Musikverein ticket questions

First: Musikverein has a group of concert halls for rent; basically, if you accept to pay the rent and find an empty slot, you could yourself give a concert at Musikverein. This explains why the programs go from top of the top on a world scale to tourist programs.
Second: you want a program in the Großer Saal (the largest concert hall); the Brahms Saal is also nice, but small, you may find chamber concerts there but it is unlikely you would appreciate them. The other halls are mainly for experimental and children concerts.

After that, a key to read the program:
Tonkunstler - middle level large classical orchestra, local
Schlosskapelle and Wiener Mozart, programs geared to tourists
Capuçon/Levit - world class violin/piano duo
Wiener Sangerknaben - Viennese children choir, very tipical, maybe the best program
Wiener Symphoniker - the orchestra is top class, but this is a family concert

As for looking, I remember very clearly that the first row of seats is exactly at the same level of performers shoes. I remember clearly as when we go and play there we always recommend our orchestra to wear well polished shoes. Usually people do not complain as the stage of the Großer Sall has a very steep slope so performers are well exposed. But maybe you may consider a balcony.

By the way, why don't you consider the Fledermaus at Volksoper? You cannot get more Viennese than that. Yes, it will be spoken in German but the music is delicious.

By the way, why don't you consider the Fledermaus at Volksoper? You cannot get more Viennese than that. Yes, it will be spoken in German but the music is delicious.

There are surtitles in English on a display.

From the OP's post it is not clear why they want to attend a concert in the Musikverein, just because of (1) the beauty and acoustics of the Golden Hall, or because of (2) a deeper interest in classical music.

Case (1). I would go with the Mozart concert. It is definitely targeted at tourists, but that does not mean that the musicians are of low quality. What they play is for people not so attached to classical music.

Case (2). Consider a concert at Konzerthaus, where you can find heavier stuff, like symphonies of Bruckner and Mahler.

In any case don't sit in the very front rows, you will be looking upward all the time, resulting in a stiff neck.

The Volksoper is a great choice , and Fledermaus is quintessentially Viennese . If you want to push a bit into one of the great works of American Musical Theater , they are also presenting " Follies " by Stephen Sondheim and although in German , if you familiarize yourselves with the show before going you are in for a treat . I have been to numerous productions at the Volksoper , and they are always top notch . Just in case you do see " Follies" This article will guide you through its history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Follies and here is a complete cast recording of the incredible score https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze5G4vE8Dis&list=PLNXSK9RU25sjplz2ephuk8UyWDdHF5HV8 Volksoper website https://www.volksoper.at/ EDIT unlike American Theaters where the size of the orchestras has been declining for decades , the productions in places like Vienna and Berlin , for example , the orchestras retain the original personnel complements .Quite an experience to hear the scores in the original incarnations

Thanks so much everyone for the info on Musikverein and also about the other venues for concerts! I am so glad to know which is the main music hall because that is the one we want to go to, plus all the other ideas about seats, etc.
We are very excited about our upcoming trip to Vienna and about hearing live music there!

Last year (november) I wanted to listen to a concert. Musikverein a great looking concertroom, BUT I left after few minutes the hall. So bad air. The concert was sold out. I guess, theres no air condition. Many people, bad air - I felt sick very fast.

I completely agree that a Mozart concert is worth it even though it is touristy. We're big watchers of the PBS broadcast of the annual New Year's concert, so it was great to be in that space. The concert was a lot of fun and the quality was on par or above what we are used to seeing at home.

BUT I left after few minutes the hall. So bad air. The concert was sold out. I guess, theres no air condition. Many people, bad air - I felt sick very fast.

This concert hall has been built way before airconditioning was invented. Retrofitting would impact the acoustics, known as the best of the world.

I was just looking at the Volksopper because we are interested in the Sondheim event.
It seems you can’t choose your exact seats there, you can only request an area. Is that teye?

Teye ? Can you clarify?

It seems you can’t choose your exact seats there, you can only request an area.

For performances in the Volksoper you need to distinguish in the online ticketshop between (1) dates which are already available, Karten kaufen (buy tickets), and (2) dates for which only pre-ordering is available, Karten bestellen (pre-order tickets).

