Culture is not just for the elite in Vienna. For example, the Wiener Symphoniker orchestra is known for its outreach concerts around the city districts. And once a year, it also gives a free, open-air performance at the MQ (Museumsquartier).
- Free concert from a world-famous orchestra
- Very central location, easily reached on foot
- The MQ courtyard has plenty of bars and restaurants, too
- Next dates: TBA (assuming it repeats)
- See also:
An open-air concert
The MQ is a kind of pick’n’mix of museums, restaurants, exhibition space, venues, and cultural activities.
In summer, the main courtyard fills with people eager to enjoy the open-air bars, lounge on the colourful public seating, and breathe in the heady scent given off by all that art and creative thinking.
Once a year, the magnificent Wiener Symphoniker (Vienna Symphony) orchestra finds its way into that same courtyard to add a touch of musical sophistication to proceedings. And their open-air concert is entirely free.
As such, the MQ event slips gracefully into a little collection of free annual classical concerts that includes, for example, the Fest der Freude on Heldenplatz square in early May and the Summer Night Concert at Schönbrunn Palace.
The juxtaposition of classical music and the MQ’s contemporary and modern art installations and museums seems to nicely reflect today’s Vienna.
Highlights
The Wiener Symphoniker counts as one of the globe’s most prestigious orchestras, regularly appearing at the city’s two world-class venues: the Konzerthaus and Musikverein. So consider the MQ event a remarkable opportunity to enjoy outstanding musicians at a cost of, well…nothing.
Andrés Orozco-Estrada conducted alongside Anton Sorokow on violin in 2021, and the programme featured works by Johann Strauss (II), Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
I’ll add details for the next one once they become available, assuming it repeats after skipping 2022.
Dates and tickets
A concert was scheduled for June 4th, 2022, but had to be cancelled, sadly. I’ll keep an eye out for a future date or check the Wiener Symphoniker website. The orchestra has a tradition of playing around Vienna: another planned offering, for example, is an open air concert in the Prater on June 30th, 2023.
The last MQ concert began at 6.30pm, but took up an autumn slot. The more usual summer date normally sees start times put back a bit to around 8pm.
As mentioned, no ticket is required. However, the central courtyard of the MQ has a limited capacity, so go early if you want a decent view. The seated area opened three hours before the official start time in 2021, for example.
How to get to the concert
Check the main Museumsquartier article for info on parking, public transport, etc.. The main courtyard is, unsurprisingly, just inside the main entrance at the centre of the complex, sandwiched between the Leopold and MUMOK museums.
Address: Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna
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