Vienna and Salzburg performances
 

Hello, I'll be in Vienna in early November and was hoping for some advice on music concerts (orchestra) or other evening events there. I'll attempt a standing room only evening at the opera but I think Siegfried is playing while I'm there, so not sure about that. Are there any recommended music concerts that are not the tourist traps and at least not more than moderately priced? I'll also try to catch a Salzburg marionette performance at Schonbrunn. Carmen is playing at the Volksoper while I'm there -- any thoughts on this for someone with no opera experience?

Also, where are the good concerts held in Salzburg? I don't want a dinner concert combo as I'm doing this solo and would prefer just the concert part. I checked a schedule and unfortunately the Mozarteum is not giving concerts during the few days I'll be there.

Thanks in advance.

The Volksoper is better for its light operettas like "The Merry Widow". I've seen one version of the Carmen at the Volksoper and wasn't impressed because they modernized it. Can you catch one of their light operettas instead?

BTW, the standing room tickets for the Volksoper is only 3 euros. You can go up there and stand around, but when the lights are beginning to dim, people in the standing room area make a beeline for the empty seats, so really you can get a seat for only 3 euros at the Volksoper.

For the Wien Staatsoper, it puts on Wagner's Ring only one performance per year, i.e., for only one cycle. Siegfried will probably be already sold out. If you want a standing room ticket, you will have to be in line probably no later than 2pm (believe the performance begins at 6pm - Wagner operas are longish affairs, so they start earlier than most other operas). If there are two of you, both of you have to be in line. You can't save a place for a friend or family. Every person who wants a ticket needs to be in line.The earlier you go to stand in line for the ticket, the better a standing room "slot" you will get. Furthermore, the early birds get to wait indoors, which can make a considerable amount of difference in November. An early start usually means around noon, but I've heard of people camping out overnight for some of the more popular operas or performers. Bring something to sit on, even it's just a newspaper. A cushion would be better. Also bring something to read. I finished an entire novel one time while waiting in line.

Whatever you do, do not buy from the touts who are dressed in period costumes. Those are ripoffs.

I saw the Volksoper do traditional versions of The Magic Flute and Turandot, enjoyed them both. Not the scale or skill level of the Staatsoper but very good.

I wouldn't discount a modern version of Carmen, might be a good way to get started with opera. Bizet's music is so pretty and moving, although some would say too much so. Would choose it every time over Wagner, but of course Wagner at the Staatsoper would be something to behold.

If you can, watch "Carmen Jones" before you go, it's Carmen updated to WWII, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein.

I've been to some of the concerts for tourists, they're all right, certainly put you in he mood. I would love to attend the Vienna Symphony Orchestra one day, might even pay OTT agency prices for that! Theater an der Wien also stages opera, saw The Merry Widow there years ago.

The Volksoper

www.volksoper.at

fine performances - excelent value as prices are much less than the State Opera - top ticket about 80 euro - most seating excepting back rows of the boxes are Ok.

Fine place to experience the famous operettas like Fledermaus, Merry Widow, Wiener Blut and many more

For quality - a fine ensemble - some at the Volksoper for some years-

The State Opera and Volksoper share a ballet company as a cost saving measure, so good quality there too.

State Opera..

Standing Room tickets sale begins 80 minutes before the beginning of the performance - starting time is normally 7 PM / 19:00

Only for the most important evenings will lines begin to form in early afternoon.

Know that many here especially younger students and " Standing Room Profis " know very well how to use the standing room system.
They will get the best places .

Bring a scarf if you intend to have standing room- tieing the scarf to the railing in front of your place is the unofficial way of " reserving " your little spot.
This well enforced by the regulars.

The best concert venue is the Musikverein - famous for the New Years Concert


www.musikverein.at

this is home to the Vienna Philharmonic, one of the best in the world.. Several other excelent orchestras perform theere also-

Tonkunstler , Symphoniker - also varios guest orchestras of other cities.

Avoid the concerts of the touristy nature - example Mozart Orchestra ( this sometimes playing at the Musikverein too.
A small orchestra high price for value received.

These tourist orchestras feature high pressurs costumed ticket sales persdons surrounding many major tourist spots like the Hofbug and Stephansdom.

They come equipped with a wig and costume - a book of photos and mostly willing to say anything to make a ticket sale- best to avoid any such concert..

When in Vienna , check the varios city center Churches - many have excelent and free concerts-

also check the Konzerhaus- www.konzerthaus.at

sometimes a good performance - but look carefully - sometimes the touristy orchestras again.

Churches like the Peters Kirche - just off the shopping street Graben -

Minoriten Church - near the Hofburg

Malteser by Karnternerstrasse-

Thank you all for your helpful replies. Looks like I'll skip Wagner b/c I do not have enough interest to start lining up so early. Unfortunately, I do not think there are many other operas showing at State Opera while I'm there -- the only other performances are the ballet LA SYLPHIDE and L'ELISIR D'AMORE. I have never heard of these. Wish something was playing that I have heard of.

I'll look into some of the church orchestras.

Actually, L'Elisir would be a good choice. It's a cute Donizetti opera, not too long, with lovely music. The singers are pretty good too.

I've seen La Sylphide once, it's pretty traditional full-length ballet. You don't need to know the ballet to enjoy it.

If it were me, I'd choose L'Elisir or La Sylphide over Seigfried.

Okay, I'll look into both options. I would hate to miss out on the Opera experience. Are there standing room options for the ballets as well?

You have a choice, or you could do both operas on separate nights.

