7 smart tips for a classical concert in Vienna
What you should know when attending a classical concert in Vienna
Wanting to attend a classical concert is one of many reasons that make Vienna a popular destination for every European traveler.
Considered by many – including many Viennese themselves – to be the most beautiful city in the world, Vienna today still embodies the seductive flair of an imperial fin de siècle capital, while at the same time managing to position itself as a modern city. With bold contemporary architecture, very good (shopping) infrastructure and lively nightlife; there is something for everyone here.
Music is an important part of Viennese culture. For many people, attending a classical concert in the evening is simply part of what Vienna is so famous for. As these concerts are attended by classical music enthusiasts as well as “newcomers” to the genre, we have summarized the seven most important tips for attending a classical concert in Vienna here.
Contents
1st dress code: What should I wear to a classical concert?
There is no strict dress code for a classical concert in Vienna, simply because visitors often buy concert tickets spontaneously and may not have thought to bring a suit or costume.
Sometimes they decide to go just before the concert starts. It is also not uncommon for entire groups to be taken to concerts by their tour operators at the end of a long day and not have had time to change in between. And no one can ask them to move around the city all day in fancy clothes for a classical concert in the evening.
So don’t worry if you have forgotten your evening dress / suit
Nevertheless, many concertgoers also come in smart evening wear or not quite ‘casual’. Making sure that you at least wear long pants and a shirt not only helps the overall appearance of the evening party, it also supports your own perception of the evening as part of Vienna’s cultural scene. And if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll feel better if you’re dressed properly. 😌
Although it can occasionally happen that large organizers reserve the right to refuse entry in extreme cases, we are not yet aware of any such cases.
2. seats: Can I sit where I want at the concerts?
For their classical concert, most organizers offer tickets in at least two, but usually three or more price categories.
You can find the exact offers of the individual providers in our concert overview, for example.
The further forward you want to sit, the more expensive it usually becomes, as many visitors want to be as close to the action as possible. If you want to look the first violinist or the pretty clarinettist in the eye, you are usually well advised to opt for the most expensive category.
But what many people don’t know is the fact that almost all of these concert venues have excellent acoustics and you can therefore expect an absolute sound experience from almost anywhere.
Another fact is that the raised stage in the front row often forces you to look up at a certain angle for the entire classical concert, which is not good for your neck in the long run. In addition to the most expensive ticket category, you may also have to pay for a treatment at the hotel masseur. 😄
The size of the orchestra plays a role:
It is also important to note that there are also differences in the size of the orchestra and, above all, or usually associated with this, in the size of the concert hall. These differences will be discussed in more detail in the next section, but they also play a role in your choice of seat.
On the one hand, there are the large orchestras (with conductors) that need correspondingly large halls and, on the other hand, there are also many traditional chamber and salon orchestras in Vienna. Such performances usually take place quite authentically in smaller concert halls, which were architecturally designed precisely for this purpose so that the audience can enjoy the full acoustic experience from anywhere in the hall. You will also be able to watch the fascinating finger playing of the first violin from the last row.
At this type of classical concert it is really not necessary to try to get tickets right at the front, the circle of spectators is already suitably intimate for the size of the hall, so that you really do have the best acoustics and the best view from everywhere.
Arrive on time, first come, first served
The seats within the categories are usually freely selectable, so it is not necessarily certain that you will get the best seat within the most expensive category.
It is therefore advisable to arrive on time if it is very important to get a seat after your performance in order to increase your chances accordingly. After you have collected or redeemed your ticket at the box office, you will usually be escorted to your category or – if it is sometimes too busy – you will be shown where it is and in which area you can sit down.
Sometimes seats are also reserved, these are usually larger groups who have bought the tickets together and want to sit together.
3. orchestra sizes: How many musicians play in the orchestra?
There is no hard and fast rule for the size of the respective orchestra, but the informed concert-goer may be able to recognize differences in advance. If you have read our explanations, you will in most cases be able to recognize in advance which orchestra size you should expect and make your further purchase decision accordingly.
