The Vienna Hofburg Orchestra

The Vienna Hofburg Orchestra, founded in 1971 by Gert Hofbauer, brings together the best musicians in Vienna. The orchestra has set itself the goal of performing top-class programs and consists of at least 30-40 musicians and 3-5 renowned singers from the Vienna State Opera and Volksoper.

Gert Hofbauer: Founder of the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra

Gert Hofbauer, born in Knittelfeld in 1937, was an Austrian trumpeter and conductor. He studied in Graz and Vienna before becoming a member of the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra and the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria. He began studying conducting in 1969 and founded the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra in 1971, which he led for many years and made into one of the best orchestras in Vienna. Hofbauer passed away on August 4, 2017.

New stages, new sounds - an orchestra on the rise

The Vienna Hofburg Orchestra initially played in the Vienna Konzerthaus and Musikverein, later mainly in the halls of the Vienna Hofburg. Due to renovation work, concerts are currently taking place in the Mozart Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Ceremonial Hall of the Vienna Hofburg, the Festival Hall of the Vienna Hofburg (at Christmas) and the Palais Liechtenstein (New Year’s Concert). In 2019, the orchestra gave a successful premiere at the Vienna State Opera and will give further concerts there in 2020. Under Gert Hofbauer, the orchestra has achieved great fame through radio and television productions, recordings and international concerts.

Takeover by the Vienna Residence Orchestra: with heart and family spirit

Under Gert Hofbauer, the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra established the tradition of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day concerts in Vienna. This led to a legal dispute with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which had the term “New Year’s Concert” protected as a trademark. However, the Hofburg Orchestra was able to prove that it had been organizing New Year’s concerts for thirty years and was allowed to continue using the term. Public opinion supported the Hofburg Orchestra in this dispute. Today, the orchestra’s New Year’s concerts take place in the Liechtenstein Garden Palace and there are many other orchestras in Austria that also play New Year’s concerts.

Sylvia Moser: A worthy successor for the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra

Sylvia Moser, an experienced orchestra leader and former opera singer, took over the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra in 2014 with the ambitious goal of presenting Viennese classical music in its most authentic form. In doing so, she followed in the footsteps of the renowned Gert Hofbauer. Her impressive musical career and in-depth knowledge make her the ideal successor to lead the orchestra into a successful future.

Vienna Hofburg Orchestra: A feast for the ears in Vienna's most magnificent halls

Experience the sounds of Vienna from May to October when the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra brings waltzes and operetta melodies by Strauss, Mozart, Lehár and Kalman to life with 40 outstanding musicians. Accompanied by a classical ballet couple and celebrated opera soloists singing solo or in duet, the 90-minute concerts without intermission offer an unforgettable evening.

The concerts take place in the most beautiful halls in Vienna, including the Festsaal and Zeremoniensaal of the Hofburg, the Mozartsaal in the Konzerthaus and occasionally the Musikverein. Due to renovation work in Parliament, the concerts no longer take place in the Redoutensaal.

Special highlights are the annual Christmas concerts in the large ballroom of the Hofburg with over 1000 guests and the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s concerts in the enchanting Liechtenstein Garden Palace, where the orchestra performs with an expanded line-up and additional opera singers.

Discover the artists of the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra and let yourself be enchanted by their passion for the Viennese musical tradition. Details about the individual artists can be found on their biography pages.

Sylvia Moser hands over musical direction to Giuseppe Montesano

Giuseppe Montesano is a conductor born in Turin who studied in Vienna and Milan. He was assistant to Philippe Jordan at the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Walter Kobera at the Neue Oper Wien. He has been musical director of the Vienna Residence Orchestra and the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra since 2017. He has won several international conducting competitions.

Vienna Hofburg Orchestra: Your ticket to unforgettable concert evenings

Enjoy classical concerts with works by Mozart, Strauss & Co. performed by international opera singers. Don’t miss the annual Hofburg Orchestra Concert, a musical highlight! Discover the current program and book your tickets directly on the Hofburg Orchestra website.