You could go to <i>Carmen</i> at the Volksoper. From the photos, if they are true, this production has more traditional costumes and you'll enjoy the familiar music.

<i>L'Elisir d'Amore</i> is a comedy by Donizetti and he wrote beautiful melodies, so it's a very enjoyable opera. The Vienna Staatsoper has individal screens, even in the standing room area, so you can read the lyrics in English and understand what is being sung.

Another thing you might want to check is to see if <i>Siegfried</i> will be shown for free outside on the big screen to the right of (as you are facing) the opera house.

Otherwise, take a tour of the opera house, even if you don't go to an opera there. It's a beautiful opera house.

As Molker has mentioned, the Musikverein is the best place for symphony/concert. It's beautiful inside.

Here's their November schedule:

http://www.musikverein.at/konzerte/k...&currYear=2011

I'm a little confused. I was looking into tickets for La Sylphide for Nov 7th and one site http://www.viennaconcerts.com/month/...r_2011/2011/11
says the F and G level tickets are sold out and another site

http://www.viennaticketoffice.com/re...php?ID=1007995
allows me to try and purchase one of these tickets. Also, is there a big difference between what you can see with F and G tickets (I looked at the layout and they are both very far from the stage), b/c if not I would go with the less expensive one. It seems best to order online and pick up at the box office.

I'll have to research the music link for the concerts -- thank you, easytraveler.

You don't want any of those agent sites. Order directly from the opera house itself. At some point in time you may encounter their official ticket office, "culturall", that's OK, but don't buy tickets from any of the other sites. They are just resellers and will usually mark up the price.

http://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/Cont...home/index.php

Click "English", then click on the "Schedule" which will appear vertically at the top to get to the November schedule.

At some point in time, you should be able to see a seating chart. If you are going to choose any of the seats in the side boxes, just remember that in the third row seat #8 is better than seat #7, although both are in the back of the box and you have people in front of you. The closer the box is to the center, the better the view lines.

Good luck! Let us know if you need any more help.

nomadder, listen to what easytraveler says. ONLY use the official website for tickets, which will direct you to culturall.com

For Nov 7th performance of La Sylphide, the following seats are still available:
[# on the left is the number of seats still available; the # on the right is the price category]

118 130,00 €
136 105,00 €
41 84,00 €
17 63,00 €
29 48,00 €
8 32,00 €
13 21,00 €
161 8,00 €

Easytraveler, I was looking into some seats. Does that mean a seat more towards center in Galerie (Halbmitte) is preferable to a seat slightly less center (Siete) but closer in Balkon? Also, thank you very much for the link to the official ticket office. Do you know the direct link to the ticket office to buy tickets to the Marionette theater at Schonbrunn palace? I keep getting redirected to various ticket sites.

Thank you for walking me through this.

Hi, nomadder:

Not sure if I'm answering your question, but if you are looking at the seating chart, "buhne" is the stage, so "Mitte" is the "center" and has the best views of the stage, "seite" is to the "side" or the "wings". The more towards the stage your side seat is, the more of the stage is blocked from your view. "Halbmitte" is between the side (or wing) seats and the center seats, so they are obviously better than the "seite" seats.

When the seating for a particular section comes up, watch out for those seats that says that it has a "blocked" view - usually by a pillar. You don't want those seats.

the #7 and #8 seats that I was talking about are the boxes. If you look at the seating chart you will see that each box has 8 seats. The best seats in the boxes obviously are the #1 2, and 3 seats. The middle row is a bit tight. Of the two seats in the back, the #8 seat has the better view. There is a bit more room in the box seats, if you have long legs.

Oh, and obviously, the higher up you go, the further away from the stage you'll be. :)

Hope this helps a bit.

On Schonbrunn, I will look it up, but my recollection is that there is a combo ticket which you can purchase at the gate.

I'm not seeing any marionette shows for November, but maybe they list the shows only one month at a time.

Here's their official site.

http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/service...ebrations.html

Sorry, I can't be of more help on this one. Never been to the marionette show at Schonbrunn.

If you are going to Schonbrunn, plan to spend at least 1/2 day there. There's a lot to see and you will be walking a lot.

The site for the marionettes

www.marionettentheater.at

just click on schedule then to november- performances throughout the month.

The theater is very small best to order in advance.

Hi, molker: I clicked on that marionette site from the main Schonbrunn site and got a performance listing for October only. There was nothing listed for November. Did I miss a step somewhere?

easy,

I'm seeing the Nov schedule. Use Molker's url, then click on schedule on the left column. Calendar for Nov. will come up.

As mentioned above

click on schedule

October - November - December will show on the page -

just click on November

The full month of performances will be shown and also the method to order tickets.
Yes, easily done .

Wow -- thank you for all of this help. Hope you know that your advice is not being wasted. I just booked my ticket for the ballet (Logen 2, last row of boxes, last row, seat 6 in box 11).

And I had the same problem as easytraveler with only getting the Schonbrunn schedule for October but I did use molkers link which let me request a ticket for the marionette show, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Now I'm traveling for 3 weeks with one small bag and can't get too decked out for the State Opera. I know people really dress up. Will black pants and a white blouse with some ruffles in the front get me by?

nom,

Yes, you will look fine.

What is fun is to see are the men and women who wear the formal, beautiful Austrian national or regional dress--loden often with leather trim for the men and dirndls with fabulous blouses, scarves, jackets for the women.

I tried some on at Loden Plankl and Geiger; looked a right prat as my English husband would have said had he seen me. I did get a black loden jacket at Geiger, pretty but very hot.