ABOUT THE Wiener Musikverein

About THE Wiener Musikverein

The House of the Vienna Musikverein is one of the most beautiful and traditional concert buldings in Vienna. Inside the magnificent building is the famous Great Hall (Golden Hall), as well as the Brahms Hall, both of which attract visitors from all over the world to experience an evening of pure musical enjoyment.

In 1863, the neoclassical architect Theophil von Hansen was commissioned to design the new building of the Society of Music Lovers (Musikverein). The construction was made possible thanks to the generous Christmas gift from Emperor Franz Joseph I, who gave the Society of Music Lovers the area opposite the St. Charles Church (Karlskirche). To honor the gift, a building plan was created that would turn the magnificent building into an architectural highlight of the Ringstrasse. The Musikverein was opened with a festive concert in 1870.

The House of the Vienna Musikverein was built entirely in the style of ancient Greece. The Ionic columns, Caryatids, gable reliefs, and breathtaking ceiling paintings give the impression that a temple for music has been built here. An ambiance was created that not only impresses with its excellent acoustics but also appeals to all the senses, thus showcasing the concerts at the Musikverein to their best advantage.

To this day, the “Musikverein” remains a center of international concert life. Every year, the New Year’s Concert is being broadcast from the Golden Hall to an audience of over a billion worldwide. In addition to the jewels of the Golden Hall and the Brahms Hall, the House of the Vienna Musikverein houses other newly built halls, such as the Glass Hall, the Metal Hall, the Stone Hall, and the Wooden Hall.

Golden Hall

The Great Hall is considered the jewel of the Vienna Musikverein and one of the best concert halls in the world. The beauty of the architecture, as well as the magical acoustics that envelop and enchant every visitor, earned it the nickname the “Golden Hall”. The astounding acoustics are the merit of the architect of the Vienna Musikverein, Theophil von Hansen. Since scientific studies on room acoustics were only conducted in the 20th century, Hansen had to rely solely on his intuition – with huge success!

The hall meets all the important requirements that make a good concert hall: from the ideal proportions of the room, to numerous sound reflections and cavities in the ceiling and floor, which serve as resonators. All of this enables the unmistakable and grandiose acoustics of this hall. In combination with the magnificent and noble appearance, characterized by a lot of gold and glamour, the Great Hall offers over 2000 guests the opportunity to enjoy the most wonderful sounds in the highest quality.

Brahms Hall

In addition to the Great Hall, the Vienna Musikverein houses another exceptionally beautiful concert hall: the Brahms Hall. This was named in 1937 after Johannes Brahms, one of the most significant composers of the 19th century. With just under 600 seats the Brahms Hall is an excellent venue for classical music performances and it also offers ideal conditions as a chamber music hall.

Like the other concert halls of the Vienna Musikverein, the Brahms Hall offers an unforgettable experience for the eyes and ears. In the style of ancient Greece, which can be recognized in the architecture of the entire building, this hall has a breathtaking temple roof with Ionic columns. But it is also the excellent acoustics that prompt visitors from all over the world to want to experience an evening of perfect music enjoyment in the Brahms Hall.