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This is not the typical review since it will not address a concert or an event that took place here, but it's about the building itself. So here it is .. built in the second half of the 1800 in Neoclassical style (somehow resembling the architecture of ancient greek temples) it was intended as second concert hall for Viena (after the Opera, ofcourse) . The building is superbly light during the evenings and also has some beautiful decoration - so those of you who are interested in architecture and sculpture for sure will find it interesting. Nowadays is the home of the world famous Vienna Filarmonica - and the New Year's concert of Vienna takes place here. For the next visit would be interesting to get to a concert - let's see when that can be possible. Overall an interesting place - even for those who are not into classical music I would say it worth stopping for a few pics.…
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Date of experience: February 2020
21 Helpful votes1 Repost
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Extraordinary experience owing to the beauty of the hall, the excellence of the musicians and the acoustics. We were sitting as far back as was available in second balcony and heard everything perfectly!!!! A must see, both inside and out.
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Date of experience: February 2020
1 Helpful vote
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I just went spontaneously to a concert and got a last minute ticket. Dvorak and Beethoven by the Wiener Symphoniker, so really good orchestra and incredible pieces. The hall is worth seeing, a historic place for viennese and international music, but I had a place in the standing area, where about 30 people can stand comfortably. There where at least a 100 people, so I got a spot in the last corner, where I didn’t see anything and had an uncomfortable spot. It’s a pity that they sell so many tickets for such a small area and, in my opinion, it doesn’t represent the spirit of such a noble institution.…
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Date of experience: February 2020
2 Helpful votes
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The atmosphere and decoration are fantastic as a concert house. However, extremely bad experience as we paid €98 for a classic concert and they sit us 3 rows from the back . The music acoustic was extremely bad , back there. To make things worst , after mid break, all the general public with much lower paying customer €38 plus can free officially to come up and sit in front of you if there are available sits ( officially approved free for all arrangement ). Makes me feel like a fool to pay so much.…
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Date of experience: February 2020
3 Helpful votes
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This review will be on the long side - hoping that as a "regular" I can provide useful info/tips and help people make the best of their visit to the Musikverein. The Musikverein is one of the best classical music venues in the world. Period. Most of the negative reviews here are about the tourist concerts that also take place here on occasion. You have to know that the "real" Musikverein season runs September-June, with a scarcer offering in September and June and during school holidays. When there is no "official" concert, the hall (and part of the staff apparently) is *rented* for tourist-only "Mozart" ou "Mozart and Strauss" concerts of the ubiquitous kind. So if you come during summer, you won't be able to watch a proper concert at the Musikverein - the cultural life has moved to Salzburg or other festivals. Should you go to one of these tourist-only concerts instead? For me, the short answer is "no!". These "concerts" have nothing to do with the Musikverein's fame, and if you know anything about classical music and have ever been to a classical concert before, you WILL be disappointed. Take a guided tour of the building and look for a concert in a church (some will be "mostly for tourist" but of much better/acceptable quality, others will be genuine concerts for locals, like the great summer programme of Baroque music in the quaint Ruprechtskirche). If you know nothing about classical music, should you go? Well I would also answer "no", but if you must do it, know exactly what to expect (overpriced show, unruly audience of tour groups, bored musicians who hate churning the same tunes to an obnoxious audience day after day... READ THE REVIEWS!). The staff will be super rude *of course*: they have to manage hundreds of unruly people, many of them angry because they feel ripped-off. The regular Musikverein ushers are bona fide music lovers (I know this from my conversations with them, and from a complicit exchange once with one of them during a rehearsal, when we both recognized a piece that was *not* on the programme...), and they *hate* the tourist-only concerts. The rest of the staff are summer extras who are not part of the Musikverein and are probably underpaid/exploited. Even if they take pity on you for feeling cheated, there's nothing they can do: your money is in the hands of the "tourist concerts" companies, and will stay there. So AVOID the tourist concerts and if you are lucky to be there during the regular season, go for a real Musikverein concert instead. Availability of tickets will depend on the concert - some will be sold out months in advance, some (also good) will have tickets on sale up to the start of the performance. In any case, use the official box office on the left side of the building or the official website (musikverein.at). Agencies take a hefty commission - only use them if they happen to re-sell tickets for a sold-out concert you really want to attend. Even then, you might be better off waiting in front of the Musikverein before the concert with a homemade sign asking for a ticket, in case someone is reselling theirs... Or asking the box office again and again for returned tickets, you might get lucky. As for the seats, you get what you pay - be aware that second and third rows on the balcony will have restricted view. The "Orgelbalkon" is a bargain for music lovers BUT it comes with NO VISIBILITY at all (it's above and behind the stage). This is strictly for hardcore music lovers who cannot afford a seat with a view (and don't care). Only choose them if you are fully aware of this! Finally there are the standing tickets, a real bargain at 5 to 7 euros but the standing area is a flat room between columns in the back of the parterre, not very comfortable. In my view, it's fantastic IF AND ONLY IF you manage to secure a spot in the front, next to the railing and between two columns. Achieving this requires some planning. For some concerts without any big names it might be OK to arrive just 40 minutes or even 30 minutes before the concert, but for concerts that will draw a larger crowd 2 hours are more advisable! First you wait in front of the building (doors open 60 minutes before the show), then below the stairs either on the left or on the rights (two separate lines). You HAVE to bring your coat and bags to the cloakroom downstairs (Euros 0.85 per piece). Don't argue about this, it's compulsory everywhere in Vienna. Just do it! If you are a group, take turns to check the coats while others keep your spot in the line. If you are alone, have a friendly chat with your neighbours and/or the ushers so that they agree on your spot in the line (they will). 35 minutes or so before the concert, you will be herded upstairs and wait in line once more at the gate of the Golden Hall until the bell rings - upon which you make a run for the best spot (don't linger! the front row fills up in a matter of seconds...). That's it! If you followed these rules you should have on of the "good" standing spots for a world-class performance, at 6 euros + cloakroom fee. Can't beat that! Lastly: contrary to what some have written here, the ushers are NOT unfriendly or rude and DO NOT treat standing tickets holders as second-class citizens. The standing area regulars are a valued audience - but the system does not exist for the tourists - it's first and foremost designed for local students, retirees and music fanatics. Tourists *are* welcome, but must earn respect and show they are not the usual disruptive and casual visitor (aka "nuisance") only looking to tick a box on their to-do list. The Musikverein would do perfectly well with only the regulars and no tourists at all - so tourists are expected to do their homework and to know and heed the house rules and traditions. (For example, photo is OK only until 5 minutes before the concert - spontaneously turn off your cellphone after that because the staff is super tired of having to do the cellphone police non-stop and will not be very polite about it...). Now it's time for great music! Enjoy! :)…
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Date of experience: January 2020
4 Helpful votes
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