Classical Masters Concert Tickets at Haus der Musik Vienna

Haus der Musik, the palace of sound

The Haus der Musik occupies the former palace of Archduke Charles on Seilerstätte, in the heart of Vienna's first district. In the nineteenth century the building was the residence of the founder of the Vienna Philharmonic, which gave its first concerts in 1842, and since 2000 it has been an interactive museum of sound and music spread over several floors, with rooms on the composers of Vienna and the history of the orchestra.

The concert takes place in the palace's intimate concert hall, so you enjoy chamber music close to the musicians rather than in a vast auditorium. The museum is a separate visit and is not included in the concert ticket, but many visitors combine the two on the same day. If you are wondering how to get to Haus der Musik, it is about five minutes on foot from the State Opera and the Karlsplatz metro station.

The programme: Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss

The one-hour programme is built around the most beloved works of the Viennese classical tradition. You may hear Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik and his Dissonance Quartet, Haydn's Emperor Quartet, whose slow movement became one of the most famous anthem melodies in Europe, and his playful quartet known as The Joke.

Beethoven is represented by his String Quartet No. 4 and the Ode to Joy, Schubert by Ave Maria and the dramatic Death and the Maiden, and the evening ends in Viennese style with Strauss's The Blue Danube and the Radetzky March. For many visitors this Mozart concert in Vienna is the most accessible way to hear these pieces live, played by a string quartet that specialises in this repertoire.

Seats, timing and dress code

There are two seating categories. Category A covers rows 1 to 3, closest to the stage for the best view of the musicians and the fullest sound, while Category B covers rows 4 to 8, slightly further back with a good view and perfect acoustics. Seats are allocated by category, so book early if you want the front rows.

Concerts begin at 20:00 and last about one hour. Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the start; latecomers are admitted only at a suitable break in the music. Smart casual clothes are ideal and there is no formal dress code. Photography is not allowed during the concert, and phones must be on silent. The hall is fully air-conditioned, which makes it comfortable on summer evenings.

Around the State Opera and Kärntner Strasse

The Haus der Musik stands between the Vienna State Opera, the pedestrian shopping street Kärntner Strasse and the green Stadtpark, where a gilded statue of Johann Strauss plays the violin among the trees. This makes the concert easy to combine with an evening walk through the illuminated city centre.

Before the concert you can stroll along Kärntner Strasse to St Stephen's Cathedral or enjoy dinner in one of the traditional restaurants of the first district. Is a classical concert in Vienna worth it? For many travellers it is the highlight of the trip, and a compact one-hour format at a central venue fits perfectly into a day of sightseeing, leaving time for dinner before or a stroll afterwards.