Vienna Features Cultural Events
Concerts, performances, exhibitions fill Austrian capital's summer
From performances of Shakespeare to classical music concerts, Vienna has a whole host of events on the schedule.
If it’s culture you’re looking for, Vienna is the place to be this summer. From classical music to Shakespeare to German Expressionist paintings, the Austrian capital has a full lineup of concerts, plays, exhibits and even a glamorous ball on tap.
Classical music concert
On May 24, the Vienna Philharmonic will give a free concert starting at 9 p.m. at the Schönbrunn Palace gardens. In 2006, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was named the best in Europe by Le Monde de La Musique, a well-known music magazine. The open-air event draw around 70,000 concertgoers despite the rain. “It was a concert of superlatives,” said Clemens Hellsberg, the chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic. “We were all in a great mood and highly motivated, and it was plain to see – for us it was the best setting in the world!”
Multi-day music festival
The 33rd International Music Festival will run from May 5 through June 19 at the Konzerthaus and will feature classical music performances by leading interpreters. During the opening concert of the event, Gidon Kremer, along with the Vienna Philharmonic, will play “To the Memory of an Angel,” the violin concerto by Alban Berg. Lorin Maazel will direct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in pieces by Bartok, Ravel and Stravinsky.
The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra will interpret “Thus Spake Zarathustra” by Richard Strauss and Mahler’s “Wunderhorn.” The latter will feature Soloist Thomas Hampson. The festival also will feature world music, Jazz and a variety of other genres.
Vienna Festival
From May 11 through June 19, The Vienna Festival will feature more than 200 events including exhibitions, operas, theatre, dance, concerts and other performances. Shakespeare features prominently with a Luc Bondy production of “King Lear” at the Burgtheater as the centerpiece. Additionally, performances of “Twelth Night” and “The Tempest” will also take place.
Beyond Shakespeare, there will be productions of “Scenes from a Marriage,” “Gatz” based on “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and “The Trojans.” Moravian composer Leoš Janácek’s opera “From the House of the Dead” will be performed at the Theater an der Wien.
Vienna Life Ball
The 15th Vienna Life Ball, which is Europe’s largest HIV and AIDS charity event, will be held May 26 at the Vienna City Hall. The ball will feature a fashion show staged by designers Heatherette of New York. About 40,000 people will get to take advantage of the unique, free spectacle. Following the fashion show, 4,000 lucky ticket holders will head into City Hall where live acts, culinary treats and breathtaking performances will be the order of the night. Click here for more information about the Life Ball.
Exhibit of German Expressionist painters
The Albertina will host an exhibit of German Expressionist painters titled “Expressive! The artists of Die Brucke” (The Bridge) from June 1 to Sept. 2. The exhibit will feature 250 paintings, prints, objects and drawings by the likes of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Erich Heckel, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and Fritz Bleyl. Those artists, along with Emil Nolde and Max Pechstein teamed up in 1905 in Dresden to take off in a new artistic direction.
