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City guide | Search the site | Tips for December

Visiting Vienna

How do I see a classical concert?

Faces of four classical composers

Vienna has a musical heritage like no other and one that continues today. But where can you find the right classical music concert for your stay?

Here are my tips.

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Light Classical Concerts

Karlskirche at night

(The Karlskirche church and venue)

Personal tip: Classic Ensemble Vienna

Peterskirche dome, Vienna

Several orchestras and ensembles provide a short evening of concert entertainment in a historical ambience specifically for those on a trip to Vienna.

These concerts typically feature light classical music covering the better-known works of Mozart, Strauss (II) and other composers connected to the city. We have a lot.

Check these particularly popular venues (and should you worry about what clothes are appropriate, here some advice)…

Karlskirche church

Karlskirche pillar

This huge and famous Baroque church with a magnificent interior provides a few unexpected delights.

One is a panorama terrace that offers views across the park and beyond into central Vienna. Another is magnificent performances of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. I found the concert mesmerising; read my review.

Schönbrunn Orangery

Front of Schönbrunn Palace

Playing a little music at home means something quite different when you’re an Emperor.

For Joseph II, for example, it meant inviting Mozart to perform a new piece in the Orangery of Schönbrunn Palace. Public concerts continue that tradition today.

Annakirche church

Portal decor at the Annakirche

A church with an exquisite Baroque interior and regular concerts.

The Classic Exclusive series, for example, features works by those composers traditionally associated with Vienna, such as Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.

The Kursalon

Kursalon thumbnail

The Renaissance-style Kursalon hosted waltzes back when they were the new music craze sweeping the nation empire. It revisits that history with evening concerts.

Take the opportunity to grab a photo with the famous golden statue of Strauss outside (he used to perform at the Kursalon).

The Musikverein

Musikverein building

Actually the city’s most prestigious classical venue, but also used for “tourist-friendly” performances.

The Vienna Mozart Orchestra, for example, uses the ambience and acoustics of this 19th-century building to deliver a “best of” Mozart while dressed in period attire.

  • Bonus: one of the world’s best venues, options include a full VIP experience with carriage ride (!)
  • Visitor and concert info

Mozarthaus

Entrance to the Boesendorfersaal

A vaulted venue lies within the Mozarthaus, a museum dedicated to Mozart in one of his former homes.

Popular concerts there include, for example, summer piano recitals and regular performances by the Wiener Ensemble.

  • Bonus: hear music composed by Mozart in the same building; concert tickets typically include museum entrance
  • Visitor and concert info
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Peterskirche church

Peterskirche dome, Vienna

The astonishing Baroque ornamentation of the Peterskirche offers a gorgeous setting for a classical music concert.

The Classic Ensemble Vienna performs within regularly and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with a friend.

Capuchin church

Kaisergruft frescoes

The Kapuzinerkirche or Capuchin church is best known for the crypt below, which contains the sarcophagi and coffins of dozens of Habsburg monarchs and their families.

However, the church also hosts light classical music by the Wiener Kaiserquartett ensemble.

House of Strauss

House of Strauss logo

The 19th-century Casino Zögernitz used to host balls and musical entertainments back in the heyday of the waltz.

The fully-refurbished palais reopened in 2023 as the House of Strauss with an interactive museum, restaurant and regular performances in the original concert hall by the Wiener Orchester in period uniforms.

Deutschordenshaus (“Mozart house”)

Sign outside Deutschordenshaus

The Sala Terrena room of the Teutonic Order hosts classical concerts by the Mozart Ensemble Vienna.

Mozart himself once lived in this ecclesiastical complex while employed by the Archbishop of Salzburg. And Brahms also stayed there.

Palais Schönborn-Batthyány

Coat of arms on Palais Schönborn

Another Baroque townhouse, once the home of Count Batthyány and built by the same architect responsible for Schönbrunn Palace.

The Vienna Baroque Orchestra holds regular concerts there.

Old Stock Exchange

View of part of the front of the Alte Boerse

This Neorenaissance 1877 palais once housed the Austrian stock exchange; its central hall is suitably decorative as a reflection of the prestige of the financial business that once went on there.

