... We choose the Konzerthaus both for the concert itself (programme details are available on the Konzerthaus' web site) and for the splendour of the venue itself.
The Building
The Konzerthaus was built in 1913 during the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph. Richard Strauss composed the Festliche ... Read review
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Advantages: The Music, the opulent surroundongs, the costumes Disadvantages: Concerts do get very crowded
...our holiday. We choose the Konzerthaus both for the concert itself (programme details are available on the Konzerthaus' web site) and for the splendour of the venue itself.
The Building
The Konzerthaus was built in 1913 during the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph. Richard Strauss composed the Festliche Praludium for the opening. The building was renovated from 1998 to 2000.
The Konzerthaus houses three traditional ... ...the newest addition to the Konzerthaus added during the 1998 renovation. It has flexible stages and a variety of technical equipment to enable the performance of new and experimental music. The new Hall seats 400 people.
The Great Hall is situated in the centre of the Konzerthaus and is the most opulent of the halls. It has the typically lofty ceiling of concert halls decorated in gold whilst the walls are a rich burgundy. A balcony ... more
AS I have mentioned in previous reviews (fast becoming my Viennese journal), the main reason for the choice of Vienna as holiday was for the musical connections. So naturally we planned a number of concerts whilst there. Prior to the holiday, I researched concerts taking place at the time of our holiday. We choose the Konzerthaus both for the concert itself (programme details are available on the Konzerthaus' web site) and for the splendour of the venue itself.
The Building The Konzerthaus was built in 1913 during the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph. Richard Strauss composed the Festliche Praludium for the opening. The building was renovated from 1998 to 2000.
The Konzerthaus houses three traditional concert halls, the Great Hall, the Mozart Hall, the Schubert Hall and the New Hall. The New Hall is the newest addition to the Konzerthaus added during the 1998 renovation. It has flexible stages and a variety of technical equipment to enable the performance of new and experimental music. The new Hall seats 400 people.
The Great Hall is situated in the centre of the Konzerthaus and is the most opulent of the halls. It has the typically lofty ceiling of concert halls decorated in gold whilst the walls are a rich burgundy. A balcony runs along the two sides and back of the rectangular hall was with Greek ionic columns standing in lines to rear of the seats. Windows illuminate the hall from above the balcony. The seating capacity of the Great Hall is 1,865 and every one of the seats was taken on the night we attended.
The Mozart Hall is smaller seating 704 people. The only natural lighting comes from three large windows situated to the rear of the stage.
The Schubert Hall is more intimate still seating 327 people.
The Orchestra The Konzerthaus is home to the Vienna Mozart Orchestra who is devoted to the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The orchestra's programme includes extracts from Mozart's symphonies, a variety of his instrumental concertos as well as arias and duets from his most famous operas. The highlights of our visit was the duet between Papagena and Papageno, performed by the soprano Ute Ziemer and Baritone Sebastian Holecek, and the clarinet concerto with soloist Pierre Pichler.
The special attraction of this orchestra is that perform in historical costumes making the concert also a visual delight.
The Vienna Mozart Concerts end with a tribute to Johann Strauss Senior and Junior by the performance of their most popular pieces, "The Blue Danube Waltz" and "The Radetzky March”.
Booking and prices A number of the main venues for the Viennese concert houses have a facility for tourists to view programmes and to purchase tickets online prior to their holiday. The Konzerthaus’ email address is ticket@konzerthaus.at.
We did just that. In some ways, this was a mistake as tickets could be obtained a considerably lower price from various ticket touts scattered around the city (all colourfully dressed in period costumes). However, the concert we had selected was pretty much booked up weeks before and tickets were short. We were not able to get our first choice of seating.
The ticket prices for 2003 / 4 range from 35 to 200 euros. Our tickets cost us 72 euros each for superior seats. As I said, not our original choice but did turn out to be worth the money as we had an unobstructed view of the stage and performers.
Shop A shop is situated to the side entrance to the Konzerthaus where many of the usual souvenirs can be purchased: t-shirts, postcards, and stationary. Also available are CDs of the Vienna Mozart Orchestra, “The Best of Mozart" Vol. 1 and 2, “Sinfonia concertante & Clarinet Concerto" and “A Mozart Concert in Vienna" (the concert we attended and no regrettably we did not buy a copy).
Location The Konzerthaus is situated on Lothringerstrasse in the Museum quarter of Vienna. Tram and bus stops are the Schwarzenbergplatz.
Our experience The Konzerthaus is magnificent but get there early if want to have a good look around. Luckily we did, we had been sightseeing close by and went across to get a coffee and relax before the concert. Half an hour before the concert the place was absolutely packed solid.
The music was a visual and auditory delight. The period costumes did make it special particularly the Papagena and Papageno costumes of the soloists. Do buy a copy of the CD. We didn’t and wish we did. So if anyone is going soon . . .
Although, tickets are available cheaper, I do advise booking in advance as seats do become scarce.
Take your interval drink outside and sit in the warmth soaking the Viennese glory.
Advantages: A beautiful, fascinating, historic, cultural masterpiece of a place Disadvantages: Time is too short!!
Boulevard).
Vienna is also extremely generously provided with concert halls and theatres. The Vienna State Opera House is in a central position. Dating from 1869 the auditorium was rebuilt following bomb damage in World War II. It seats nearly 2000 and also boasts very cheap (?2.50) standing areas at the back and in the upper galleries. There were no performances during our visit but we did take a guided tour (?3.50) which included a look behind the scenes at the largest stage in Europe. The Opera House is now devoted to Grand Opera. Operettas and lighter works are performed at the Theater an der Wein and the Weiner Volksoper. Close to each other along the Ring are the three concert halls, the Musikverein, the Konzerthaus and the Kursalon Hübler.
Tourists around the Hofburg and the Opera House cannot hope to avoid the attentions of traders ...
Newfloridian 03.08.2003 (06.08.2003)
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