EJTravel

I need some help booking tickets for a concert in Vienna. We enjoy classical music and I thought it would be fun to hear a concert in an historical hall and one that has superb acoustics. Which would you recommend? The concerts are both okay for each. Do you know of the best site to book tickets? I don't need the greatest seats, just good view.

Musikverein? Wiener Konzerthaus?

annhig

when are you going, EJT? who is playing? sounds fun!

here is the link for the Musikverein:

http://www.musikverein.at/

you can get tickets directly from them just by following the links on the website for the concert you are interested in.

and here's the Wienerkonzerthaus:

http://konzerthaus.at/programm/

the programme is shown on the left, and ticket purchase on the right - "Karten online kaufen" is what you are looking for.

asps

Musikverein is the historical, 19th century hall; the main hall is the home of Wiener Philarmoniker and their New Year's concerts - all the world knows this all. The Brahms hall there is an intimate venue for chamber concerts, very fascinating. Both halls host a number of concerts, often more than one in the same day.

The Konzerthaus is an hall built slightly later, in a sort of liberty style; it is the home of Wiener Simphoniker (an orchestra that is the second in Vienna after W. Ph. but still first rate).

it is up to you to decide, I would decide according to programs and performers. Do not forget that there is also opera at the Staatsoper, light opera or operettas at the Volksoper (I would strongly consider this), and some additional opera at the Theater an der Wien.

panecott

I don't think you'd be disappointed at any venue in Vienna.
I went to performances at the Musikverein and the StaatsOpera and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience at both.

I can't comment on the other concert hall you mentione, but the interior of the Musikverein is a true work of art and is spectacularly beautiful.

For me, when traveling, getting to see a performance in a special venue is even more important than what is playing.

The

panecott

I recall that there was another concert hall adjacent to the Musikverein but I don't know if that's the other one you mentioned.

If so, then the Musikverein would be my choice.

Whatever you decide, enjoy!

EJTravel

Thanks for your tips. For May 31, I ended up booking a concert at the Konzerthaus. Why? The Vienna Mozart Orchestra (something like that) was playing at the Musikverein. It's my understanding that this group plays for tourist audiences and the audience may talk, take pictures and not appreciate the music. This concert's tickets started at 45 euro, not the determining factor, but a consideration. At the Konzerthaus we will see the Wiener Symphoniker, piano by Buchbinder and conducted by Stern. Beethoven and Mozart will be performed. Tickets started at 24 euro.

I think we will see if we can look inside the Operahaus and Muzikverein just to see them. I like your comment about the venue vs. what is playing , panecott. It was a balance between venue, performers, cost, and which site I could navigate. We will also try to catch a free concert at St. St. Peter's church on May 31.

So many great choices in Vienna! Looking forward to being in the beautiful, historical city.

annhig

EJ- that sounds like a good choice.

you may be right about the audience that the Wiener Mozart Orchester is aiming at - I found this:

http://www.mozart.co.at/

"authentic costumes and instruments in the style of the time of Mozart" plus Strauss x 2!

and it's twice the price.

We found that in Krakow once too - roughly £20 each for the Philharmonic, £40 each for the Mozart [why is it always Mozart?] in fancy dress.

have a wonderful time in Vienna!

worldinbetween

If there is something at the opera house you decide looks interesting, and you just want an opera snack, you can nab standing tickets for four euro. We sometimes do this, although I leave at intermission (even when seated, an entire opera is a bit much for me)... You need to queue up about an hour before the performance. We usually do this a bit spur of the moment. But my husband will stand for an entire Opera (he is a wonderfully cheap date!). Last time we went to Vienna, we stood thru La Traviata. The seats directly in front of us sold for over two hundred euro (for me, to save two hundred euro, I can stand for a long time).

I know it sounds corny, but I love to hear the Vienna Boys Choir sing in the small palace chapel. I get tickets by emailing them directly, which is also a big savings over using a ticket agency.

I have never heard the Vienna Philharmonic in Vienna. It must be something quite special as they have something like a 13 year waiting list for season tickets.

If you are game for an hour bus ride, the Reduta Hall in Bratislava is lovely with wonderful acoustics. We heard Joshua Bell there in November, and it was fantastic. It could be a nice ending to a day trip. Unless it is a major performance (like the Vienna Philharmonic!), it never sells out and you can grab a ticket just before the performance at the box office right next to the front door.

EJTravel

Thanks annhig and worldinbetween. You think like I do about concerts. I think we'll try the 4 uero opera tickets and stay for part of it. 4 Euro? Wow!My husband is a trooper, too. We got tickets to V Boys Choir for mass on Sunday morning--direct from them. Great tip about Bratislava, but, alas, will need to skip that. We are already taking a one-day trip to Prague from Vienna. Crazy, but when so close, I want to at least see it a bit. We are packing in a lot in this trip to Vienna, but at least seeing some highlights is better than never going to Vienna at all. We will have already been in Amsterdam and the toured around to spots in and near Basel, Switzerland. Have a concert booked in the Concergebouw in Amsterdam, and, yes, annhig, Mozart is on the program. If you ever visit Minnesota or get a chance to hear our Minnesota Orchestra when they are on tour in Europe, do go. They are fantastic!

worldinbetween

OK.. then here's the deal with the opera tickets... Go immediately after purchasing them to the queue (you will think you don't need to - but the faster you queue, the better off you are)... Then, take a scarf. The standard is to tie a scarf around the rail which you are standing behind. This holds that standing spot behind the rail. Once you have done this - you can go use the restroom, get a drink, etc... And your standing spot will be there when you return.

Enjoy...

EJTravel

What a hoot, worldinbetween! In the small town where I live, people go to the football (american) bleachers the afternoon before a Friday night game. They tape their blankets to the spot on the benches where they want to sit. Some have sat in the same area for decades. When they come back hours later, the bleachers are full, but their seats are not. I was appalled when I first moved here and saw this practice. Now I'm used to it...and I don't go to many games unless it's a lovely Friday night in the fall. Some things are the same all over the world. Now I know the scarf I pack will have multiple uses.

worldinbetween

it is a bit of a hoot...and I didn't know to bring a scarf.. and people brought extras and gave them to me... enjoy...