Vienna is the world’s music capital, home to more famous composers than any other city in the world. Music is in the fabric of the buildings, has enriched the culture and hangs in the air in this wonderful Austrian city and its halls and stages offer music for all tastes the whole year through.
You cannot visit this magical city without experiencing its musical history, and being swept away on a musical interlude during your stay.
One of Vienna’s most famous adopted sons was Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, known as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born 1756. A prolific and influential composer, Mozart was a musician at the Royal court in his home town of Salzburg when he visited Vienna in 1781, and when dismissed from his position chose to remain in the capital. He composed more than 600 works and his influence on Western art music is popular and profound: Beethoven’s early works were influenced by Mozart’s compositions and Joseph Haydn wrote “posterity will not see such a talent again in 100 years”.
Unsurprisingly, Vienna is proud of its musical connections with the maestro, and the Mozarthaus is a museum that includes Mozart’s former residence, housed in a 15th century building
Wiener Staatsoper, the Vienna State Opera House, is one of the world’s leading opera houses, steeped in tradition. The house opened in 1869 to Mozart’s opera Don Juan, but its performances during the Second World War were limited by the Nazi regime that had occupied the city. It is now considered one of the most important opera houses in the world and is famous for having the largest repertoire. Every season, the Staatsoper presents world-class artists and ensembles in 350 performances of more than 60 different operas and ballets.
Not to be outdone, the Volksoper is the leading operetta house in the world and offers sophisticated musical entertainment. The only theatre dedicated to the genre of operetta, performances of opera, operetta, classical musicals and ballets from the 18th century to the present day are staged every year between September and June, some 300 performances. James Bond fans may recognise it from The Living Daylights, when Timothy Dalton made his debut.
Next to the Wiener Staatsoper is Cafe Mozart, which boasts unparalleled views of the opera house and the Albertina museum. Part of the Vienna coffee culture for two centuries, its relaxing atmosphere is created by plush upholstered benches, chandeliers and mirrors, and small niches for guests’ privacy. The menu is diverse, but the Viennese favourite Wiener Schnitzel is present, as are traditional strudels and the Mozartkugeln, a dark sponge cake filled with nougat and a layer of pistachio marzipan, coated with light chocolate fondant: a symphony on your tongue.
Vienna is full of modern music too and regularly has pop concerts and gigs that appeal to alternative music tastes. For every visitor, not just those who rejoice in the classical composers, Vienna will put music in your heart, and your step.
