History of the Musikverein Wien

In December 1857, the Musikverein was delighted to receive a "magnificent, truly imperial Christmas present". Emperor Franz Joseph 1 had authorised the demolition of the old city walls and thus created the possibility of a large-scale expansion of the city. Vienna's Ringstrasse era began. New buildings - including an opera house, galleries and museums - were to be built on the Ringstrasse according to imperial decree, and so the Musikverein also hoped to finally escape the old Musikverein building.

Vienna's first real concert hall

This building - located in the inner city at Tuchlauben no. 12 - was occupied in 1831 and housed Vienna's first real concert hall. It could accommodate 700 listeners - a capacity that was soon no longer sufficient to cope with the crowds. Nevertheless, patience was once again required. It was not until 1863 that the Emperor showed his generosity and gave the society a large area opposite St Charles' Church.

Musikverein Wien - space for 700 music lovers

The Musikfreunde had the opportunity to fit into the ensemble of Ringstrasse architecture with a prestigious building. They planned accordingly generously. Two concert halls were to be accommodated in the new building. Prominent architects, including Theophil Hansen, August Siccard von Siccardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll, were invited to draw up corresponding designs. Siccardsburg and van der Nüll, the creators of the court opera, declined. Hansen remained - and proved to be the very first choice.

Built by architect Theophil Hansen

Theophil Hansen (1813-1891) set to work with fervour. The competition with the Court Opera inspired his imagination and encouraged him on his path towards a new style, towards "strict historicism". In contrast to the architects of early Romantic historicism - including Sicardsburg and van der Nüll - he explored the architecture of the High Renaissance. And he consistently went further, allowing the "Neo-Renaissance" to lead him back to classical antiquity.

Hansen was literally at home here. Before the Danish-born architect came to Vienna in 1846, he had spent eight years studying and working as an architect in Athens.

This stay left its mark: inspired by classical Greece, Hansen became an advocate of what he himself liked to call the "Greek Renaissance". Hansen's philhellenism can be seen at every turn in the Musikverein building.

The Caryatids and Ionic columns

The caryatids in the Großer Musikvereinssaal, the Ionic columns and the temple roof in the Brahms Saal, Apollo and the Muses as eye-catchers on the ceiling of the Großer Musikvereinssaal and Orpheus on the pediment of the front façade - these are all Greek reminiscences, as is the colour scheme of the Musikverein building, a perfect example of antique polychromy.

Hansen had created a truly classical ambience for the performance of "classical works". The friends of music could be proud of their new home. In 1870, three years after the ground-breaking ceremony, they solemnly formulated the certificate for the laying of the final stone of the Musikverein:

"Dedicated to the art of music in school and mastery, this house shall be and remain: a work of art in itself, a home of music, an ornament to the city and the empire."

Musikverein

Adresse
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien
Musikvereinsplatz 1
A-1010 Wien

Kontakt
Telefon: +43 1 505 81 90
E-Mail: tickets@musikverein.at
Website: www.musikverein.at

Tickets
Die Tageskassa befindet sich auf der linken Seite im Musikvereinsgebäude.

Öffnungszeiten
Montag bis Freitag 9.00 - 20.00 Uhr*
Samstag 9.00 - 13.00 Uhr
sowie 1 Stunde vor Konzertbeginn (bei Eigenveranstaltungen)
In den Sommermonaten Juli und August:
Montag bis Freitag 09.00 - 12.00 Uhr