A Viennese Christmas is about the lights, the sights, the smells…and the sounds. Expect fewer sleigh bells and more violins, though: after all, you’re in the concert capital of classical music.
Here are my tips for finding the best classical concert, church and choir performances during the Advent season.
- Book a concert experience* for your Vienna trip
- See also:
Classical concerts for 2024
Goodness, Vienna has so many. All the popular venues continue their concert programmes through late November and December.
However, here are some Christmas-themed highlights from the major concert & church locations, as well as details of some smaller and seasonal venues.
These are mostly general tips at the moment, but I add specific suggestions at regular intervals as venues schedule individual concerts.
Mozart and friends for visitors
(The Kursalon venue at Christmas)
Various orchestras and ensembles perform the music of Mozart, Strauss and/or other famous composers with visitors in mind, usually at historical venues and sometimes even in period costume.
I’ve listed many options for you here, but seasonal changes to the usual routine are common, even if just increased concert frequency.
Last year, for example, the concerts in the Schönbrunn orangery had a special cooperation with the neighbouring Christmas market in the grand palace forecourt.
The Musikverein
(The façade above the front entrance)
The Musikverein ranks as probably the world’s most prestigious and best classical music venue. They have daily “normal” performances, but seasonal events and concerts always make an appearance.
If we stretch out the concept of the Christmas period a little, then a reliable annual constant is the rather excellent New Year’s Concert from the Wiener Philharmoniker.
This major cultural event traditionally takes place on December 30th and 31st, as well as January 1st.
Other seasonal performances already scheduled at the time of writing:
- The Cappella Istropolitana and conductor Giovanni Pompe bring us Christmas im Wiener Musikverein on December 11th
- December 22nd is a busy day of seasonal cheer with, for example:
- A lunchtime Christmas concert by the Johann Strauß Walzer Orchester Wien
- The musicians of the Philharmonia Schrammeln along with the Chorus Viennensis present Dreams beneath the Christmas tree
- The Imperial Philharmonic offer The Sound of Christmas
(More info and tickets on Musikverein events available at their website.)
The Konzerthaus
Another prestigious venue is the Konzerthaus, which usually has a more eclectic advent choice.
The venue always hosts Christmas in Vienna: the rather-apt title of a traditional gala music event held annually. The 2024 dates are December 19th (preview edition) and December 20th (the main event).
International singers typically accompany, for example, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Konzerthaus’s own choir (the Wiener Singakademie), and the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra for a seasonal sing-song and feel-good evening of entertainment.
The program can range from traditional carols and songs to pop classics, opera arias, and orchestral compositions.
Should you miss out on tickets, the national broadcaster (ORF) usually shows it on TV (as do many other countries, I believe).
(The Konzerthaus main entrance)
Other Christmas-themed performances already in the programme at the Konzerthaus at the time of writing are:
- The Bachgemeinde Wien present parts 1, 2, 5 and 6 of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on December 7th
- The Wiener Symphoniker and others also perform that same Oratorio (parts 1, 2, 3 and 6) on December 14th, 15th and 16th
- Enjoy an Advent with Elīna Garanča on December 10th featuring the Latvian opera superstar
- Tap your foot along to a Swinging Christmas with the Gerhard Aflenzer Broadway Big Band on December 20th
(More info and tickets for Konzerthaus events available at their website.)
The opera houses
- The Staatsoper performs Strauss’s Die Fledermaus on New Year’s Eve (and again on January 1st) as an established tradition, though I await confirmation for 2024
- The Volksoper has a traditional Christmas concert (dates TBA)
Concerts in churches
Many churches hold advent concerts and choral recitals through December. Here are some of the more popular locations…
Peterskirche
(The dome mirrors that of its Vatican namesake)
A beautiful Baroque church in the centre, which usually hosts concerts in the church itself and also in the crypt. Notable for regular performances by the Classic Ensemble Vienna (which I’ve attended with friends and thoroughly enjoyed).
