Cannot not be missed if you're in Vienna. Awesome architecture, amazing music shows (was told). If you have a night, shell out dough and buy the seating tickets if available. Else they sell standing tickets too but the show is 4 hours Tip for the tour: choose English tour and the first in the morning. Else you will be be bother by the mixing up with other tours. Enjoy the scene while you still can read more

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Dreamy, incredible and full of awe! This gorgeous opera house is everything. We came here for Simon Boccanegra by Giuseppe Verdi. Disclaimer: I'm not heavy into opera or know a whole lot about them. However, this place was a WOW moment. Being in Vienna, the most incredible, historical, full of life, music and character, city in the world - a visit to the Opera House was needed. We are so glad we did! They have all kind of seat selections, balcony, floor and even standing for a more budget friendly approach. Our little balcony section was awesome though it had a heavily blocked view we were able to hear everything so clearly plus we had the little screens where you can follow along with the vocals. It was an unforgettable experience and so worth it if you're in Vienna visiting. You can also book tours and learn all about the history of the opera house which I think would be fascinating to learn. read more

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Book in advance. All five tours start off at the same time and head in different directions. The building is magnificent and the tour informative. It moves along at a clip. I was worried there might be too many steps for my poor old knees but it was no problem. Lollygag behind the rest of your tour to get good photos without people, especially on the balcony looking into the Auditorium. If you only do one tour in Vienna, do this one. read more

If you're in Vienna, you definitely have to visit the State Opera House! I've been to opera houses in the U.S., but most of them are relatively new compared to this one. The level of detail here is incredible - every corner feels like a work of art, from the ornate ceilings to the grand staircases. The performance was equally stunning. The orchestra and opera singers were on another level - so powerful and moving that even though I'm not usually into classical music, I loved every minute of it. This was truly an unforgettable experience and one of those bucket-list items you absolutely have to check off when visiting Vienna. read more

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The talent is next level for the opera performances!! This is an incredible spot to soak in a musical performance. The lobby is absolutely gorgeous. When purchasing tickets online, what looks like mezzanine is actually box seats. There isn't the traditional orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony sectioning of the performance hall. For those not in the front row of a mezzanine box, the translator screen is on the side of the wall so it isn't directly in front of you, which creates a challenge to view both the stage and the translation. I had never seen seats at an opera before that did not offer translation either directly on a screen above the stage or directly in front of the seat. The seats are also a bit firm which is important to note since the performances are multiple hours. read more

Wiener Staatsoper - Interior of Entrance to Opera House - Performing Arts Near Me - Vienna, 9

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here's the thing y'all the building is fire architecture and design fire musicians fire etc etc yes. I came for il trittico by Puccini, one of my faves. Yes, the end of suor Angelica made me cry, haven't seen that kid stunt in another rendition before. I'm completely on board with the modernization of set design, costuming thing that they're introducing, think that's really cool. HOWEVER, and it's a big, big butt: the sound balance was completely off for me. The singers were amazing, the instrumentalists were amazing, conductor amazing but in the middle of the floor seats you almost couldn't hear the vocalists, esp lower parts of soprano. Bass and tenor parts were mostly fine, don't think there were any alto arias. but man the soprano balance was kind of rough. This could be attributed to a lot of things, I know, but y'all gotta ensure that the listening experience is fire for everyone at that price point. Puccini has such amazing ways of building tension and beauty, and a lot of it was lost for me in this (of course, beautiful) wave of lower strings. OTHER than that, completely perfect. ensemble skills (timing) perfect, drama and acting perfect, and I quite enjoyed the set and costuming. The neon signs were a little on the nose tho lol. minor point - what on earth was the fascism thing in Gianni Schicchi it's been two days and I cannot for the life of me figure out what the point of that was. Im all for inserting stuff like that, but don't really know what the sort of purpose was in relation to the story of Gianni schicchi. maybe my media interp skills need to be refined hmm. (does not affect my rating) 9.8/10, unfortunately. came expecting PERFECTION from the Vienna city opera, can't in good conscience give y'all 5/5 when something so big was off for me :( read more

