Music – the soul of this city
Duration:
By destination and agreement
For centuries,
the rulers at the Viennese court acted as patrons of the arts, and were often composers themselves.
The “Gott erhalte…” reflects Joseph Haydn’s gratitude. Anton Bruckner dedicated his 8th Symphony to the Emperor. Beethoven’s setting of Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” became Europe’s anthem: The Viennese Classical period established the city’s reputation as a global centre of music. The Second Viennese School (Arnold Schoenberg, Anton von Webern, Alban Berg) marked the dawn of the modern era.
But the waltz melodies of Johann Strauss (The Blue Danube) and Viennese songs, as musical declarations of love to the city, also conquered the world.
The Vienna Boys’ Choir and dancing horses from the Spanish Riding School have shaped cultural life here for half a millennium. A child prodigy named Wolfgang Amadeus, who hopped onto the Empress’s lap, became a legend. The musical dialogue between Brahms and Bruckner made music history, whilst Mahler and Strauss stand for renewal. As a musical metropolis, Vienna looks back on a long tradition.
Even today, the world of music thrives here amidst opera houses and concert halls, operetta stages and ballrooms, wine taverns and, at times, even on the pavements. Experience this atmosphere on a special tour of Vienna. Depending on your preferences, your route can be dedicated to a specific musician or to the musical spirit of this city as a whole.
