Vienna is a treasure trove of art and music. The city welcomes you with its magnificent Baroque and Gothic buildings at every turn, its stunning plazas and public squares with artwork dating many centuries and of course, the Vienna Opera.
But if you're visiting in July and August, then the opera is closed for summer. In its place, you will find a plethora of concerts taking place at various churches, music halls and even palaces like the Schoenbrunn Palace.
Needless to say, a trip to this beautiful city would be incomplete without paying a visit to the music concert of its most famous resident, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
This blog is about one such Mozart concert at the Musikverein Golden Hall, the most spectacular music hall in Vienna and one of the best in the World!
About the venue
Musikverein, or the Concert Hall in Vienna is located in the Inner District on the Ring Strasse.
This beautiful building is made of neo-classical architecture and has a capacity of 1700 people. It is the permanent home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
For the uninitiated, the Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra led by a conductor and comprises about 80 to 100 musicians. The instruments they play range from woodwinds, percussion, brass and strings.
The concert is organised in the Golden Hall of the Musikvereien. Seeing the Golden Hall is as much a delight as the performance of the musicians.
The Hall, with its stunning frescos on the ceiling, the gold-rimmed archways and massive chandeliers sets the perfect tone for an evening to remember.
Tickets to the concert are easily available, you can see men dressed in traditional costumes selling tickets all over the city, over open counters. Please check that they are authorised sellers, if you buy a ticket from them, there is no cause for worry. Online tickets are also available. But then you will have to exchange the voucher for the ticket at the counter before the show.
Performers bowing to the audience at the end of the show in the stunning Golden Hall!
About the performance
A group of 30 first-class musicians and internationally renowned opera singers, all dressed in finery and period costumes with wigs et al create a magical atmosphere in the 90-minute stupendous performance.
The atmosphere in the Golden Hall is riveting. Most people like us might not understand the finer nuances of music but we certainly appreciate good music if we hear one.
So, listening to the Mozart symphonies combined with some amazing solo concertos was an experience beyond description.
Some of the melodies you hear will sound very familiar, this is due to the fact that the music of Mozart has been adapted in many forms and variations on many music platforms over many decades.
On a particularly foot-tapping melody, the audience, on a cue from the conductor, instinctively broke into applause and clapped along with the musicians.
What struck me was the amazing acoustics of the hall. The voice of the opera singers minus the use of any microphones just floated effortlessly through the entire hall, holding its audience in a trance.
The sound of the singers' voices, combined with their colourful attires and elaborate costumes create a mesmerizing effect on the audience.
Some more tips about the concert
- Audiences are expected to reach at least 20 minutes before the performance begins. Musikverein is located right behind Hotel Imperial on the Ring Strasse.
- The basic ticket price starts from € 59 upwards. There are many ticket options available like VIP Packages which offer a 4-course dinner at a restaurant along with premium seating in the hall, interaction with artists and so on. Please check their website for more information: concerts@mozart.wien
- The dress code for the concert is smart casual.
- There is a short refreshment break in the performance.
- Photography inside the Golden Hall during the performance is strictly prohibited. The photo here was taken after the performance.
For me, this music concert was most certainly a not-to-miss attraction. This was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Austria!
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