A trip to Vienna is NOT complete without a night at the famous Vienna Opera House. This beautiful and historic theatre transports you back to Vienna's glorious classical music and operatic period when Mozart, Strauss, and the masters dominated the culture and music scene in Europe. The venue is large and you can buy seated or standing room only tickets. I opted for being seated since we were watching an opera and I knew I wanted to dress formally and in kitten heels. Get there at least a half hour early or more to enjoy the architecture and take photos. After the opera, they are quite efficient at moving people out and many guests will want to take photos. I found the tickets more affordable than in the states. We bought the equivalent of 2nd Orchestra seat tickets for just $120 euros pp ($136 U.S.) and they were fantastic. But be careful with the seating as some seats have only partíal views. I worked with my hotel concierge beforehand to pick the best seats. Our group had seats in the Parkett Rechts (right) and Parkett Links (left) sections, Reihe (row) 14, seats 13 and 14 on Both sides and they were great. There are small tablets and screens for translation. We saw the opera Salome which was a bit macabre and dark but the experience overall was truly epic. Worth every penny. Definitely a bucket list moment! If you're a classical music and/or ballet, and/or opera buff, you must attend! There are also tours which are available as well. read more

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It's amazing architecture and inner beauty. Acoustics are also fantastic, I could hear all the details of orchestra and singing on the stage. The opera house should schedule more orchestra or ballet performances instead of 5 hours opera. read more

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We couldn't fit in time to see an opera in Vienna, so we opted for a tour of the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) instead. The tour was a mess. They run multiple simultaneous tours at the same time, so you end up colliding into other groups constantly. First, the tours are separated by languages. Then, they split up each block into 3 more groups and it's first come, first serve on who gets to be in the groups. This created a mess as people clamor to turn in their ticket to start the tour earlier by 5 minutes. I felt bad for older folks who had to use walking sticks and deal with the madness. The tour itself was not enlightening, and our guide repeated a lot of info and didn't seem too sure of the history behind the opera house. Overall, I would just skip this entirely and just admire the building from the outside next time. read more

Wiener Staatsoper - Performing Arts Near Me - Vienna, 9

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Gorgeous Architecture. Opulent Entrance. Magnificent Stairway. Attentive Valets. Plush Box Seats. Clear Sightline. Majestic Music. Le Nozze Di Figaro. June 6th, 2023. Treasured Performance. C U Soon. CHEERS! read more

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I'm not real big on operas although I adore musical theatre but being in Austria I knew attending opera was a must! I'd purchased tickets for us to see La Juive which somehow turned into Carmen. I'm not certain if I missed a communication but we were totally happy to see anything, we mainly just wanted to experience the Vienna Opera House. It was quite warm in our box and I was sleepy since we'd just landed that afternoon, but we managed. I appreciated the personalized screens that translate the opera to a language of your choice. Very helpful! As is the sitting area with a mirror for freshening up, coat hooks and places to store your umbrella and belongings. Quite cozy! We had great views of the orchestra who were wonderful and it was really lovely to just sit and take the place in. I often caught myself looking around more than at the stage itself. It's truly spectacular and if we visit again I think I'll opt for an even further immersion. We arrived late due to our dinner and waited until intermission to enter. We didn't pre order intermission snacks since we'd just eaten but we did have some macaroons and a sparkling water. All in all we had a memorable experience and Carmen was wonderful. It was pouring rain when we left but luckily we dipped right out of a side door and directly down into the train station below. If you are staying nearby, I'd highly recommend riding the train here. We were staying a Hotel Motto and made it to and from completely underground (for reference if facing inclement weather). Beautiful opera house all around. Definitely worth a visit, even if Operas aren't really your thing. read more

