Vienna New Year's Concert Tickets

The Austrian capital is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe thanks to its palaces, historic buildings, museums and, in general, the atmosphere of its streets. However, when you go at Christmas there is one activity that eclipses all others: the New Year's Concert.

This concert, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra every January 1 morning, takes place in the incomparable setting of the Golden Hall of the Wiener Musikverein. Attending in person is an unforgettable experience and here's how you can get there. It is not a simple process, so I will also leave you some alternatives in case you are not lucky.

If you have traveled to Vienna for Christmas and want to attend the New Year's Concert in Vienna, tickets are a must. The problem is that these cannot be purchased at any box office or even on the Internet. Or at least not directly. You have to be lucky and be one of those chosen by lottery.

This concert is undoubtedly one of the most important Christmas events worldwide. This has caused the demand to attend in person to be very high and the organizers decided quite some time ago to create a system based on luck.

On varying dates, but always falling in January and / or February, those interested must register on the official website of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. This registration is used to participate in a draw in March, from which the names of the lucky winners who will be able to experience the concert live will be drawn.

Other classical concerts in Vienna

If you are not one of the lucky ones in the draw, you have the opportunity to attend one of the classical concerts in Vienna, some of which include dinner, without having to spend a lot of money.

Actually, the process to participate in the raffle for tickets to the New Year's Concert in Vienna is quite simple and not too different from what you have to do on other websites to make any purchase. The website is only accessible in German, English and Japanese (as well as Austrian, of course).

The steps to follow are:

• First of all, you have to register a user account on the official website of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. It is important to know that this step can be done at any time of the year and that it is completely independent of the period for participating in the ticket raffle.
• To register for the raffle, please log in to the "My Account" area and use the "New Year's Concert Ticket Raffle" tab. In the form that appears you will have to specify for which concerts you want the tickets (dress rehearsal, New Year's Eve and/or New Year's Eve). In the case of the New Year's Concert, the application is limited to a maximum of two tickets per account.
• It is important to know that changes can be made to the application within the period allowed to enter the lottery, usually during two or three weeks between January and February. The result is usually communicated with an email that tells you how to proceed if your name has been drawn.

Ana's tip

Please note that the website is only accessible in Austrian, German, English and Japanese, but you can use the Google translator and you will have no problem to manage it.

Once you have been selected to purchase tickets you must proceed to pay for them. For the New Year's Concert the price ranges from around 35 ¤ to around 1.200 ¤. If you have been selected for the Dress Rehearsal, you will have to pay more or less between 20 and 495 €, while the New Year's Eve Concert costs from 25 to 860 €. Obviously, prices can change every year.

As anyone who has visited Vienna's palaces or the city's museums knows, the Austrian capital is not particularly cheap. When it comes to the most important Christmas event, the New Year's Concert, the price to pay is quite high, but any big music fan will consider it commensurate with what they will be able to see if they travel to Vienna for Christmas.

Classical music at a more affordable price

However, if you have a tighter budget and do not want to miss a classical music concert in the birthplace of great composers such as Mozart or Strauss, there are cheaper options but with which you will enjoy the best recitals.

In case you were lucky enough to have your name drawn in the lottery and will be able to attend the New Year's Concert in person, I think you might be interested to know some of its history and some other facts related to the event.

A bit of history

The first Vienna New Year's Concert took place in 1941 and since then it has only missed its date in 1945, as the building in which it is held was seriously damaged by the bombings of World War II.

The venue is the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein and the performers are the members of the city's very prestigious Philharmonic Orchestra. Getting into this orchestra is not at all easy, as it requires a minimum of three years playing for the Opera. Only after that can one apply to join the orchestra.

Protagonists

According to the concert tradition, the music performed has been composed mainly by the Strauss family: Johann senior and his sons, Johann, Eduard and Josef.

After the end of the musical program (which you can see on the orchestra's website), several encores are always played. After this, the musicians wish the audience a happy new year and play what is possibly the most famous waltz: the Blue Danube, composed by Johann Strauss Jr. Finally, they perform the well-known Radetzky March by Johann Strauss Sr.

Another of the great attractions of this concert is that they are usually conducted by some of the leading masters of today's music. In recent years alone, names such as Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Georges Prêtre and Mariss Jansons have participated.

How to see it if I have not been able to get a ticket

Those who are not lucky enough to be able to attend the concert have a sort of consolation: since 1959, when it began to be produced by Austrian television and co-produced by the European Radio-Television Union, the New Year's Concert is broadcast live every year. In the last editions the signal reached some 90 countries and the average audience reached 50 million viewers.

