As the cultural centre of Austria, music is very well represented in Vienna. The city is even considered one of the world capitals of music and was once home to many significant musicians and composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, or Franz Schubert. It is also the birthplace of the waltz.
Even today, music is still all around. Opera performances, concerts, and plays are an important part of everyday Viennese life and are enjoyed by an international audience. In Vienna, there is not only plenty for classical music lovers, but modern music is represented in the numerous venues too.
Vienna, the city of music
In addition to the Vienna State Opera House, which is one of the world’s most important opera houses, the Volksoper is also a port of call when it comes to operas or operettas. While the State Opera House also shows ballets, the Volksoper whisks audiences away to the spirited world of musicals. The two most important venues on Vienna’s musicals’ scene are the Ronacher and the Raimund Theater. At Theater an der Wien, the new opera house brings magic to classic opera compositions.
Vienna also has lots to offer in the way of concerts. Whether at the Musikverein, Konzerthaus or MuTh concert halls, musicians from all genres thrill their audiences. The Vienna Philharmonic, based in the Musikverein, is one of the world’s leading orchestras and the Vienna Boys’ Choir also has a long history of international success.
Long-standing musical achievement is reflected in Vienna’s Haus der Musik (House of Music). Its five floors are home to a world of audio and sound phenomena from the past, present, and future, where visitors themselves can try their hand at conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
You can enjoy a musical history tour in the Mozarthaus and the Museum of the Johann Strauss dynasty. The building around Mozart’s apartment was incorporated into the exhibition, meaning you can immerse yourself into the world of Wolfgang Amadeus on an area of 1000m². The Strauss Museum is the world’s first museum that is dedicated to the entire history of the Strauss family.