That same hall has turned quotes and transactions to quavers and tremolos as a concert home for the Wiener Residenz Orchestra.

(And if all that’s not enough, simply keep your eye open for concert flyers, posters, and pop-up sales booths when in town.)

Palais Eschenbach

Wrought iron gate

You’d expect architects to build a rather fine looking home for their association. Which is why 19th-century Palais Eschenbach has a rather lovely ceremonial hall (two actually, since this is a double building).

An ensemble orchestra, singers and ballet dancers now use those same locations for a mix of music and song from the more famous members of Vienna’s historical composer walk of fame.

Music and food

Hotel Imperial and Christmas lights

(The Mozart Orchestra offer one option with dinner at Restaurant OPUS in Hotel Imperial)

Given Vienna has one or two restaurants, you can, of course, make your own food choices around your concert tickets.

However, various ensemble or orchestral performances include an optional upgrade to add some gastronomic pleasure to the evening experience (as sometimes mentioned in the above section). For example:

  • Performances by the Mozart Orchestra at the Musikverein include options for dinner at the nearby (and rather prestigious) Hotel Bristol or Hotel Imperial
  • The international Strauss dinner show* offers a multicourse menu (with a vegetarian alternative) to a background of live music featuring famous Strauss compositions along with entertainment interludes
  • The House of Strauss has its own restaurant in the 19th-century building a mere vestibule away from the historical concert hall that hosts weekly performances
  • Schönbrunn palace concerts in the orangery typically have various packages that include, for example, dinner and/or a self-guided tour of the palace. During the Advent season, expect to find a package with vouchers for the nearby Christmas market
  • Finally, a special mention for opera productions at the Theater an der Wien. The opera house sits opposite the Naschmarkt, which has numerous bars and restaurants along its open-air market aisles

Traditional concert houses

View of the Musikverein and Karlskirche

(The Musikverein with the Karlskirche church in the distance)

If you’re looking for a more “local” experience in one of the concert halls with a programme that changes daily, then Vienna offers, for example, two of the planet’s greatest venues featuring world-class performers from around the globe.

The Musikverein

Musikverein building

Possibly (probably) the best classical music venue in the world. Names like Brahms and Mahler are intimately associated with this 1870 building that also provides a home for the renowned Wiener Philharmoniker orchestra.

The Konzerthaus

Konzerthaus Plaque

Another internationally-recognised top venue for classical concerts, the Konzerthaus repertoire also features jazz, world music and various other genres of musical endeavour. The 1913 building has four concert halls, hosting hundreds of events from September to June.

Opera

Stage door to the opera house

Don’t forget the opera houses. The season runs from September through to late June or early July.

Vienna has three main venues for opera and operettas:

  • The Staatsoper: the most famous with a different opera each day and an orchestra drawn from the Wiener Philharmoniker. The State Opera House also hosts performances by the national ballet.
  • The Volksoper: particularly good for operettas and the occasional musical, too.
  • Theater an der Wien: the oldest of the three venues, established by the man who wrote the libretto to The Magic Flute, and where Beethoven premiered Fidelio and three symphonies.
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Historical church venues

View of Stephansdom and south tower

(Stephansdom cathedral offers a suitably Gothic and resonant atmosphere for classical concerts)

If you’re visiting churches, look out for recitals and similar there.

I already mentioned Karlskirche, Annakirche, Kapuzinerkirche and Peterskirche above for their light classical ensembles.

All these churches and other central places of worship usually have a special programme of advent concerts during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Stephansdom cathedral

Stephansdom west entrance

Our mighty cathedral has started offering concerts that combine good music with the lovely evening ambience of a Gothic giant.

I enjoyed an organ recital there, for example. Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is a regular. And the cathedral ramps up the schedule for the Christmas season.

Hofburgkapelle

Entrance sign for the Hofburgkapelle

Another tip is the Hofburgkapelle, whose Sunday Holy Mass services include church music provided by one of Vienna’s most prestigious, yet relatively unknown, musical institutions.