The symphony orchestra
We start with the concert class that many people expect when they think of a classical concert: the large orchestra, also known as the “symphony” orchestra. This orchestra, which is led by a conductor, includes all kinds of instruments and multiple instrumentations. From woodwind, brass and string instruments to percussion and other instruments.
There is no fixed limit to the number of musicians, but a good average of around 20 to 40 musicians can be found at regular orchestral performances in Vienna. For example, the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra, which usually plays in the Hofburg of the same name, the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Vienna State Opera and the Liechtenstein Garden Palace.
The chamber and salon orchestra
In addition to orchestral greats whose names speak for themselves, such as solo pianists or string quartets, we present another very important class for Vienna, namely the chamber orchestras and salon orchestras, whose transition is fluid.
These are very typical of Viennese musical culture, as they give the audience the real feeling of Viennese classical music. From the time when the circle of guests invited by the prince was limited to a few to listen to the composers live.
There are no fixed rules regarding the musical instrumentation here either, although we are talking about significantly fewer musicians and limited instrumentation. According to the definition of chamber music, you can expect an instrumentation of 2 to 9 musicians, which corresponds to the character of a salon orchestra. However, these numbers are artistically variable and can be extended to the size of a chamber orchestra; here you will usually find around 10 to 12 musicians.
The fascinating thing about these smaller ensembles, which are already well established in Vienna, is that they are not led by a conductor. They are so harmoniously coordinated that they only follow their first violin, which is played by outstanding violinists.
Small frame, big acoustics
Such chamber music performances take place on a smaller scale, usually in suitably designed concert halls, which have one clear advantage: perfect visibility and acoustics from anywhere.
Such truly unique and authentic performances can be found at providers such as the Vienna Residence Orchestra in the Palais der alten Börse – one of the oldest and most experienced providers of chamber music concerts, as well as the Mozart Ensemble with its chamber music concerts in the Mozarthaus or the Orchestra 1756 in Vienna’s Karlskirche and many more.
On Viennatickets.com we try to show you as transparently as possible what you can expect when you visit a concert. You can find all concert providers on their websites, on Google or TripAdvisor. Often with illustrative information also by means of videos on YouTube, which are posted by visitors. The more you inform yourself in advance, the less you will be surprised.
4th program: What classical music can I expect?
Since Vienna has such a rich history of classical music and is also proud of the term “Viennese Classicism”, the music of Austrian composers is naturally emphasized the most.
So if you look at the various concerts available, you will have no problem finding music by W. A. Mozart or the Strauss dynasty, but Beethoven, Schubert, Mahler and Vivaldi are also on the list of classical concerts on offer.
There are concerts that play an entire coherent work by one composer, and some that make a selection of different pieces by a single or several composers.
Here too, the websites of the organizers themselves, YouTube or various ticket portals such as www.viennatickets.com provide sufficient information.
5. tickets: Where can I get tickets for a classical concert in Vienna?
Due to the popularity and high demand for classical music in Vienna, there are of course also various sales channels for concert tickets.
Ticket offices
There are various ticket offices in the city center, especially near the State Opera. There are dedicated ticket offices that are run by a concert organizer and therefore offer tickets purely for the event in question, but there are also more comprehensive ticket offices that sell various concert tickets from all kinds of providers on commission. The staff are usually very friendly and can help you make your choice if you are still not sure after reading our comprehensive blog post.
Hotels
In many hotels you will not only find numerous brochures from various tour operators, but your hotel receptionist should also be able to advise you according to your wishes or at least do some research for you, call the tour operator offices and reserve tickets for you if necessary. Simply enquire at your reception in good time and your hotel will usually arrange everything else for you.
