Not a classical music expert here, but I did recognize a few of the pieces. Fun evening overall. It looks like this show caters to tourists, especially the riverboat people (like me), but don't let that stop you from coming. About a dozen musicians, two singers and two dancers. Very entertaining show and it was obvious that all the artists loved what they were doing. We went on a warm day in October, and the room was VERY hot and no air circulation. Big relief to go outside during intermission. No need to dress up for this one, although many did. Nice way to spend an evening - Five stars! read more

Kursalon - Before the show. - Music Venues Near Me - Vienna, 9

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We had dinner and a show at the kursalon. I enjoyed my dinner and service was good as they were serving a large group as it seemed we were all with different tour groups that merged this night. I had a clear soup ravioli, beef in brown sauce and for dessert, strawberry vanilla mouse.we were also served wine and coffee. I would rate dinner as maybe a 3.5 to 4 star. After dinner, we went to another room and for me this is where the magic happen. The 9 piece ensemble of strings, piano, percussion, played classical music composed by Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven in the city they lived and maybe composed masterpieces being played by very talented musicians. To see the Viennese waltz danced by a elegant dancers in Vienna felt perfection to me. The male and female singers where so delightful in their rendition of classical songs. At the Kursalon, I understood what Vienna is about...it's glorious culture of music that spanned centuries is being performed on this stage for the audience to experience it's notes that stirs your emotion. It's spiritual as I felt a connection to the past, transported by the performance on stage. I fell in love with Vienna. read more

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What a treat to hear Strauss performed in his own town My wife and I recently attended the concert at the Kursalon. It was quite an experience to hear musicians performing Strauss' music in the town where he composed it. There were also 2 dancers and 2 singers to provide a new dimension to the music. Seeing people actually doing the Waltz to Strauss' Blue Danube in the city on the Danube was quite a treat. Sadly, though, I must say that I'm not a fan of the "Austrian Air Conditioning" (there was not any) and with a crowded room full of people, it did get a bit "warm" the night we attended. At intermission, we were able to wander out on the outdoor Balcony and experienced a decent cooler change of temperature. The second half of the concert was equally delightful and entertaining. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. One I would recommend to anyone coming to this area who enjoys classical music by the masters. read more

Yes, show is setup for tourists. Yes, I'm an American tourist. Yes, I admit I was thoroughly entertained. 42€ for the cheap seats in back, but the room isn't that big, so they were still pretty darn good seats. You'll get 2 hours of good classical music of the most popular pieces from Mozart, Strauss, Vivaldi and more. There's also 2-3 basic waltz and ballet dances, and a couple of really good opera singers thrown in the mix. Its an overall solid show for the uncultured folks...though your bored husband still might fall asleep. read more

When in Vienna you must go to the orchestra. Our group was privileged enough to score VIP tickets which gave us a CD, free coat check, front row seats and a glass of sparkling white wine at intermission. All that was great, but what I really enjoyed was watching the performers interact with each other during the performance. Yes, the music was great. The opera singers were good - if a little overdone. The dance numbers were cheesy, but the orchestra members love what they do and clearly feel joy when playing. Our drummer had family visiting in the audience and was regularly visually checking with them to see what they thought of the evening. The trumpeter had the best facial expressions and clearly enjoyed the music he played and had a great time goofing with the other members of the orchestra. One of the violinists was so done with the dancers and his facial expressions said it all. I found myself giggling and smiling through the whole performance. At the end of the evening, the trumpeter came up to our group and said he had never had an audience who interacted with the players and made an evening more fun. It was a real treat. We then chatted with the drummer and his family. He explained that the orchestra isn't the same individuals every night but rather they rotate through several venues playing across the city but often not at the Kursalon. He had been excited for his family to attend and see him play in such an amazing venue. Moral of the story - go for the music. Sit as close as you can to the stage, and while the music plays - watch the interplay between the orchestra members. It was a fun as the excellent music. read more

Kursalon - Music Venues Near Me - Vienna, 9

Enjoyed the dinner and orchestra. We had VIP tickets and we had a fabulous evening. The focal point of the work of "Sound of Vienna" is undoubtedly the Strauss & Mozart concerts by the Salonorchester Alt Wien, which take place daily in the Kursalon Wien. In this exquisite palace in Wien's City Park, where the famous golden Strauss statue is also located, the Strauss brothers had their greatest successes. read more

