I'm looking for reviews about the Mozart/ Strauss concert at the Schoenbrunn Palace. I'm thinking of going when we are in Vienna in late August. Any feedback you have would be appreciated.
Secondly, I'm thinking of using the subway to go to/from the palace. Is the subway safe at night? We will be leaving the concert at 10:30or 11:00pm
Thoughts?
Thanks for your help.
Tom
The subway is really the only logical way to get to the palace. Yes, it is very safe, even in the middle of the night.
As for the concert, I haven't been but I am sure you know that this is tourist fare and not a serious concert.
Hmmmm.
First, Schonbrun is a great place to spend an evening listening to music. Is it the premier classical musical destination in the city. No, but if you understand how musicians operate, expect the orchestra to include many talented professionals who otherwise also perform at other "more serious" venues. Thats how it works. Gigs are not exclusive. This will be a night where you can relax and enjoy the music without feeling like you need to be dressed to the nines and judged for how good your seat is.
And (our families and my wife are professional musicians and have made careers teaching, performing, conducting, writing, publishing music) lets be really serious and point out that Strauss is not serious music. And Mozart, for all he is and was, he played at Schonbrun so the context of these performances at Schonbrun is 100% correct. "Mozart's in the closet, let him out, let him out, let him out, as we say."
As a classical music geek, I do not think a performance should be labeled as non-serious if it does not measure to some unclear personalized standard. As someone who has been to the Opera, Musikverein and Konzerthaus (presumably where the "serious" music is performed) I can assure you that you will have a wonderful and memorable evening at Schonbrun.
Go to your concert, enjoy it, feel totally safe on the subways both coming and going.
Emily,
I realize that the Schoenbrunn concert is not a 4 star cultural event but there seems to be nothing at the opera house, and the Kursalon is under renovation. Mozarthaus concert I think is mostly chamber music. Chamber music is a non-starter for me. We are in Vienna only 2 nights, August 28 and 29. I thought we'd do the Schoenbrunn Palace concert on Friday the 28th and maybe catch something going on at the Rathausplatz (outside) after we go to 7pm Mass at St . Stephen's Cathedral on Saturday, August 29.
Given the circumstances does this plan make some sense?
Tom
Mack,
Thanks for your feedback. As noted in my recent post, I don't think we have a lot of options given that our visit is in late August. I think the palace will be fine for us
Thanks again,
Tom