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The Vienna opera house, which first opened its doors in 1869 with a performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni, is renowned for its architecture of neo-Renaissance style. Here, a different opera is performed almost every day during the season, with over 350 performances annually. I was astonished you could purchase a ticket to this beautiful venue for $18 euro. The tour was a great 45 minutes to see everything about the Opera house. read more

WOW!! just wow the history the music the show the place is just filled with the spirit of Mozart. I loved the experience and especially loved how everyone came dressed up! gorgeous spot and it is a must if you visit Wien Vienna read more

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A beautiful historical opera house with a great legacy and continued excellence. Grab tickets for a show extremely early because seats sell extremely fast. Some seats don't actually have a view of the stage so pay attention to which you purchase. The main entrance is the original entrance and opulently decorated. You'll find multiple bars and cafes inside but expect to pay a premium. Staff is great and speaks English. read more

We visited Viena after the opera season had ended while the opera house was being renovated. It would have been better to see an opera there, but the guided tour let us learn more of its history and some interesting anecdotes. I'm not aware of any other opera house that is as gorgeous and opulent, although some of the modern ones (e.g., Sydney and Beijing) do have very interesting and innovative designs. read more

This review is for the guided tours. The guided tour was the most rushed experience I've ever had. They push you through like cattle, giving you what feels like 10 seconds to take a look at each stop in the venue. Forget about taking photos; there is always a group right after you being ushered in so you are told to stay with your tour guide so you "don't get lost." The tour guide is knowledgeable, but there is no time to process what is said at each stop as you have about 5 seconds afterwards to view everything. We were literally told to sit down in the box seats and stand right back up as soon as the guide was finished talking. There was a traffic jam on the way out, too, as the next group was coming in. Opera tickets can be purchased for as low as $15 if you book early. It's a much better way to enjoy the venue (with an opera performance!) and to take it all in. read more

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I feel so blessed that I got to go to my first opera ever in Vienna's magnificent opera house. Whether you want to watch an opera or not, I highly recommend that you tour the opera house because its architecture and decorative elements are breathtaking. As for the opera, I got to see Don Giovanni - a classic. Because we wanted to get a good view without paying 200+ euros, we decided to show up about two hours before the show to grab standing tickets. Standing tickets are only 10 euros and offer a fantastic view of the stage. When you get standing tickets, you should bring a scarf or piece of fabric to save your spot. Also, although it is cheap, I must be honest that standing for almost 4 hours was not so comfortable! Overall, it was an incredible experience that I will never forget! Please go see an opera, or at least take a tour of the building! read more

My mother and I saw Salome here during our brief visit to Vienna and we loved it. This opera house is beautiful. So beautiful. The outside is beautiful. The inside entrance and lobby and hallways are beautiful, and the main stage and seating areas are all beautiful. You have to check bags and coats but they're really fast and efficient. We expected a really long wait after the show but the people working back there were on top of it. The seats have a screen where each person can select a translation if needed which was a nice modern and unexpected touch. This way we were able to actually follow along and see what was being said. The show was phenomenal. Brilliant. From the opera singers to the orchestra, props and everything else. This was something I knew I wanted to do while I'm Vienna and I'm so glad I was able to. read more

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Its not the Paris Opera House... The Vienna Staatsoper(State Opera) is like the good-looking but not-as-good-looking middle child of Opera Houses. Its elegant and classy inside, but not as fancy as the one in Paris. I've never seen a real opera, so I thought Vienna would be a great classy place to lose my opera-virginity. Tickets range from FREE to really expensive very quickly, and you'll probably want to buy tickets online long before you arrive in Vienna. -FREE outside to the right is big tv display showing the opera in real time...nice! -€4-6 "Day of" Standing Room tickets are available, but get in line early,(2 hours?) and keep in mind some Operas can go for 5+ hours! -€13 Way up nose bleed obstructed view....I "splurged" for these tickets. They aren't joking about obstructed view, I could only see 1/3 of the stage, or 1/2 if I leaned forward all the way. They're terrible! You get what you pay for. -€80-200+ all other tickets...it jumps up quickly! We saw/heard "Lohengrin"...something about a Swan Prince and a fair maiden. Its all in German, but it sounded nice, and there are subtitles. It was just really uncomfortable in our crap seats, so during the 1st intermission, we snuck into some much nicer seats with a dead center view. Now that was nice!(though illegal!). Its definitely worth checking out if you've never been...just keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Cheap ticket = crap seat. Also, this is an old fashioned and inefficiently U-shaped theatre, so just about all the seats on the side balconies are going to be horrible too, no matter what the price. read more

