Concert-Going Tips

Classical concerts in Vienna

Welcome to Vienna and the world of classical music. If you are attending your first classical concert, you may want answers to some of the following frequently asked questions:

What should I wear?
Can I bring my cellular phone or camera?
Can you give me directions to the concert halls?
How can I purchase tickets?
When should I arrive?
When do I applaud?
What is the policy on bringing young children?

Q. What should I wear?

Most people consider our classical concerts special events, and tend to dress for the occasion - in suits and ties, or nice dresses or pantsuits. Sometimes people come to the concerts from work and are dressed in professional business attire. Formal dress – evening gowns and tuxedos – are generally worn only to gala events such as New Year's concerts.

Q. Can I bring my cellular phone or camera?

We request that you turn off all cell phones, pagers, beeping watches, and other electronic devices before the performance begins. In addition, keep in mind that these are live concerts. Noise of any kind – talking, whispering, coughing, unwrapping candies, rustling pages of programs – can be distracting to the musicians, and diminish the audience's enjoyment of the music. Please try to be as quiet as possible.

No photo-taking or use of recording devices is allowed at the concert halls at any time.

Q. Can you give me directions to the concert halls?

We aim to provide directions to all the concert facilities. You will find that information on the corresponding pages:

Directions for Salon Orchestra Alt Wien at the Kursalon
Directions for Mozart Ensemble at the Mozarthaus
Directions for Vienna Royal Orchestra
Directions for Vienna Residence Orchestra Concerts
Directions for Vienna Hofburg-Orchestra Concerts

Q. How can I purchase tickets?

You can purchase your tickets online right at our website. Please see our page on tickets and ordering for more details.

Q. When should I arrive?

We suggest you arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the concert is scheduled to begin. That will give you ample time to find your seat, relax, read the program notes and watch the musicians as they take the stage. Concerts usually begin promptly at the announced starting time. In consideration of the performers and fellow concertgoers, we ask that you remain in your seat until the concert has ended.

Q. When do I applaud?

There are two reasons to applaud at a classical concert: as a greeting, and to show appreciation. Just before the concert begins, the orchestra members will all be seated on the stage, except for the concertmaster - the violinist who sits in the first chair of the first row of the orchestra. You applaud to greet the concertmaster when he or she comes onstage. You applaud again a few moments later when the conductor comes onstage. Any soloists who will be performing will usually come onstage with the conductor; you applaud to greet the soloist or soloists as well. You do not applaud again until the end of each piece of music, to show your appreciation to the performers. Some longer pieces may have several sections, or movements, separated by a brief, silent pause. The audience does not applaud between movements of a piece. The program will list the movements in each piece, so you will know how many there are. Applause is usually reserved for the end of the last movement.