A Musical Weekend in Vienna

If you are looking for a bit of culture, the city of Vienna is a great option. This beautiful city has a long and rich history. It is a great city for music lovers, with a four hundred year history of being a centre of excellence for music and the arts.

Here is our guide to some of the best Viennese destinations for music lovers.

A Night at the Opera

The history of opera is a long one. As far back as the 1500s, the Romans made song part of their fiestas, which is why the Italians are credited with being the father’s of opera.

There is no doubt that without the Italians, we would not have opera, but it is also correct to call Vienna the home of opera. The Viennese people played a very important role in the development of opera.

In 1762, the first modern operas were performed in Vienna. For the first time the songs were put together to tell a story rather than being just standalone songs. The format of modern opera was established then.

Today, there are three great opera venues in Vienna – the Volksoper, the Theater an der Wien and the Vienna State Opera. The acoustics of all three of these buildings are second to none. When it comes to opera Vienna is definitely still one of the best places to go to enjoy a performance.

If you go to Vienna in the spring or summer, you can also enjoy opera outdoors. Operas are regularly performed in the square outside the Vienna State Opera building.

Live Music in Vienna

There is a huge choice of live music available in Vienna. Each year the city hosts several modern music festivals, but it is also a great place for people who like the classics.

The city is home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra who plays the music of Mozart, Brahms, Strauss, Haydn and Schubert. There are always smaller concerts being held in the city’s many churches and concert halls.

The Vienna Ball Season

There really is nothing like being in Vienna during the ball season.  It is quite unlike anything you will see anywhere else.

Every night, between the months of November and January, thousands of people dress in their finery and attend the classic balls that are held in the city.  Even if you are not able to get tickets to go, that does not mean that you cannot enjoy the Vienna Ball season. Just take a seat in one of the town squares and enjoy the spectacle of everyone going past in all of their finery as you enjoy a drink and some good food. It makes for some great photo opportunities.

Festivals

The city also holds 20 large festivals every year and dozens of smaller celebrations. Vienna is famous for its Film Festival, which is known locally as the Viennale.

Every year millions flock to the Donauinselfest open-air festival. This music festival is held on an island near the city. It attracts artists and bands from every corner of the world.