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I saw a performance of L'Elisir d'Amore here earlier this year. The overture alone brought me to tears. I am not super into Operas but have grown up playing classical music and really enjoyed the production. the cast was truly world class. The people come through, do a few shows and leave, so it's pretty incredible to think that they all come together for a short time to put on such a flawless production. We were really happy with our box seats that were slightly off the the left. They were pricey but well worth it. They also have standing room only tickets if you are on a budget and want to still experience the opera. The seats are right in the center and it seems like people hold their place with a scarf. This was such a once in a lifetime experience. I was left speechless but the building itself. Make sure you arrive early so that you have time to explore the building and take photos. You can also have a drink or order drinks/food ahead of time so they are waiting for you during the intermission. I would definitely check out the shows that are playing during your visit and budget for this. It's not to be missed! read more

Definitely a must visit! Even if you aren't a fan of opera you can gain a better insight into Vienna's rich history of music and performing arts. Did you know the longest standing ovation was 80 mins long after Domingo's performance in Othello? The tour inside was about half that long and gave you a good idea of the history of the opera house and what goes on to prepare for the constantly rotating performances. Plus a look backstage and inside three reception/intermission rooms. One of the best things is that they project the opera performances live on a huge screen on the side of the building so the public can enjoy the opera. They set up several rows of chairs outside and we were lucky to view that night's amazing performance of Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amour" on the big screen (subtitles in German). There were many people sitting on the ground and standing, a couple people brought their own lawn chairs. It was one of the best things I did in Vienna, even though we were not inside it was exhilarating to see the incredible talent of the orchestra and singers, the emotion of the music coming alive. The tour is offered in multiple languages and is very reasonably priced at 7,50 euro for 1 adult. Senior and children discount available. read more

Wiener Staatsoper - Live on the square! - Performing Arts Near Me - Vienna, 9

Wow what an amazing building and atmosphere. I am no fan of the opera but I would come back here in a heartbeat. It's palatial, exquisite and so beautifully decorated. The show we saw was also incredible and the quality of the performers was world class. It's not cheap but I would happily pay to come here again. I have always wanted to visit at least one and now that I have been, would happily repeat the experience. It's regal, palatial and beautifully done building with lots of small balconies and of course seating on the ground floor. You can also buy standing tickets daily if you are willing to wait in line before the show. read more

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A stunning opera house! This is a magical venue to view a show. Watching Hansel and Gretel here was such an amazing experience!! Being able to view the little details of the walls is fascinating. This is a must see when in Vienna and if at all possible it's even better when you can see a show here. Each seat has a small screen for viewing. It also offers more details such as history, FAQ, and info on becoming a supporter. I was very please to see English as an option for reading. As the opera was going on they displayed the lyrics in the language selected. You will not be disappointed by your seat selection as all views are spectacular. You can clearly see the stage and orchestra from all angles. Make sure to take in the beautiful chandelier. As you will see on your screen, the chandelier has changed over the many years. Be sure to show up early and take majority of your pictures before the show. They have a strict schedule and will not deviate from it. They will move you out of the opera house when it is closing time which is not too long after the show ends. read more

Unfortunately, we were unable to score tickets to a performance during our visit to Vienna. We will definitely start looking online far in advance of our next visit. We did, however, take the guided tour of the Opera House. We were in a group of about 15+/- people. There were other groups, but it didn't feel crowded or rushed. Our guide was very helpful and knowledgeable about every aspect of the theater. During a question & answer session with our tour guide, we sat near the stage so that we could watch the stage hands changing the scenery for the evening performance. It was a great behind-the-scenes look at how such an amazing Opera House works. If you can't get tickets to a performance, definitely don't miss the tour. read more

