Priest Toni Faber, who had long been a friend of Serafin - an explicit wish of the former Mörbisch director, who passed away at the age of 93.

Austria bid farewell to Harald Serafin in Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral

A handwritten note with a corresponding request was found in the safe of the popular chamber singer after his death. Now, the family, including children Martina and Daniel Serafin, fulfilled the deceased's wish. The director of the St. Margarethen Opera Festival was also among the eulogists in the cathedral in front of the urn. Additionally, former State Opera Director Ioan Holender, former Chancellor Franz Vranitzky, and Burgenland's former Governor Hans Niessl (both SPÖ) spoke. Burgenland's Governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) and operetta diva Birgit Sarata also personally paid their respects to the deceased.

Moving words and music framed the funeral service

Apart from the memories of the energetic individual, the service in St. Stephen's Cathedral was also framed musically. Among the performers of works by Bach, Mendelssohn, and Strauss were star soprano Camilla Nylund, tenor Andreas Schager, and violinist Lidia Baich. The farewell concluded with the sprinkling of the urn with holy water and the general blessing by Toni Faber.

(APA/Red)

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