Leopoldine Wittgenstein was from a strict Catholic household. Her father was from a Jewish background, but her mother's family history was entirely Aryan from an Austrian land-owning family. The eight children of Karland Leopoldine Wittgenstein were baptised into the Catholic faith and raised as accepted and proud members of the Austrian high-bourgeoisie. Leopoldine or Poldy, as she was known to the family, was exceptionally musical even when judged by the very highest standardsl. The family house "Alleegasse" became a centre of musical excellence. Musical evenings there were attended by

among others, Brahms, Mahler and Bruno Walter. Walter has described the "all-pervading atmosphere of humanity and culture, which prevailed". Through Leopoldine's efforts, the family house became the centre of cultural life in Vienna. It was mainly down to her encouragement that so many of her own children went into the performing arts to the annoyance of her husband. In reality, after the events of the Second World War, this statement seems a little bit simplistic. Was the Jewish community of Vienna ever really accepted into the wider society?