Millions of music lovers around the world know the Musikverein in Vienna as one of the most traditional concert houses there is, one that plays host to top-ranking artists. The building on Karlsplatz, not far from the magnificent Ringstrasse boulevard, is reminiscent of a temple, built according to a design by Theophil Hansen in 1807 in the historical style with columns, pediments and reliefs.

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The Large Musikverein Hall, also called the "Golden Hall", is famous for its sumptuous decor. Apollo and the muses draw the eye to the ceiling, while the columns are designed as female figures of the ancient world. As incomparable as the look are the spatial acoustics - the sound experiences here are unique in the world. The New Year's Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic is broadcast to an international TV audience of millions from the Golden Hall each year. The Musikverein offers first-class concerts on the other 364 days of the year as well. With Vienna's leading orchestras: the Vienna Philharmonic, the Wiener Symphoniker, and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. International top stars are regular guests here; for the pianist Yuja Wang, the Musikverein is, if you will, an inseparable part of Vienna as the city of music. However, the Musikverein Wien has long since ceased to be only a temple of classical music.

Glass, metal, stone, wood

At the Musikverein, there are the four New Halls with their fascinating intimacy. Audiences come really close to the actors here: In the Glass Hall, the Metal Hall, the Stone Hall, and in the Wood Hall. The programs focus on the presentation of next-generation artists. For example, the internationally acclaimed soprano Anna Prohaska had her debut in the Glass Hall.

Jazz is as much at home in the Four New Halls of the Musikverein as the spoken word - actors, authors and musicians read from the own works, tell stories or give talks on musical topics.

Young audiences also like going to the new halls, where over 230 concerts for children and young people get the next generation enthusiastic about music.

Tour of the Vienna Musikverein

The 45-minute guided tours in German and English, which are mostly held every day except Sunday, provide the opportunity to learn about the magnificent building of the Musikverein away from than concerts, with interesting facts and scintillating anecdotes, too.

In addition to the Musikverein, Vienna has a good dozen more event halls that also offer the perfect sound. Above all the Wiener Konzerthaus.