Wiener Staatsoper - Inside the Opera House - Performing Arts Near Me - Vienna, 9

The only reason I do not give this ten stars is because it is way too conservative for the great opera houses of Europe (and this may well be the greatest). But that said, the company is great, the repertoire is usually a crowd plaeaser, and there are super cheap standing room only seats that you can buy on the the night of the performance. Otherwise you can drop hundreds. I have seen a number of operas here, and all of them were good. Great singers, a fine orchestra, good sets, and it offers a level of old world elegance that is extinct in the rest of Europe. But like I said, this opera house is too established for its conservative line up of audience safe operas to experiment with new opera or experimental programs. So if you like Strauss, Verdi, Wagner, and Mozart, this is the opera for you. read more

The time I went to Vienna's Opera house to see, 'Giacomo Puccini's Turandot, Opera. Was Influenced by my dream to always see The late & great Tenor 'Luciano Pavarotti' unfortunately he passed before I could see the Maestro in action ( RIP ), such power, such magnetic sounds that either grab you forcibly and pull you in like a vortex or it spits you out like an over chewed gum, you either LOVE it or YOU don't!, Opera is one of those things that bore you because you're not cultured enough to respect it's out of this world power or it does. The night was dark and cloudy as I entered a magnificent palace with such history ... Some of the greatest tenors that ever lived sung their hearts out in this beautiful opera house, I don't need to name any of them, they speak for themselves! The songs ripped thru my little black heart and caved me in enough to shed tears of laughter and joy, water puddles and rivers sipped thru my clothes as I watched such beauty and indescribable music that soared where no Eagles dared, and into my black little heart. one day I shall return again, and feel the power and see the history again, and feel like the King, again for one night in beautiful Vienna to capture the mere glimpse of all my dreams again, and again until I die, and my death will not be in vain for my death won't be quick it will be magnificent, "I want to feel what it's like. I want to taste it, hear it, smell it. Death is only going to happen to you once; I don't want to miss it". - Jim Morrison - The end read more

Wiener Staatsoper - Performing Arts Near Me - Vienna, 9

Review for tour only. We enjoyed it so much it was worth a yelp for any fine arts lovers to put on their must-visit list. We didn't have time to attend a performance (I am a huge opera fan, but usually go with girlfriends, not Hubby. No good coming for a romantic visit only to torture the man for 3.5 hours, I'll be back soon anyway. BTW, IMO standing room - just don't do it. I can sing entire librettos - badly - and I still wouldn't want to stand that long to watch something). The tour was a fantastic consolation prize, and I highly recommend it. The guide was the sweetest girl, very informative but concise. It is a gorgeous, exuberantly and lavishly decorated building, full of history. The biggest treat was going behind-the-scenes to see all the pulleys and the huge set getting put in place. LOVED it. It's a popular tour, held in several different languages, so make sure you get there early to buy tickets and join the right group (it is the neatest thing to see all the different signs for "Spanish" "Greek" "French" "German", "Hungarian" etc). read more

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Two nights in Vienna and I wanted tickets for the State Opera House. I was told that they have same night performance tickets which can be purchased at the Opera House 90 minutes before the show. The show began at 8 pm and I arrived at the theater at 6 pm. A lone of 50 people had already formed at the ticket booth. Tickets to the State Opera House even during the week is a big deal. At 6:30 the ticket booth opened and the line began to move. It's one ticket per person. In my case that did not matter but if you are with a party it obviously would. I choose standing room which was 4 Euro. I opted for upstairs and it was the right choice. Sometimes you get lucky. Once you have your ticket there is another line inside. Drinks can be purchased outside but not in the theater. The usher placed 6 of us in a line behind a railing. Now we standing there and it's only 6:50 with the show starting at 8 pm. There is no intermission so standing becomes an intolerably long time. There is a small screen w/subtitles during the performance. In retrospect I should have opted for the State Opera House tour even though the performance was great or better yet I should have tried for tickets on-line that had seating. Trying to squeeze in the last Vienna experience can lead you to some bad choices. read more