In case (1) you can select your seats from the floor plan, in case (2) you can only select the price category and seating area.

On the 1st of every month ticket sales for the following month will start, e.g., on April 1st ticket sales for May will start.

We are looking at two concerts. One is two soloists on May 9, Renaud Capucon and Igor Levit, and the other is the Mozart Vivaldi concert.
Could people who know more advise us regarding what these two experiences might be like so we can decide between them? I believe they are both in the main concert hall.
Thanks so much for all the advice given so far!

Apparently you are looking for detailed information about these two concerts . As I spent my working career as a professional classical musician in New York City , I'll be happy to answer your query The Capucon Levit program . although it is in the Main Hall , is one of sonatas for violin and piano . The Vienna Mozart program is a chamber orchestra playing various selections by Mozart but is not in the main hall , but in The Brahms Salle , which is essentially a smaller venue usually used for chamber music . While both programs will be pleasant , The Golden ( or Main Hall ) really shines with full orchestral programs . You might find that somewhat disappointing . While I have not attended a program in The Brahms Hall , I have enjoyed many programs in The Golden Hall listening to works by Mahler , Rachmaninoff , and Beethoven among others .

Thank you Steven for your reply. We definitely want to be in the main hall and I must have missed that the other will not be there with the translations and the website being a little confusing to me.
Do you know more about the Brahms program and also the soloists for the Capucon Levit concert. Is the music energetic or more slow moving? (Pardon my ignorance)

I am still confused about the halls. It said the great hall for the ones I mentioned above but Steven said that one was not in that hall so maybe we are talking about two different concerts?

Here is one of the three Brahms sonatas to give you an idea about the music . This is generally more introverted than his orchestral works https://youtu.be/nkx_42h1ngI?si=sF5YbwKHW66KsTkM Further for a comparison , The piano concerto #2 is Brahms with a large complement ( This is one of my favorite works for piano and orchestra , here played by a former high school classmate) https://youtu.be/PofBlH81TE4?si=-21LkljcV9i869un As for the Mozart , the information on the Musikverein website seems to contradict what you are seeing . Are you sure about the venue for that ?

I am still confused about the halls. It said the great hall for the ones I mentioned above but Steven said that one was not in that hall so maybe we are talking about two different concerts?

The Wiener Mozart Orchester plays always in the Golden Hall, with the exception of May 9th, 2026 because there is the Brahms concert (Renaud Capuçon • Igor Levit) in the Golden Hall.

As I said before, if you are not deeply entrenched in classical music, choose Mozart.

" As I said before, if you are not deeply entrenched in classical music, choose Mozart." I agree . excellent advice !

Thanks so much for the advise so far and Steven for the music examples that I am looking forward to listening to!
Here is the list we are choosing from and there seems to be some variety even within concerts labeled Mozart.
May 6 Wiener Mozart Orchester
May 7 Mozart and Vivaldi ( these tickets are less expensive for some reason)
May 8 Wiener Mozart Orchester
May 10 Weiner Symphoniker (earlier start time and lots of tickets already sold)
We want to be in the golden hall and think these are all there.
If there are any more explainable differences people could expla among those listed above, we would love to hear them before we buy our tickets.
Thanks!

The May 10 program will be a good one for you ! good variety so a few points - The Peer Gynt selection by Grieg is a good start , the theme of the program is music about the Sea ,and all the pieces address this . " Scheherazade " first movement " The Sea and Sinbad's Ship " This is what is known as program music ( It tells a story ) read this. you will appreciate the music more . if you know the tale ,The solo violin is the princess narrating the tale and staying alive by doing so . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade_(Rimsky-Korsakov) and this performance is by the Vienna Philharmonic https://youtu.be/bxuBMPoD4Zo?si=l1DzfFbrj_B8uFtT The Debussy " en bateau " ( in a boat ) a musical form known as a barcarolle .or song of the sea . finally " What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor "is a traditional sea shanty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_shanty One last comment . The translation of The Menken selection is " Arielle , The Mermaid"
EDIT The " Scheherazade " video is recent and performed in The Golden Hall of the Musikverein and here is the Debussy -https://youtu.be/J_kiMeYKJbY?si=t1GpyFoH1v8wtffk