Street vendor
There are various street vendors selling tickets all over the city center, mainly around St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the State Opera House all the way to Heldenplatz. They are easily recognizable by the baroque “uniforms” they wear. They usually speak several languages and will generally provide you with friendly and honest information on all your questions about the concerts. However, the human factor plays a major role here. Basically, the street vendors are official dealers and their tickets will definitely be valid, but you should pay attention to a few things:
Don’t believe everything, better check for yourself
Official dealers can also identify themselves by means of appropriate identification, worn visibly. At least presentable on request. There are also a few black sheep, often newcomers who don’t know any better. Or they just want to please and tell you everything you want to hear. Therefore: don’t fall for it if you are promised certain seats – you can check this immediately on the ticket, for example, as there is usually a free choice of seats within the categories. Don’t be fooled by any promises of special extra treatments either.
It is not uncommon to pay a small deposit when purchasing tickets and pay the difference on arrival at the venue box office. Just make sure you get a receipt or something in writing. This will be a voucher with your reservation or ticket number on it, so you avoid any confusion at the box office for your classical concert.
It is quite possible to get cheaper tickets here, in the sense of category A for the price of category B or even the odd free ticket; street vendors are authorized for such promotions. For you as a customer, this means that you can actually get a bargain there; you just have to approach the matter carefully, which should hardly be difficult for you by now.
Online ticket portals
Fast, secure and uncomplicated
Buying tickets online is the most convenient way for many people these days, even for a classical concert. There are various ticket portals on the internet that fulfill this purpose, and you should have no trouble finding a supplier. Or you can simply go directly to www.viennatickets.com. There you will also find detailed information about the respective orchestra and the music performed, including pictures, videos and program excerpts as well as concert schedules or links to the organizers. It is not uncommon for them to also introduce their artists, as well as their historical background and much more.
6. ticket cancellations: Can I simply cancel and how?
Since cancellation conditions are a very individual matter and therefore vary from one organizer to another, we advise you to check the respective cancellation conditions in advance in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. You can find these on the homepage of the organizer or on your respective ticket portal.
Just as with the topic of seat selection under point 2, the following applies in the event that a cancellation is unavoidable:
The sooner the better
Generally speaking, if you cancel one day before the concert, you have a good chance of getting a full refund of the ticket price, possibly minus a cancellation fee. Just try to contact the retailer you bought your tickets from and discuss with them what you can do. They should be able to help you either get your tickets refunded or in any case switch to an alternative date.
We at Viennatickets.com will be happy to help you and will not charge you a cancellation fee for this service!
7. accessibility: Can I get to all concert halls without barriers?
Most concerts take place in many of Vienna’s wonderful baroque palaces, which are famous for their impressive interiors.
The way there is usually via no less impressive stairs, but almost all concert venues also offer access for wheelchair users. Either by means of retrofitted elevators, ramps or simply thanks to the friendly help of staff on site who are happy to lend a hand.
Only in very rare exceptional cases is access for wheelchair users simply not possible. Viennatickets.com has contacted the partners of the ticket site and we will update our information as soon as we receive it. In any case, you should contact the organizer in good time to make sure that access is possible.
All information at a glance
There are no strict rules, but clothes make the man and make your evening all the more beautiful 😉
There are different categories within which there is usually a free choice of seats. The closer to the stage, the more expensive, but the front row is not always the best, especially at the smaller chamber concerts
In Vienna you can find everything from solo pianists to string concertos, chamber orchestras and large symphony orchestras. Generally speaking, the chamber orchestra is smaller and more intimate in its organization and is often led by the first violin instead of a conductor. It is worth reading this section to discover the differences between the latter two in particular.
The best way to find out about the individual program items is to visit www.viennatickets.com or the website of the respective organizer.
The options range from hotel receptions, ticket offices or street vendors in the first district to online vendors. You are most likely to pick up a bargain from one of the street vendors, but don’t walk blindly onto the street, exercise healthy caution and/or read our information section.
Cancellations or changes to bookings are generally not a problem if made in good time, but please contact the organizer and/or dealer individually.
Almost all providers will support you in this case, only very few have no possibility at all. Simply contact the provider early enough and a solution will be found; you will find information on this on our homepage under the respective event.
Hopefully we were able to help you find the perfect classical concert in Vienna for you, enjoy it and let us know what you think!
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