{"id":5593,"date":"2018-09-14T06:20:55","date_gmt":"2018-09-14T05:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=5593"},"modified":"2025-09-20T18:21:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T17:21:41","slug":"musikverein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/musikverein\/","title":{"rendered":"The Musikverein"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><a href=\"#tickets\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/musikvereintickets.jpg\" alt=\"Musikverein building\" class=\"wp-image-46069\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>For an idea of the status of the Musikverein concert venue, think of it like this: in golf, it would be Augusta. In football: Anfield. In art: the Louvre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Possibly the planet&#8217;s best classical concert venue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First concert held on January 6th, 1870<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attracts world-class performers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Home to the Wiener Philharmoniker<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also hosts the Vienna Mozart Orchestra<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8230;visitor-friendly light classical concerts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Musikverein\" rel=\"sponsored\">concert experience<\/a>* for your Vienna trip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also: \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/musikverein-tour\/\">Musikverein Tour<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/accommodation\/best-hotels-musikverein\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"49471\">Nearby hotels<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/classical-concert\/\">classical concert venues<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">History and prestige<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/musikverein1.jpg\" alt=\"Full view of the Musikverein building\" class=\"wp-image-61534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/musikverein1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/musikverein1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A mixture of Hellenic and Neorenaissance styles)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Musikverein is actually the name used for the <em>Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien<\/em>, which translates roughly as the Society of Friends of Music in Vienna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, people also use the term for the society&#8217;s home with its multiple concert halls: technically the <em>Musikvereinsgeb\u00e4ude<\/em> or Musikverein Building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The venue opened on January 5th, 1870 to a design by renowned architect Theophil Hansen. Reviewers praised the quite remarkable acoustics, which continue to impress today and play a major role in the venue&#8217;s exalted status.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/musikvereinnight.jpg\" alt=\"One side of the Musikverein at night\" class=\"wp-image-74412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/musikvereinnight.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/musikvereinnight-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A fine treat for when the sun goes down)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emperor Franz Joseph attended that opening, and a first concert took place a day later. It featured, for example, Beethoven&#8217;s Egmont overture and his Symphony Number 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like so many great constructions of the late 19th century, the building used land freed up by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/history-of-the-ringstrassen\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"68027\">the removal<\/a> of the obsolete city fortifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might describe what you see from outside as a hybrid of Hansen&#8217;s hellenic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/parlament\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"262\">Austrian parliament<\/a> and neorenaissance <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/gemaldegalerie-paintings-gallery\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"42411\">Academy of Fine Arts Vienna<\/a>, with a bit of his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/alte-borse\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"69243\">Alte B\u00f6rse<\/a> (now also a concert venue) thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/musikvereinkarlskirche.jpg\" alt=\"Musikverein and Karlskirche\" class=\"wp-image-42835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/musikvereinkarlskirche.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/musikvereinkarlskirche-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Front entrance with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/karlskirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"22144\">Karlskirche<\/a> behind)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The society itself dates back to 1812, once putting on Handel&#8217;s <em>Samson<\/em> for delegates to the Congress of Vienna in 1814, when Europe&#8217;s great powers decided on the future of the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/beethoven\/\">Beethoven<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/liszt-in-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"32394\">Liszt<\/a>, Bernstein and Abbado, to name but a few, were honorary members, and Salieri the first director of its singing school (now the famous <em>University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, yes, the society has a rich tradition and history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the venue, well, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/johann-strauss\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"21524\">Strauss<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/bruckner\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"39444\">Bruckner<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/gustav-mahler\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"25456\">Mahler<\/a> premiered compositions here, for example. Schoenberg directed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-content-type=\"product\" data-content-ids=\"1008299,1029872\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_Concerts1\"><\/div><script defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/brahms-in-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"31950\">Brahms<\/a> actually worked here and has one of the concert halls named after him: the piano played by Clara Schumann at the 1868 opening of the Brahms-Saal now resides in the nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/khm\/historical-instrument-highlights\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"74631\">Historical Instrument Collection<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Musikverein also provides a home for perhaps the globe&#8217;s finest orchestra (the Wiener Philharmoniker) and perhaps the world&#8217;s most-watched classical music event (the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/new-years-concert\/\">New Year&#8217;s Concert<\/a> in the gorgeous Golden Hall).