The Wiener Hofmusikkapelle (Imperial Court Music Ensemble) dates back to 1498 and draws its members from the Vienna Boys’ Choir, the Wiener Philharmoniker, and similar.

Minoritenkirche

Minoriten Platz sign

The central and Gothic Minoritenkirche typically has regular concerts throughout the Advent period.

The season and location is particularly well-known for the gospel performances.

Other concert venues

Augartenpalais around 1890

(The Augartenpalais home to the Vienna Boys’ Choir, photographed by Martin Gerlach sen. around 1890; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 229367; excerpt reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)

The Vienna Boys’ Choir

The Wiener Sängerknaben often perform around Vienna and have their own home, too; their MuTh venue also puts on concerts and plays involving other performers.

Fever Candlelight Concerts

Fever specialise in transforming modern music genres into a classical format with performances in historical venues lit by hundreds of candles. An example might be Adele in Palais Coburg.

I saw a Best of Bridgerton concert in the Albertina art museum, and you can read my review.

Concentus21

Although the professional scene gets all the plaudits and coverage in Vienna, the city has a strong tradition of amateur productions and players bringing the joys of classical music to audiences.

One notable example is the Concentus21 amateur orchestra, which rehearses in, for example, the undercroft of the Canisiuskirche church.

Take 5

The Take 5 association enables a range of cultural events with international performers, including many classical concerts. Entrance is usually free (though you can – and probably should – make a donation).

Advent & annual concerts

Arch of lights at the Rathausplatz market

(Entrance of the city’s main Christmas market. You might catch a brass band, there)

The advent period sees special classical music events appear throughout the city. These include the traditional Christmas in Vienna concert at the Konzerthaus. See my curated Christmas concert listings (and venues).

A few annual one-off events give you the chance to catch a world-class orchestra (often for free). Try, for example:

  • New Year’s Concert: the Wiener Philharmoniker’s famous 3-day residency with the January 1st concert broadcast around the globe
  • Summer Night Concert:- a free concert held in the sculpted gardens of Schönbrunn Palace by none other than the Wiener Philharmoniker orchestra again. I went in 2022 and had a joyous time
  • Festival of Joy:- a free May concert with the Wiener Symphoniker orchestra. Held on Heldenplatz square to commemorate the fall of fascism in WWII and remember the victims
  • The Wiener Symphoniker orchestra holds regular concerts that take them to unusual locations, such as the annual Prater picnic at the end of the school year, an advent concert in Stephansdom cathedral, or chamber music in the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Check their concert calendar.
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Classical music festivals

I’ve just started compiling special festivals around classical music. Check the monthly event overview for suggestions throughout the year

Some examples:

  • Wien Modern: a month-long celebration of more avant-garde music, featuring some of the world’s top contemporary composers and performers. Typically held in late October through November.
  • Resonanzen: January festival at the Konzerthaus celebrating early music. Think Purcell rather than Puccini.
  • Summa Cum Laude: international youth music festival in July with a strong classical focus
  • AMADEUS Festival Vienna: summer classical music festival in the grounds of the former Semmelweis women’s hospital.

Other options

Street performers

The last couple of times I’ve been on the Graben (the pedestrianised street at the heart of the city), I’ve encountered classical street performers, including a small string ensemble and an opera singer accompanied by the flute. Vienna in a nutshell, really.

Film festival

Food stalls at the Rathausplatz

(Part of the gastronomy area)

The Rathaus film festival typically runs from the end of June to the start of September, displaying “films” on a giant screen in front of city hall. The area of the square not taken up by seating is turned over to a gastronomic journey through Austrian and international cuisine.

What’s this got to do with classical concerts?

Well, the reason I say “films” (with quotation marks) is because most of the screened entertainment is actually music and a large chunk of that is classical music.

One year, for example, the programme included Verdi’s Requiem, the Concert de Paris by the Orchestre National de France, the Wiener Philharmoniker’s New Year’s and Summer Night’s concerts, numerous operas, and many more of that ilk.

And for something different…

Finally, if none of the above tempt you, I have a whole article on things to do in the evening in Vienna (other than the obvious visit to a restaurant or bar).

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