Wiener Staatsoper - Vienna State Opera House - Performing Arts Near Me - Vienna, 9

this review is for a the guided tour, not attendance at a performance the tours leave every hour on the hour and are conducted in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian (all separate tours). the tour takes about 45 minutes. the history of the Opera house fascinating and there are lots more private rooms than you might imagine. our tour ended in the auditorium and they were changing sets so it was fun to see the activity on stage definitely a recommended stop in Vienna read more

This is one of the most beautiful opera houses I've ever seen. The architecture is amazing!!!! Book a tour , it's worth it. I wish I experienced amazing performance there!!!! read more

This review is solely for standing room tickets at Staatsoper. I was very, very hesitant about this, because who wants to stand for several hours? I read travel reviews on other websites and they convinced me that it is the best way to see the famous Staatsoper, even if you don't enjoy opera. So, there I am waiting in the standing room line about two hours before showtime. The waiting area is indoors and there is a restroom. Most everyone sits on the floor, so don't think you'll be standing outside in the rain and cold for two hours like I did. This was a nice surprise. Once they decide to let people in (exactly 80 minutes before showtime) the line funnels through rather quickly and people specify where they'd like to stand. I have absolutely no German skills, so I just pointed to the most expensive seat (4 euro) which ended up being on the lower part of the house floor. Excellent view. After that, you stand in more lines. Just because your ticket has a "seat" number, doesn't mean that you get that actual seat in the standing room area. You should hurry to line up in the next line outside the auditorium door. Then you wait for a little bit and they let you in. After claiming your spot by tying a scarf (don't forget this! it's a tradition!) you can leave to check your coat (recommended), use the bathroom again, take pictures, buy drinks, etc. They ask that you return 15 minutes before curtain call. Coat check is free, binoculars are two euro and are unnecessary from where I stood. By the time we returned, some sneaky people had claimed some of our spots but we were able to argue our way back in. Rude. On the day we went, La Boheme was playing. It's a classic Italian opera set in the Latin Quarter of Paris. I was excited to see it, but man, standing is NOT for the weak. After walking around all day, my legs were tired and it was uncomfortable to stand in such a crowded space. They even let people stand in the aisles (a big NO NO in the U.S.) and the area got SO HOT. By the time of the last act, we had shed almost every layer we could (while remaining decent, of course) Also, even though there are translators in each row, they didn't always match up with the dialogue. There would be times where the actors would be saying all kinds of things, and the box would only say four words. It was also annoying to always look down at the translator then look up at the stage. But whatever. All in all, it was something different for me to do on vacation, and the opera house itself is gorgeous. We enjoyed people watching (so many fancy people!) and the actual performance, but we agreed that it was something that we'd only do once. I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone, but if you are into opera this is a really cheap way to see it in a world famous venue. read more

It's hard to believe that architect of the Opera committed suicide due to the critical reception of the Neo-Renaissance building. Tragic now that the city is minting money at his expense. The interior is lavish. read more

On our trip to Vienna, the wife wanted to see a show at the Vienna Opera house. Luckily there was a ballet playing during the time that we were there so we booked the tickets online ahead of time. My suggestion is to folks is to make sure your booking directly through the official site and not some third party ticket vendor. The process was fairly easy, I indicated what my price range was and then after a few days I got an email indicating what seats were available. We were able to get center, first row, in the upper balconies so the view was pretty good. I don't think there is a very strict dress code here, we saw a lot of people more casually dress and some who were all dressed in black tie attire. Since it was winter time, they have a strict policy that all coats must be checked. It does not cost anything and once the show is over, they are very fast and efficient. Food and drinks are available in the concession area but it is rather expensive so I would definitely recommend eating beforehand if possible. read more