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a lighter dip into Viennese classical music, the location also acts as a regular host for the <em>Vienna Mozart Orchestra<\/em> and other musicians offering <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/wiener-musikverein-tickets-l72533\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Musikverein\" rel=\"sponsored\">visitor-friendly highlight concerts<\/a>*.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These lighter concerts typically feature music by Mozart and\/or perhaps Strauss, Verdi or others. Some performances see the musicians appear in historical costumes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/musikverein.jpg\" alt=\"Front of the Musikverein\" class=\"wp-image-41926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/musikverein.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/musikverein-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Fa\u00e7ade above the main entrance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A shop around the back of the Musikverein even sells pianos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not just any pianos, either, but B\u00f6sendorfer: former suppliers to the imperial royal court and in business since 1828. Brahms, Strauss, and Mahler were fans, apparently. (Not bad in terms of celebrity endorsements.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, the Musikverein is classical concert heaven. Look at any list of the world&#8217;s greatest concert halls and it&#8217;s invariably at the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tickets\">Tickets &amp; visitor tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tickets for the Vienna Mozart Orchestra and other tourist-friendly performances are available from various agencies and other sources. For example: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Booking service provided by Tiqets.com*, who I am an affiliate of)<\/p><div data-tiqets-widget=\"availability\" data-layout=\"full\" data-venue-id=\"72533\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"AW_MusikverConc\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Nothing on your dates? Try some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=MSconcerts\" rel=\"sponsored\">alternative concerts<\/a>*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the full, broader classical music programme at the venue, the official website (see below) has all the details of forthcoming concerts and ticket options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you need some advice on what to wear to a concert in the Musikverein, then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/classical-concert-dress-code\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"75082\">help is at hand<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you simply wish to see inside this historical venue, behind-the-scenes tours in English take place most days. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/musikverein-tour\/\">See here<\/a> for my experiences on the tour, which includes a look inside the famous Golden Hall<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many other historical buildings in Vienna offer tours around their interiors: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/tours-historical-buildings\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"58561\">see my list<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Should you wish to keep the walk back to your accommodation after an evening concert as short as possible, I have some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/accommodation\/best-hotels-musikverein\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"49471\">hotel tips<\/a> for you too<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can buy tickets from the Musikverein on site as well, of course. However, you don&#8217;t access the ticket office through the main entrance. When facing that entrance, go left around the side of the building for the box office<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In the area&#8230;<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/brahmsmonument1.jpg\" alt=\"Brahms in close up\" class=\"wp-image-47343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/brahmsmonument1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/brahmsmonument1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Look out for Johannes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, the building next door &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/kuenstlerhaus\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"73350\">the K\u00fcnstlerhaus<\/a> &#8211; might be worth your time, too, given it houses, for example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/albertina-modern\/\">Albertina Modern<\/a> art museum with its series of special exhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see what the Musikverein looks like from above, pop across the road to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/karlskirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"22144\">Karlskirche church<\/a> (you pass the imposing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/brahms-monument\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"32160\">Brahms statue<\/a> on the way) and take the stairs up to the panorama terrace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, drop into the terrace of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/wien-museum-karlsplatz\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"66174\">Wien Museum<\/a> main building. The museum has a huge (and free) permanent exhibition on the chronological and cultural history of Vienna, filled with historical exhibits and a great deal of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the Musikverein<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The building is very central and easily reached by taxi or public transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subway: the Karlsplatz station is almost opposite and lies on subway lines U1, U2 and U4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tram\/bus: it&#8217;s just a short walk from the Oper\/Karlsplatz stop on various tram services, including the 1, 2, 62, 71 and D lines. The 59A bus stops here, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Musikvereinsplatz 1, 1010 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musikverein.at\/en\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1BrCYLfHiiy85k0jpzDwlKspb31KiYq4Y\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For an idea of the status of the Musikverein concert venue, think of it like this: in golf, it would be Augusta. In football: Anfield. In art: the Louvre. History and prestige (A mixture of Hellenic and Neorenaissance styles) The Musikverein is actually the name used for the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien, which translates [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5624,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5593","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5593"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85827,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5593\/revisions\/85827"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}