Kursalon - Ticket and program - Music Venues Near Me - Vienna, 9

Last night we attended a concert at the Kursalon as part of a cruise group. We were in the downstairs concert hall. We had been warned that it would be warm, so we dressed lightly. The seating was in rows of chairs on the floor, as opposed to theatre seating. The decor was rococo and one of our group remarked that this was the sort of setting that Mozart performed in. The audience was largely groups from river cruise ships, of which there are many in town. I'm not sure whether the same was true in the upstairs concert hall. There was a small orchestra. The program was primarily Strauss waltzes and Mozart. Pieces were announced in German and in English and the concertmaster/conductor had a mischievous sense of humor. There were a couple of dancers who were hard to see because of the seating and people holding up iPhones and iPads to take photos. What we could see of the dancers' upper bodies was very graceful. There were also a couple of singers, a soprano and a baritone. The soprano, in particular, was spectacular, w/ a beautiful voice and unerring pitch. The program itself was light classics aimed at tourists, but the musicianship was excellent and the concert was fun.; read more

The Kursalon is a frothy rococo jewel nestled in the green depths of Stadtpark (City Park), well worth visiting whether for an afternoon concert on a hot summer day or an evening soiree as snow blankets the city. The concert hall graced by Vienna's native sons, Johann Strauss and family, is a must-see for classical fans and a very popular stop for English language tours to take in somewhat kitschy Strauss concerts. My husband and I attended an evening ball during Fasching, the ball season, in February. The Kursalon made a dramatic set piece for a busy evening of dining, waltzing, and whirling to the lively string pieces that served as the soundtrack for our whirlwind trip of Austria. Huge lamps floodlit the gorgeous stone facade, golden light spilling out past scarlet curtains in every tall window. Take a few moments to soak in the gracious architecture of another age, especially if you are more familiar with steel and glass structures. We stepped back in time a century, if not for the host of sleek coupes lined up at the valet parking. Access to the parking lot from the street is straightforward, and spaces quite dear. Rather than hire a car or trust a cab, we took the u-bahn (yes, in full ball attire) two stops from our hotel to Stadtpark. From there, it's a very short walk down the path into the Kursalon proper. In the spring and summer, trees shade the winding paths. We fortunately escaped a dusting of snow and laughed like children, having the entire enchanted route to ourselves. The interior is no less grand. This is Vienna, after all, where no minor details are spared. Buttercream walls and hallmark baroque plasterwork envelope the foyer and into the side rooms where we dined. Red carpets cushion your steps across the stone floors and up broad stairs that access the balconies. For a performance, the best seats are truly up there where guests can admire the other patrons and the elevated stage below. Our ball opened with a seated dinner. We were seated in the secondary hall, not the central Strauss hall (where tickets were very dear indeed). Views over the City Park through the French doors were especially romantic as light flurries dusted across the grounds. Tables seating 8-10 people were placed fairly fair apart, beautifully arranged with flowers and tableware, and the catering staff is very attentive. Unfortunately the poor ladies were dressed in late 18th/early 19th century gowns and wigs, far too touristy for my liking, and constantly threatening to spill over in more way than one! Dinner was the high point, and a lovely experience. I could have done without the LCD flatscreen TVs constantly broadcasting the menu and evening programme, however, which took away from the atmospheric elegance. The sound system for the string orchestra playing during our visit was quite adequate, though seeing debutante dancers through a crush of bodies is very difficult due to poor vantage and lighting. As for the ball itself, the less said the better. That itself was an experience that barely rated two stars on account of an absolutely crammed dance floor and the inexcusable decision to allow smoking upstairs in the second ballroom. I respect that certain European countries allow smoking indoors, but at a ball? Not only do we have to fear for our expensive evening gowns and tuxedos, but cigarette smoke is out of the question for participants with lung issues, allergies, aversions to smoking or pregnancy (and I had the latter two during our visit). No where was it announced that the whole floor was smoking-okay. read more