Karlskirche
(The entrance is actually on the right hand side)
The mighty Baroque church on Karlsplatz square normally has a fair few concerts in the advent season programme. In 2023, for example, the Ensemble 1756 had regular evening performances of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
Jesuitenkirche
(Also known as the Universitätskirche)
The central Baroque Jesuitenkirche church hosted a special performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio last year. So perhaps we might see a repeat.
The performers came from the prestigious mdw (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna): the Webern Chamber Choir and the mdw Barockorchester. You could catch them a second time at Klosterneuburg Abbey, too.
Stephansdom
(This Viennese landmark dominates the centre of town)
The grand cathedral is the heart of the city and obviously worth visiting in its own right or one of the regular giant organ concerts*.
Special Advent concerts are scheduled on several days through December, with additional one-off concerts as a bonus. For example, the world-famous Wiener Symphoniker orchestra holds their annual 2025 Advent concert there on December 6th.
Minoritenkirche
(This ancient bastion dates back to the 1300s)
Home to the Italian congregation in Vienna, this large gothic church also sits in the city centre.
Unlike many similar locations, the Christmas concerts tend to be an eclectic mix of different performers and works (gospel choirs and gospel music have dominated in past years).
Last December, for example, they had performances by Trumpets in Concert, the police (um, musicians from the police force, not the band), a chamber ensemble, and the Ibaraki Youth Wind Orchestra.
Kapuzinerkirche
(Home to many former Emperors and Empresses)
As in past years, the Wiener Kaiserquartett & Friends plan to perform a selection of seasonal music and songs in the Capuchin Church on various dates through the 2024 Advent. The church sits above the Imperial Crypt.
Annakirche
And another church in the old town with concerts typically focusing on the peak era of Viennese classical music (think Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, etc.).
The previous two Advents also had festive tunes performed on trumpets. And it looks like the trumpets are returning in 2024.
Votivkirche
(Impressive, but not as old as it looks!)
This neo-gothic giant had, for example, a Christmas concert by the Bolschoi Don Kosaken, one by Monika Ballwein, and performances by Stella Jones & The American Christmas Gospel last year. The latter have already announced a repeat for 2024.
Bonus Concerts in Museums etc.
One intriguing option is the Fever candlelight concerts, which typically feature classical interpretations of more popular or modern music. Among the Vienna venues last Christmas: the Albertina, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Billrothhaus, and Palais Coburg.
The amateur tradition
A special bonus mention for a planned concert on December 8th in the Ehrbar Saal by the Concentus21 orchestra, as they uphold the Viennese tradition of amateur orchestras and musicians.
The orchestra brings us a performance of Johann Nepomuk Hummel’s Fagottkonzert and Mendelssohn’s first symphony.
The Mozarthaus
This is where Mozart once lived and the location of the main museum dedicated to the composer. Keep an eye out for concerts there. The Wiener Ensemble, for example, played many dates last December.
Frankly, it’s rather cool listening to, for example, Mozart’s music in the same house he composed it in.
The Christmas markets
(The entrance to the Christkindlmarkt)
Keep an ear open when visiting the various Christmas markets, as several may have public music performances. Promising options include:
- Christkindlmarkt: the main market in front of city hall may have brass ensembles performing most days in the evening
- Schönbrunn: the market outside the gorgeous summer Habsburg palace usually has choirs, brass bands, and similar in the late afternoon or early evening each day. Though the market has a new organiser in 2024, so we have to see what changes (if anything)
Choirs
Vienna Boys’ Choir
The Wiener Sängerknaben tend to be quite busy at the end of the year. In 2023, for example, they played a huge advent concert with various guests at the major Stadthalle venue.
The choir’s website has a calendar of all their performances, with appearances in the Hofburg court chapel typically continuing through advent.
Check the website of their own venue for in-house events, which usually include several Christmas performances by the choir.
Still not found something?
Simply keep your eyes open for flyers and posters as you wander through the city centre!
Enjoy!