The Vienna State Opera, also known as Wiener Staatsoper, is the Vienna opera house that has a history dating back in the 19th century. Located right in the center of Vienna, the capital of Austria, is one of the most famous musical institutes in the world. The members of the Vienna Philharmonic play in its orchestra, offering the public one the best performances in the entire world, a must see at least once in your life.
Vienna Opera House is located in the center of the city
The majestic building of the Vienna Opera House was built in 1869, and it is considered one of the most beautiful opera buildings in the world. It was devastated during the World War II, but it was reopened in 1955. Tourists from all the corners of earth come to Vienna to admire the old building of the Vienna Opera House, or to attend one of its shows.
There are two possibilities to visit the Vienna Opera House: you can attend one of the guided tours that take place every day, which will offer you a lot of interesting information about the Viennese opera, or to attend a show, in the evening, which is a once in a life experience.
Details on Vienna Opera House
Let’s see now the advantages of both options:
- Vienna Opera House tour
If you are interested in the history of the opera building, and want to admire it and to find all the details regarding the way it was built and decorated, you must attend the official tour. It costs only 6.5 Euro, and it takes around one hour. I have to admit, I started with the tour in the morning, because I wanted to learn everything about the Opera, and I attended a show in the evening.
There are two guided tours per day, in different languages. To find out their schedule, check the official website of the opera: www.wiener-staatsoper.at. You can buy the ticket right at the entrance. You will really enjoy this tour because it takes you closer to the stage, where some of the most famous opera singers in the world performed. Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas, or Placido Domingo are some of them.
Inside the Viennese Opera
- A performance at the Vienna Opera House
I think every person should attend, at least once in their life, a show at the Vienna Opera House. You need to know exactly the date when you want to attend a show, because tickets are sold months in advance. Depending on your budget, you can get tickets starting from 10 Euro, for places with partial visibility, to 250 Euro, for the best places in the room. If you are not a connoisseur of the opera music, you should choose a popular, easy show. You will enjoy it for sure.
There is another cool way to discover the Vienna State Opera. For the tourists who are not prepared, the Viennese Opera is selling tickets right before the show, for prices around 5 Euro. These are standing tickets, so you will not get a sitting place, but you will have the possibility to enjoy the music, and they even have a great view. Do not get scared that you will get tired, or the place will be too crowded, because everything is perfectly organized, exactly in the pure Austrian style. I definitely recommend this option!
Preparing for the show
How to dress up for the Viennese Opera?
As this is one of the most famous Opera Houses in the world, you will need to dress up appropriately, especially if you have one of the best sits in the room. Women should definitely wear a long dress, while men are expected to wear suits, proper shoes, and bow ties.
On the other hand, if you are attending the show with the 5 Euro standing tickets, you don’t need to dress up. It is true that people do not wear suits and long dresses, but a shirt and some nice shoes are highly recommended.
Keep in mind that during the show you must turn of your phone completely, and you are not allowed to take pictures!
Special events at Vienna Opera House
There are two extremely important events at the Viennese Opera; events that became a tradition, and people from all around the world dream to attend them.
The first one is the Viennese Opera Ball. It happens in every February, and it is one of the most elegant balls in Vienna. As a woman, you need to wear a long dress, while men need to wear suits and bow ties. Without it, you simply cannot get in. The tickets must be bought some months in advance and they are not cheap at all – 250 Euro, but the experience of a Viennese Ball is unique. Usually, around 5.000 people attend this event.
People dancing Viennese Waltz during a ball
The second important event of the Viennese Opera is the New Year’s Concert. It is performed by the Wiener Philharmoniker, an orchestra that selects very strictly each musician. The concert for the New Year is so famous that it is broadcaster in more than 70 countries in the world.
A Viennese Orchestra