The Sound of Vienna chamber orchestra brings great music to the masses. There is a concert every evening, and is perfect for travelers like me who fail to plan ahead, but want to experience music at Vienna. The program starts at 8:15pm and concludes at 10pm, with one intermission. The set is comprised of various "best of" short pieces. Some of the songs include opera singers, and some incorporate classical dancers. The quality of performance is superb. Seating is by section, and is first come, first serve. The seats are small and borderline uncomfortable. The price disparity among the different sections are significant, but the view is not. The venue is a "salon" or large room, so views are not that drastically different. I would encourage getting the cheapest seat available. I noticed lots of tour groups in attendance, from Asia and from other countries in Europe. read more

Awesome hilarious performance. Great music concertn of Strauss and Mozart. It is an must to go to the concert when in vienna. Comes with a drink during intermission. Great performance of the musicians dancers andnsjngers. .My only feedback is to stagger the chairs better to allow for better view. No photos. Program costs extra. Large coats require check in for 1 euro. read more

Do not buy this package and do not come here . What a waste of money . Really disappointing . They just lie to you when they sell you the ticket . My hotel receptionist told me this is the best he has ever been to and it's actually a concert hall compare to others . I will certainly never come here again . They just lies read more

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Worst concert I had never experienced. Wasting time and money. It's a ball room with hell lot of uncomfortable dining seats bundled together. Aquatic systems are poor obviously. You have to check your coat no matter what. And, they charge that too. read more

I bought tickets for the Mozart/Strauss concert. I would not recommend this venue to anyone. The building itself and the room upstairs where the orchestra played was beautiful. However, there are a couple of reasons why this is not a great place to see/hear music: 1. As the previous review mentioned, the seating was in rows of thin, small chairs on the floor, as opposed to theater seating. So even though I bought the most expensive category of tickets (A) and got there early enough that I was in the center of the fifth row, part of my view was still blocked. I could only see part of the dancer's/singers bodies, so it made it very difficult to fully enjoy the performance. The thin small chairs were very uncomfortable. 2. The orchestra is only 13-people big. That is really not large enough to perform the wonderful pieces of Mozart and Strauss. I would say this is more suited to kids rather than adults seeking (and paying for) more serious music. 3. Many members of the audience used cameras/cellphones/ipads to video the performance. This was highly distracting. Even though the room had two small signs on the wall saying the above were not allowed, people did not respect that. During the admission, I asked no less than 3 people affiliated with the orchestra to have someone make an announcement that no cameras were allowed. Even though they said they would, they never did make an announcement. 4. The show was very short and the intermission was far too long- this thing is a complete ripoff. 5. The room was very hot. 6. They make you check your coats downstairs and they charge for it. Do yourself a favor, stay away from this and all the other flimsy concert halls unless you are taking your children. It is best to go to the Opera House or Musikverein to see some serious music which is what Vienna is for. read more

If this concert had ended after the intermission I would have given it 1 star. Fortunately, the music and performances in the second half were entertaining and made up for some serious annoyances in this concert. First of all, and let's make it clear, this concert is for tourists and you get the tourist- I mean sucker- treatment. After paying over 250 euros for my family of 5 to attend the concert, we were not given a list of the songs to be performed. If you want to know what is being played, you must pay 5 euros for a program. read more

Was a thoroughly enjoyable show with talented musicians. Had dinner beforehand that was surprisingly good with great ambiance - though drinks were not included in the dinner price. Main reason for two star review is that, after paying 87 euros for dinner and a show, they required us to check coats, and charged an extra euro. Just not classy - one member of my group nearly left. An unfortunate tarnish on an otherwise wonderful evening. Hoping this review gets noticed so they change the policy. Even work it into the ticket price, I wouldn't have cared. But charging after entry was obnoxious. Also, get there early - your seats are not assigned except for your section. All in all, this is likely one of the better Mozart/Strauss concerts you'll find in Vienna - many of them seemed of questionable value. A tourist trap for sure, but an enjoyable one. read more

The concert had something for everyone. A great chamber orchestra with young, enthusiastic players; ballerinas and a tad-bit of opera. Just the right length! Enjoyed by all in our group! read more