So crowded and impossible to hear tour guide. There are 10-20 tours of 35 people each happening at the same time. Given the echoes, it is impossible to hear and a miserable experience. English tour was 9 EUR at 1 pm on 7 June read more

When Gayle and I first arrived in Vienna, we walked from the Hotel, stopped in a Vienna coffee house and walked by the Opera House as we were getting oriented. The ballet of Don Quixote was playing a a huge outdoor screen outside. Lots of locas on folding chares were watching the production for free. And so did we. So Cool! read more

One of the most famous opera houses in the world, without a doubt. Couldn't leave Vienna without catching a performance at this venue. We bypassed the costumed scalpers outside (dressed as Mozart, I guess) and decided to wait on line for the general admission standing room only tickets. Very cheap, too. I think it was 5 Euros. After purchasing our tickets, we were soon ushered up many flights of stairs to the very top of the venue. Very little personal space, no seats, and a temperature that felt like it was rising as more people were crammed in next to us. These were all very minor annoyances, however, because once the performance started all of that was forgotten. The performance for that evening was Anna Karenina and it was superb. This was my first time seeing a performance like this and I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I was blown away. It was one of the highlights of my trip. If you are traveling to Vienna and cannot attend a performance at this venue, make a point to at least take a guided tour. The gorgeous red and gold interior of the performance space is reason enough to check it out. read more

My hundredth Yelp review deserves to be saved for an extremely special experience. About a year ago, I found myself unexpectedly in between jobs. Grouchy and worried about next steps, I decided to carpe diem, make lemonade out of lemons, whatever cliche have you, and book a spontaneous trip to Vienna to visit my brother, who was studying abroad there for a college semester abroad. He'd raved for months about what a fantastic, culturally rich, and beautiful place this city was, so I thought it would be fun to check it out. Fun was the understatement of that trip. We grew up in a very classical-music-dominant household, where each of us kids practiced our respective musical instruments for hours each day. I'd never really enjoyed music or its history much as a child; growing up in the U.S., far removed from the scenes and settings of many of our most famous historical music greats, it was all a bit much for me to conceptualize and embrace. Not so in Vienna, though. I instantly fell in love with the city and its rich history dripping from every corner. Instead of generic elevator music, I was greeted with the melodical classical music of my childhood in every lobby, Starbucks, and sometimes even open plazas around town. The nippy fall weather and Christmas decor everywhere only added to the allure; I'm a self-avowed Grinch, but I Liked Christmas In Vienna. While wandering the cobbled streets sipping my glühwein (mulled spiced wine) - isn't that just too precious? but it's true! - I came across a few banners advertising "The Nutcracker" production at the Vienna Opera House. I speak/read no German, so I turned to my trusty phone + roaming data to figure out if I could possibly score a ticket. The arts gods smiled upon me: The last show would be on my last full day in town; they had no more standing tickets available, but they had a last-minute seated ticket available for the ridiculously affordable cost of 11 euros. Furthermore, my seat was in one of the small "boxes" no more than a few meters from the stage, as I found out to my immense delight the night of the production. The Opera House itself is absolutely stunning. I have been a wedding photographer for many years and have seen a variety of incredible venues; if I were rich and could book out the Opera House for a wedding or event (or even just a photo shoot), I would blow my entire budget on that with no second thoughts. As things stand, the Opera House opens the "fancy" areas a little bit early on concert nights, so feel free to arrive early, wear something pretty, and take some tasteful photos.* *Try not to replicate the couple who ultimately ended up sitting right beside me. In addition to making out ostentatiously in literally every possible position *during* the first couple of scenes, they took selfies of themselves in just about every possible pose, part of the box, and of course up and down the staircase. Ugh! Thankfully, I guess their amorous adventures became too much for them to manage in public so they took themselves away about 30 minutes into the ballet. The caliber of talent from the orchestra and ballet performers alike was very, very high. The Nutcracker is a bit of a children's tradition, so about 35% of the audience were children there with their parents; I thought it was fantastic to see a new generation of youngsters being given the gift of culture for Christmas, and in such a fantastic atmosphere. My trip to Vienna was an absolute delight, but this Nutcracker experience in particular stood out significantly even amongst all the special moments there. In fact, I can still remember the magic of that moment almost exactly a year to the day right now. Ahh! Can't wait to go back someday... maybe with my own kids?! read more

