Classical Music, Vienna

Home of the Vienna Philharmonic, one of the very best orchestras in the world. There's nothing more viennese than attending a classical music concert, and this is simply the perfect place for it. But depending on the program, it could be hard to get a ticket.

Johann Strauss Jr. - I've heard of his compositions long b4 I even know how to speak English! My parents are fans of his, hence.

I remembered a lot of scenes from my childhood, not because i've excellent memory, but rather, the music holds an unexplainable association to that part of my memory. It's like some sort of classical conditioning. (& no, I'm NOT the dog, :p)

It's probably safe to say that Strauss' fame surpasses even that of the Emperor. & his "Blue Danube" & "Tales from the Viennese Woods" are some of my favorites.

Next visit, I must stay long enough & learn how to waltz.....

One of the many houses of the composer in Vienna, where he spent several years and composed 'Le Nozze di Figaro'. It's now a museum, with several personal objects and some of his musical instruments on display.

The Stadtpark (city park) with the monument of the Austrian composer and father of the waltz Johan Strauss, one of the symbols of Vienna.
This memorial is a work of Edmund Hellmer, but it’s not the only monument in this park. There are more monuments dedicated to other Austrians: to Schubert, to Anton Bruckner, to Lehar and to Robert Stolz. The park itself is a must see in the capital of Austria.

Surely, if Paris is known as the City of Lights, then Vienna must be the City of Music! And where better to hear the greatest music of all time than at the Musikwerein and listen to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (VPO) or the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (VSO) play. To hear the VPO perform Beethoven's 9th Symphony has rate up there near the top. This my all time favorite symphony, and to hear it played where is was orignally conducted by Beethoven, it just gave me chills listening to it. The music seems to resonate from everywhere.
Probably one of the most ornate and beautiful buildings there is. The inside is absolutely magnificent with all the gold-leaf, everywhere, a more ornate place, would be diffcult to find! You won't see more gold, unless you visit Ft. Knox--if you could!

This is a quiet street built on to the original bastion of the city walls and it has some lovely 18th century houses on it. The Emperor Franz Joseph nearly met his death on the bastion in 1853 when a tailor attempted to assassinate him. The Beethoven house there is called the Pasqualati House, it is a small but very interesting museum.

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This is one of 30 houses where Ludwig van Beethoven lived in Vienna. The house is named after its original owner Baron Johann von Pasqualati. Beethoven lived in the house and two different numbers between 1804 and 1808 and between 1810 and 1815. it was here he composed the symphonies 4,5,7,and 8 and the opera Fidelio, the piano Concerto no. 4 and string quartets. The rooms he lived in on the 4th floor are now a museum containing such things as a lock of Beethoven’s hair (I would love that), a photo of the original grave site in Währing, an engraving of his deathbed and early editions of his scores. There are also paintings and busts of the composer and his patron Prince Rasumofsky. It really is a wonderful museum.

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Joseph Haydn built this house with money he earned during his visits to London in 1791 and 1795 they had been very successful. The house was then in a new suburb of the city. He lived in the house from 1797 until his death in 1809 and it was here he wrote The Creation and The Seasons. One room of the house is dedicated to Johannes Brahms. Once again there are photocopies of letters and scores but there is also a pencil used by Haydn and a piano.It is strange to realise that Haydn's wife disliked music.
The museum is full of personal belongings of the composer, it makes the small museum so much more interesting because you really get the feel of the man himself. It brings it all much more to life. It was good to be able to take photos (without flash, but no film) because we were able to take home memories of the rooms.
Visit the Brahm's room in the Haydn House.
There is no Brahms house only this room in the Haydn House which has been filled with belongings of the composer Brahms. This is his wash table, but really it is so sad that there are not more things kept from this wonderful composer.
Brahms was born in Hamburg 1833, his father wasa player in the hamburg State Theatre. Brahms made his first public performance as a pianist in Hamburg in1848. From the age of 13 he earned his living by teaching and also by playing for dances, at theatres and in taverns. He first visited Vienna in 1862 and lived there for most of the next 35 years. He died in Vienna 1897 and is buried in the Central Graveyard.