Want to hear a piece by Mozart in the very building he composed it in? Step this way, ladies and gentlemen: the Bösendorfer-Saal in the Mozarthaus often makes it possible.
- Small concert venue primarily with a repertoire of chamber music
- Events may include talks by experts and performers
- Same location as Mozart’s former apartment
- See also:
NB: Event details can change at short notice, so check with official homepages for up-to-date info and their current COVID status/test requirements.
The concerts
(Not the Saal, but the premises of its famous cooperation partner: the piano manufacturer Bösendorfer)
The Mozarthaus is, as the name suggests, the house where Mozart lived for three years during his long stay in Vienna.
There is something particularly charming about the idea of listening to Mozart’s music in a building that once echoed to the sound of his piano or violin, and where he entertained such musical greats as Haydn.
It’s even more charming to imagine listening to the exact same pieces that Mozart composed in the building.
The Bösendorfer-Saal, a small venue tucked away inside the Mozarthaus, can make just such a unique experience possible.
Do not be alarmed, however, at the prospect of some dumbing down of the composer’s genius. These are “proper concerts” with a varied programme of pieces and performers featuring an array of works by different composers.
Summer recitals and more
An annual favourite (in normal years) with visitors is the Summer Concert series of afternoon piano recitals, often featuring precisely those works composed just a few yards above the venue.
These summer recitals are, of course, not the only concerts to grace the Bösendorfer-Saal.
A random check in the past, for example, revealed a schedule with:
- Mozart Academy concerts on the theme of sonatas for violin and piano (one date featured historical instruments)
- A concert and evening complementing the theme of the concurrent special exhibition in the Mozarthaus: Haydn – Mozart – Beethoven
- The Bösendorfer Saturday afternoon cycle of “Mozart & More” concerts
Check the Mozarthaus listings for up-to-date details on current concerts and events, especially as dates can shift in these tumultuous times.
Tickets and visitor tips
Ticketing arrangements depend on the concert in question, so, again, check the Mozarthaus listings for information.
Don’t forget the Mozarthaus, along with the Mozart apartment, are both worth a visit in their own right. They take you on a musical and biographical journey through Mozart’s time in Vienna.
How to get to the Bösendorfer-Saal
The Mozarthaus lies a few rolls of a chocolate marzipan Mozart ball from the very centre of Vienna. See the main museum article for travel tips.
Address: Domgasse 4, 1010 Vienna