Vienna Daytime Concerts: Wiener Konzerthaus
© WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud

Vienna Daytime Concerts – Secret Matinées, Lunch and Afternoon Classics

Curiously, classical music in plain daylight is harder to find than nighttime concerts in Vienna. If dinner, young children or simply sleepiness get into your way, visit Vienna daytime concerts. Most take place fairly regularly, either at lunchtime or in the afternoons or early evenings.

6 Ideas For Matinées and Lunchtime ConcertsVienna Symphonics concert at Wiener Konzerthaus

The most popular musical wake up calls are the Vienna Boys Choir’s. Almost each Sunday morning they perform at mass at small Hofburg Chapel. In fact, during the past few hundred years, generations of choir boys have filled that space with their ethereal voices. In Vienna Boys Choir, you can find out more about times and how to get tickets.

About once a month during concert season, the renown Vienna Symphonic Orchestra hosts a classical Sunday matinée at Wiener Konzerthaus. Above all, expect great international conductors performing beautiful classics such as Beethoven, Brahms, Liszt to Mahler, Mozart and Stravinsky. Although these are subscription concerts, non-members can get tickets for a few Euros more.

Even more exclusive are the Musikverein‘s subscription matinées on Saturdays and Sundays: While non-members can buy tickets, public sales open just five days before the event. On offer will be a limited number of returned and standing room tickets. However, given the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and illustrious conductors from Daniel Barenboim to Zubin Mehta often do the shows, it is worth chasing tickets.

Although publicly accessible, the Vienna State Opera’s Sunday matinées take place rarely. On these occasions, members of the State Opera ensemble present selected songs and arias. True, concerts at the opera is unusual but also more exclusive and you will absorb nothing but music and voice.

If you like to hear young talent, head for the regular free matinées at the University of Music and Performing Arts. There, the university’s students regularly host free morning concerts for violoncello, flute, violin and saxophone.

Addresses

Hofburgkapelle, Schweizerhof, Michaelerplatz 1, 1010 Vienna

mdw – University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna; Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1, 1030 Vienna

Wiener Konzerthaus, Lothringerstrasse 20, 1030 Vienna

Musikverein – Musikvereinsplatz 1, 1010 Vienna

Wiener Staatsoper – Opernring 2, 1010 Vienna

4 Charming Afternoon Concerts

Vienna Symphonics at Wiener KonzerthausAmong the most prestigious Vienna daytime concerts are Wiener Musikverein’s Sunday afternoon events. Like Musikverein’s matinées these are subscription concerts with limited ticket availability. But then, prepare for nothing less than top orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and grand classical pieces from the likes of Beethoven, Dvorak, Mozart to Schubert.

On 12 Friday afternoons each year, the Vienna Boys Choir performs at their own concert hall in Vienna’s oldest baroque garden, Augarten. Supported by a local orchestra, the boys will sing Viennese and classical music. If you like you can meet and greet them together with the band master after the performance. Find out more in Vienna Boys Choir.

In the summer, Mozart fans can listen to their idol’s most popular piano concerts at the Mozarthaus every Tuesday and Thursday at 4.00 pm.

At baroque church St. Peter, Mozart’s Violin Sonatas and his Piano Sonatas at Peterskirche sweeten many late afternoons. Especially if you love or even play the piano and violin, these intimate events connect you deeply with Mozart’s music. Since I also recommend them for children find out more in my post Vienna classical concerts with children.

If you venture out to the Vienna Woods, explore the romantic tradition of spa orchestra concerts in spa towns such as Baden bei Wien. On Saturday afternoon, the local spa orchestra stages lovely classical concerts around 5.30 pm. During the warmer months, listen to the orchestra perform in the old wooden pavilion at Kurpark, next to waltz kings Strauss’ and Lanner’s monument. In the colder months the concerts take place at Haus Der Kunst next to Kurpark.

Addresses

Haus der Kunst – Kaiser Franz-Ring 7, 2500 Baden bei Wien

Mozarthaus – Domgasse 5, 1010 Vienna

Muth concert hall – Am Augartenspitz 1, 1020 Vienna

Peterskirche – Petersplatz 1, 1010 Vienna

Vienna Daytime Concerts: Churches And Cafés

If great music in an informal setting suffices to lift you to music cloud 7 try selected churches and coffeehouses. Most church concerts at daytime, such as the one in Augustinerkirche, are free organ concerts.

Most of the time, coffeehouse concerts are piano performances, and are free as well: For example, Café Central hosts live piano music every day from 5.00 pm. At Café Diglas, its pianist performs every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. From Thursday to Sunday (evenings) you can hear light entertainment at Café Schwarzenberg. And Café Sperl’s pianist will add his eclectic tunes to melange and apple strudel on Sunday afternoons. Find out more about these cafés and addresses in best Vienna coffeehouses.

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