Context: I didn't see a performance here, but did do a full guided tour of the Opera House. It is a *beautiful* building steeped in history, and the guides (you can line up for tours in one of several languages including English, German, and Russian while I was there) know their stuff. The best part of the tour for me was the ability to go backstage where the stage was being set up for that night's performance of Tosca. Seeing those glimpses of a production that someone in the audience wouldn't normally be privy to was especially interesting. My only slight grumble is that the tour moved quickly, though that's hard to pace. Some rooms had so many ornate details to them that I would happily have stayed longer! When Opera tickets are too pricey or sold out, this is a good second option for getting inside the Opera House and hearing about its rich history from a very knowledgeable guide. Yelp note: learned through the tour that you can stream live performances (for a minimal fee) as well as buy night-of (80 mins beforehand) standing tickets. #themoreyouknow read more

Just left the opera house where 4 of us saw Salome... We lasted an hour and here's why... Not being opera-enthusiasts, we didn't wanted to spend an exuberant amount on tickets and the show was sold out (order and print out your tickets early!). We ended up opting for the standing room only which are either 3-4 euros. Here's what you need to know for standing room seats: - the Vienese take their opera very seriously... Men must wear pants, jeans are fine - the box office opens 20 minutes before the show starts but the line begins to build wayyy before that. We came at 6:30 (box office opened at 6:40 and show at 8) and there were over 100 people lined up already - each person can only buy ONE ticket for him/herself. You cannot buy multiple tickets, you will get yelled at if you ask - once the box office opens, it moves very fast. Know what standing room level you want to be on... Once we were in inside, the usher told us she would have opted for the upstairs option... Oh well - there's no intermission so once you leave, you are officially leaving the show Once inside, it's chaotic. People rush to get in the next line so they can get a row in the front. There are railings in between and comfortably, 4-5 people can fit but the usher tries to squeeze 6 per row. Now you have about 45 minutes before the start of the show and you can only have drinks outside. Bring a scarf or something to hold your spot... For the most part it does act as a space saver but it isn't guaranteed. Finally the show starts... It's beautiful and if you comfortable, especially standing, then you can enjoy it. There's a small screen that has subtitles which helps and confuses since it literally translates everything which probably sounds beautiful in German. So why we left within an hour. It's hot and you are cramped and sitting with people who aren't opera lovers so they too begin to get restless. There's no intermission and just couldn't sit still... We definitely would have stayed had we been in seats or not spent the entire day walking. read more

During my stop in Vienna I wanted to do two things - sample the Sacher-Torte and visit the Vienna Opera House. Luckily, they are located near one another and I was able to do both! The Opera House offers guided tours in a wide variety of languages at set times during the day. Apparently we showed up at the right time, as we only had a 30 minute wait before the next tour. Note that the tours accommodate really large groups, especially the ones offered in English. After purchasing our tickets we waited in the designated area for our tour guide to call for us. The first part of our tour took us into the opera house itself, where we were seated and able to see some activity on the stage while learning about what it takes to run the opera house, how many performances they put on every year, its history, the Opera Ball, etc. This was followed by a walk through the building to see some interesting rooms and sites. The tour itself involves walking and some steps and can move fairly quickly during some parts. When some groups come together in a tight spot it can be hard to hear the guide at times but it's not that big of an issue. For the relatively inexpensive ticket, I would recommend this tour of the historic opera house in Vienna, especially for opera loves. read more