Musical hotel history and stories

Music plays in Vienna. Including in Vienna's hotels, which have all sorts of connections to the music scene. Here are a few stories, from Billy Joel's private concert for the night shift to John Lennon's legendary 'bagism' press conference. Plus the latest musical hotel offers that will take your breath away. A foray through the Imperial, Bristol, Sacher and the young Jaz in the City hotels.

The chronicle of the Hotel Imperial is full of musical anecdotes. King Bhumibol of Thailand played saxophone here; tenor Luciano Pavarotti rehearsed a couple of songs at the grand piano at the Imperial Bar before his performance at the State Opera, much to the delight of the hotel guests.

Edward Stanley, 18th Lord of Derby (1918-1994), was once accommodated in a room between the two violinist David and Igor Oistrach. When they apologized for the rehearsals going on next door, the lord laughed, "I feel like a musical sandwich."

A piano man for the night shift

Billy Joel once had one last drink in the bar of the Imperial late at night. The bartender regretted having missed Joel's concert earlier. So without further ado, Joel had all the employees on the night shift assemble and then sat down – just for them – at the piano.

The Hotel Imperial offers a very special package for everyone who wants to own their own piece of music: Individual Archetype Music. The Viennese composer Emanuel Schulz (his works could be heard in venues such as the Musikverein) created very personal music in exchange with the guest, the musical presentation of their personality. Also for couples and family dynasties.

The regular music events at the Hotel Imperial resume jazz concerts, Imperial High Tea with harp music, and champagne brunch to the strains of jazz.

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Billy Joel, portrait photo — Billy Joel played for the staff of the Hotel Imperial. He is enthusiastic about Vienna in an interview. – © WienTourismus, Stefan Wuernitzer

Imperial Bar, Hotel Imperial — Star tenor Luciano Pavarotti rehearsed in the bar at the Hotel Imperial before his opera appearance. The hotel guests were delighted. – © Imperial Bar

Bösendorfer piano in the Hotel Imperial, close-up of hands playing — Luxury class(es): A Bösendorfer piano in the Hotel Imperial – © Flo Moshammer www.goodlifecrew.at

Billy Joel played for the staff of the Hotel Imperial. He is enthusiastic about Vienna in an interview. – © WienTourismus, Stefan Wuernitzer

Star tenor Luciano Pavarotti rehearsed in the bar at the Hotel Imperial before his opera appearance. The hotel guests were delighted. – © Imperial Bar

Luxury class(es): A Bösendorfer piano in the Hotel Imperial – © Flo Moshammer www.goodlifecrew.at

The Hotel Bristol is situated next to the Vienna State Opera. So it's no wonder that it has nurtured the best of relations with its famous neighbor since opening in 1892. Former opera directors provide the names for all of the rooms and suites with a direct view of the State Opera, such number 269 (Gustav Mahler) or 469 (Herbert von Karajan).

Among the Bristol's illustrious guests: George Gershwin wrote on his composition "An American in Paris" at the Bristol, Catherine Deneuve filmed scenes in the bar, and Leonard Bernstein often ordered a grand piano up to his suite to prepare for appearances at the State Opera or Musikverein.

How "Peach Melba" came to Vienna

In 1900, the Australian opera singer Nellie Melba (actually Helen Porter Armstrong) brought the ice cream creation "Peach Melba" to Vienna. The head chef at London's Savoy Hotel, where the soprano lived for a while, had created the peach and ice cream dessert specially for her. She ultimately entrusted the recipe to the Bristol's chefs.

At the event series Salon Opéra, stars (singers, conductors, directors) provide interesting facts about the latest opera premieres at the Bristol's neighbor over afternoon tea with sparkling wine and the finest canapés.

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Hotel Bristol Vienna – Peach Melba ice cream dessert — Peach Melba: the opera singer Nellie Melba brought the ice cream dessert to the Bristol in Vienna. – © Hotel Bristol Vienna, Matthew Shaw

Hotel Bristol Vienna, Deluxe Opera View Room — Room with a view at the Hotel Bristol: the Deluxe Opera View Rooms look across to the Vienna State Opera. – © Hotel Bristol Vienna, Matthew Shaw

Hotel Bristol Vienna, Room 269 — Hotel Bristol, Mahler Suite – © Bristol Vienna

Peach Melba: the opera singer Nellie Melba brought the ice cream dessert to the Bristol in Vienna. – © Hotel Bristol Vienna, Matthew Shaw

Room with a view at the Hotel Bristol: the Deluxe Opera View Rooms look across to the Vienna State Opera. – © Hotel Bristol Vienna, Matthew Shaw

Hotel Bristol, Mahler Suite – © Bristol Vienna

Also a neighbor of the State Opera: the Hotel Sacher Wien. Music is in the hotel's DNA – evident in the suites named after operas: La Traviata, Tosca, Nutcracker, Don Giovanni, Idomeneo. On the walls of the Madame Butterfly suite, for example, are drawings of costumes and a cast list. The guests dive into the world of opera without having to leave the room.

Bagism in a Sacher sheet

The Sacher is a popular home for a while for musicians, singers and conductors of world stature, among them Christian Thielemann and Philippe Jordan. John Lennon and Yoko Ono got the whole world talking about the Sacher with their scandalous press conference on March 31, 1969. Covered entirely by a Sacher sheet they borrowed on the spot, the two of them declared that a person cannot be judged by their outward appearance when hidden inside a bag. Hence "bagism". While the reporters were left pretty speechless, John and Yoko enjoyed a piece of original Sacher Torte in suite 101. Their visit is immortalized in the Beatles hit "The Ballad of John and Yoko".

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Hotel Sacher Wien, picture gallery — The picture gallery at the Hotel Sacher tells of distinguished guests from art, culture, and society. – © Hotel Sacher Wien

Hotel Sacher: Pelléas et Mélisande suite, terrace — Musical name-dropping: at the Hotel Sacher Wien, the presidential suites are named after famous operas, such as Mozart's Magic Flute or Puccini's Madame Butterfly. The elegant penthouse suite bears the name of an opera by Claude Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande. – © Hotel Sacher Wien

Hotel Sacher, original Sacher Torte in a wooden box — That's it: the famous original Sacher Torte. – © Hotel Sacher

The picture gallery at the Hotel Sacher tells of distinguished guests from art, culture, and society. – © Hotel Sacher Wien

Musical name-dropping: at the Hotel Sacher Wien, the presidential suites are named after famous operas, such as Mozart's Magic Flute or Puccini's Madame Butterfly. The elegant penthouse suite bears the name of an opera by Claude Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande. – © Hotel Sacher Wien

That's it: the famous original Sacher Torte. – © Hotel Sacher

Fresh beats at the new music hotel

From historical events to today’s spirit of the times: the lifestyle hotel Jaz in the City Vienna , which was just opened in 2021, mirrors the city's musical attitude to life. Music permeates all areas of the hotel – in other words, music is in its DNA. The reception functions as a record store (lots of vinyl!), and all 163 rooms – from the Bassline Rooms and the Offbeat Lofts to the Backbeat Suites – have a record player. But best of all: the hotel transforms into a stage – every day there's live music, DJs, concerts and jamming sessions, such as in the rooftop bar “mariatrink Drinks & Views” (spectacular view over Vienna!). If that doesn’t make music aficionados’ hearts beat faster...