Summary of the New Year's Concert

• Where: Goldener Saal (Goldener Saal) of the Wiener Musikverein (Musikvereinsplatz 1)
• Date: January 1st of each year
• Time: starts at 11:15 a.m.
• Program and information: www.wienerphilharmoniker.at

The New Year's Concert in Vienna is completely inseparable from the place where it is held: the city's Musikverein (Music Club). This auditorium was inaugurated in January 1870 and is considered one of the best in the world for its privileged acoustics. It is the home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

The building is located very close to the Ringstraße. The auditorium is very reminiscent of a temple with its columns, reliefs and pediments. Inside there are several halls:

• Crystal Hall.
• Hall of Metal.
• Stone Hall.
• Wooden Hall.
• And the hall par excellence, the Golden Hall, where the New Year's Concert is held. This room, also known as the Great Hall, is not only famous for hosting this concert, its own beauty makes it worth visiting at any time. It was built in a historicist style full of classical details, such as caryatids and pediments in relief. During the rest of the year, this hall hosts other high level concerts. It usually plays groups such as the aforementioned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra or the Wiener Symphoniker, as well as some renowned soloists.

If you want to visit the Musikverein without having to attend a concert, you can book one of the guided tours offered from Monday to Saturday.

When entering the competition for tickets to the Vienna New Year's Concert you will see that you will also be offered the opportunity to enter a prize draw for tickets to two other related events with the same program:

• Dress Rehearsal (December 30, 2023 at 11:00 am).
• New Year's Eve Concert (December 31, 2023 at 7:30 pm).

In this case, you will be able to request up to four tickets for each of them. The price of the New Year's Eve Concert ranges from around 25 € to 860 €, while the rehearsal can cost approximately 20 to 495 €.

If you are looking for a more economical option, you can always go to a concert of Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' in the church of St. Charles Borromeo in Vienna.

You may not have the opportunity to attend the New Year's Concert, either because you were not chosen in the draw or because you have traveled to Vienna in summer or on other dates.

However, if you are a lover of classical music you are in the right city. Not only will you be able to visit its famous House of Music, but you will also have at your disposal a large number of concerts held in absolutely magical places.

Mozart Concert at Vienna's Musikverein

For those who cannot attend the New Year's Concert, but do not want to miss the opportunity to attend a special evening in the same place where it is held, this is the best possible option.

This concert dedicated to Mozart is held in the Musikverein itself, like the one on January 1. In this case, the musicians recreate how it must have been a musical evening in the eighteenth century and come to play with clothes and wig of the time.

Prices to attend this concert are around 52 € and it is recommended to arrive at the entrance with about 30 minutes in advance.

• Address: Wiener Musikverein (Musikvereinsplatz 1)
• Price: around €52
• Time: usually at 8:15 p.m.

Concert at St. Anne's Church

Few places are better suited to listen to the works of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert than the beautiful St. Anne's Church, the Annakirche. Located in the center of the city, very close to Kärntnerstraße, one of its main commercial arteries, this church was erected in Gothic style in 1320.

The classical music concert at St. Anne's Church lasts about an hour and consists of several performances of the aforementioned authors (who lived and worked in Vienna at some point in their lives) by a string quartet.

• Address: Annagasse 3b
• Price: about 34 €.
• Time: concerts usually start at 8:00 p.m.

Johann Strauss and Mozart concert in the Kursalon

Although less well-known than the Musikverein, Vienna has another important auditorium where classical music concerts are frequently held: the Kursalon. It was here that the waltz gained popularity during the 19th century thanks to composers such as Johann Strauss.

Precisely this concert of Mozart and Strauss in Vienna pays tribute to both composers as well as other Viennese musicians. The show lasts about two hours, during which you can enjoy waltzes, polkas, arias and other musical genres.

• Address: Johannesgasse 33
• Price: about 64 €.
• Time: there is usually one show at 6:00 p.m. and another at 8:30 p.m.

Classical Music Concert in St. Peter's Church

One of the most famous churches in the city, St. Peter' s Church is a privileged place where you will be able to enjoy a fabulous classical music concert during your trip to Vienna. Undoubtedly, one of the best things to do in Vienna.

The atmosphere inside the church is truly unique and the acoustics are truly exceptional. For many, this concert is perfect if you have come to Vienna with children, as the repertoire is full of works that will resonate with them.

• Address: Peter Spl. 1
• Price: about 35 €.
• Time: Concerts usually start around 8:30 p.m.

Concert of 'The Four Seasons' by Vivaldi

Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' is a spectacular work and what better place to enjoy it than in Vienna and specifically in the impressive Karlskirche, the Church of St. Charles Borromeo, which is characterized by its incredible acoustics.

This concert ticket to Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' is performed by the 1756 Orchestra, which includes baroque and classical instruments.

• Address: Karlskirche, Karlsplatz 10
• Price: from 34 €.