Music Tour Vienna. From sound of music to power of music on the fastest way: Once classical music connoisseurs go beyond nights at the Staatsoper to trace composers in Vienna, they will know that there is more to Vienna's 'capital of music' label than a tourism tag.

To begin with, the Mozart House, the Beethoven House and top music venues such as Musikverein are certainly the most visible puzzle pieces of Vienna's musical history. But who really set the tone in Wien? And why had music called the tune in this capital for so many centuries (and still does)?

Music - The Power Tool

Music tour Vienna.  My local guide picked me up just behind the Vienna State Opera.
As we watched the building from the Albertina museum's terrace he rolled out Vienna's music scene of the 18th and 19th century: Essentially, the Habsburg Empire's carefully steered music industry excelled as a political power tool and social glue.
More politically than financially, their music business was as important as Hollywood and Bollywood together today. But not because we had so many native geniuses...

As a matter of fact, the Emperors adored music, for the sheer love of it, but also for power and influence. Leopold I, aka 'the Austrian sun king', composed several suites and dances and participated in plays. The photo shows him as Acis in the play 'La Galatea'.
Since the Habsburgs also supported musicians and composers Vienna soon became THE capital of music.
If you listened carefully, the beginnings of the Vienna State Opera were actually fit for a great opera plot itself: There were tales of an annoyed Emperor and of suicide, of fulminant opera premieres and dramatic flops.
Until then I had had no idea of the Vienna Philharmonics' relationship with Johann Strauß and of Gustav Mahler’s ground-breaking opera reforms. But it greatly helped to connect the strings.

Beethoven and The Eroica Hall

Music tour Vienna. Across the Albertina square we headed for Lobkowitz Palace. While the 'Palais' today hosts the local Theater Museum its Eroica Hall (photo) was also the venue of one of Beethoven's biggest triumphs.
Since that gem of a baroque hall was temporarily closed we decided to sneak into the unlocked room.
Beneath marble columns and a breathtaking ceiling painting I learned how to read a fresco. Meanwhile, I listened to Beethoven's Eroica symphony on an audio device.

NOTE: The original tour uses audio devices throughout so that you hear key pieces of music along the way of the sites and monuments that help you explore music in Vienna.

When we explored the 'science fiction of baroque operas' my guide's passion shifted up a gear. I had heard so much about his stunning biography. Actually, the amazing opera 'sci fi' stage sets were as fascinating as his personal career in the art and music world.
Born in Switzerland, my guide studied piano and dance at the Geneva Conservatory. Years later, he worked as an opera set and costume designer all over Europe.
An art history, arts and antiques expert, he now works with Vienna's top opera houses and theaters as a stage and costume designer and lectures at the University of Music and Performing Arts, if he doesn't share his passion with travellers.

A Concert Hall - Really?

Music tour Vienna.  Since there were no formal concert halls at Beethoven's and Mozart's time tracing their triumphs is a challenge for the average visitor.
Who would have known that Mozart performed his first subscription concert in what is now a prime luxury hotel? Or that both Beethoven and Mozart performed music at Vienna's oldest coffeehouse?
Clearly, Stephansdom (photo) was a major concert hall in those days for music celebrities such as Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, his mentor Antonio Salieri and Italian master violinist and composer Antonio Vivaldi.

We moved on to other hidden concert halls that once saw Haydn and Beethoven celebrate their biggest successes. The Academy of Sciences (Akademie der Wissenschaften) boasts a splendid hall where concerts were performed.
Imagine Haydn's spectacular 76th birthday party, with Beethoven among the crowds, and Haydn's 'Creation' flooding the baroque hall ... If you ever do this tour, double check with your guide that this hall is open during the time of your tour.
Another less obvious musical place was the house of the Roman Catholic Order of The Teutonic Knights (photo).
Actually we went there for two reasons: first to 'relive' Mozart’s fateful incident with a representative of his Salzburg employer there; and second, to peek into the Sala Terrena, where even today regular Mozart concerts are performed. On top, the romantic courtyard with its historic 'Pawlatschen' galleries was just an amazing discovery.

...And Other Surprise Finds

Music tour Vienna. During our whole tour, my guide made Vienna's well-trodden paths buzz with musical references: Emperor Joseph II's statue for example reminded of Wolfgang A. Mozart's key employer.

In a narrow alley close to the famous Mozart House was Mozart's 13th and last accommodation in Vienna. In this very house of Freemason Mozart you will find Austria's Grand Freemason's Lodge today. As we studied the masonic symbols my guide lifted the veil off the Freemason network among top musicians and artists in Vienna at that time.

What I had always found challenging was to connect musicians with each other. Did Mozart and Beethoven ever meet? Were Haydn and Mozart (photo) befriended? And where did Schubert fit in?
Definitely the most surprising personality for me was Italian Pietro Metastasio, the darling song writer of Habsburg Emperors. Unlike any other artist's, his most pleasing and highly regarded songs and dramas commissioned for Imperial celebrations speak volumes about the power music held in Habsburgian politics.

The Mozart Haus

Music tour Vienna. If you have seen cult film 'Amadeus' you probably won't leave Vienna without having seen Mozart's house. As most music guides do, my guide steered me towards Mozart's most famous local residence near St. Stephen's Cathedral.
In total, Mozart lived there for three years and composed some of his most popular works during this time. I had visited the Mozart House Vienna before so we managed to stick to our three hour schedule.

Book The Music Tour Vienna

If you would like to join this guide or other passionate music guides for a private or small group music tour from USD 85 per person email me at barbara.cacao(at)vienna-unwrapped.com.

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