Our musical tour of Vienna

The Waltz King

Wandering through the mecca of classical music is what we call a vacation. Home to so many amazing musicians and composers throughout the centuries, no culture appreciates this art form quite the same way the Viennese do. 

Our trip to Vienna was based largely on musical hot spots. A walk through Stadtpark past the Strauss King and the famous Kursalon, a quick stop at Beethoven's Pasqualatihaus, Beethoven's Heiligenstadt House, and Sunday morning mass at St. Augustine's with a complete orchestra and choir. Beautiful!

Winter stroll through Wien's Stadtpark

Riding the straßenbahn around the Ring

Beethoven's Pasqualatihaus-- where he worked on many of his symphonies and his only opera, Fidelio

Hofburg

We spent our Sunday morning at the Augustinian Church around the corner from the Hofburg. Their Sunday morning mass is famous in Vienna, complete with a concert, full orchestra and choir. A beautiful (and chilly) way to start the day.

Augustinerkirche

Sunny ride to Heiligenstadt

Visiting Beethoven's Heiligenstadt house

We took the straßenbahn out to Heiligenstadt to visit one of Beethoven's former residences. At the time when Beethoven lived here it was a rural district of Vienna. The Heiligenstadt house is where he composed the Pastorale symphony. It's a special feeling to visit a place where a musical master once lived and worked. 

Our nightly strolls near the Ring brings us to the center of Vienna, the world famous Staatsoper. Hopefully our next trip to Vienna will include a performance in this amazing venue.

Staatsoper

NYE in Vienna

A New Year's Eve post in March...here it goes. Our New Year's Eve began with a visit to the Upper Belvedere to admire the Klimt and Schiele works. We had a cold and sunny stroll to the Belvedere from our apartment and a great visit to one of Vienna's most famous museums. Afterwards we headed to another Vienna institution to warm up, Café Pruckel. 

 A few relaxing hours at Pruckel hit the spot. A delicious Wiener melange, some himbeer soda, and some dessert that we can't remember the name of. It was delicious! One of our favorite's of the trip.

We walked to the Stephansdom, another Vienna icon. The city arranges free waltzing lessons on NYE. How fun. Half the square was waltzing while the other half was watching it on big television screens.

Inside the cathedral

Outside the Oper on New Year's Eve

Hofburg

To ring in the new year, we headed outside for some fireworks. Vienna just doesn't have one fireworks display, they have several. We decided to catch out the display at Heldenplatz. 2012 brought us lots of happy times together and we're excited to see where 2013 takes us!

Fireworks above the Rathaus

Experiencing the best of Vienna

The Musikverein at night

Karlskirche

An evening at the Musikverein is a musician's dream. Where better can you hear waltz music and Strauss? In short, no where. Vienna is the best place to celebrate and admire waltz music. We had so much fun. It was really a magical evening.

We did not hear the Vienna Philharmonic, but attended a concert by the Wiener Ring- Ensemble. A smaller chamber group consisting of members of the Vienna Phil. We give the performers credit for trying to inject some humor into the performances. Perhaps it was geared towards a 75+ aged crowd, but still very entertaining. The very drunk man behind us found it hysterical. But of course, hearing such beautiful music and admiring top notch musicianship is always invigorating and inspiring.

At intermission, Jaap snuck a peak at the Großer Saal where preparation were underway for the big New Year's Concert that was going to take place two days later.

Here's Jaap at Café Museum before the concert. Not as funky and interesting as I remember from being a student. (It's now part of a franchise of cafés--blah). But what place isn't interesting when I have this handsome hubby to stare at all evening?

A Wiener Melange Melange

Café Landtmann

Enjoying lunch

Who does coffee better than the Viennese? Okay, maybe the Italians and I'm sure you can argue many more. (I had some amazing coffee in Rome). But who has the best café culture? Hands down, the Wieners! Jaap and I spent a very romantic (and cold) holiday in Vienna to celebrate the New Year. The highlight for me...coffee!

Way too excited for this coffee

A return to one of my favorite places as a student, Café Stein

Sitting with Jaap in these these smoky places made me miss Vienna so much. I was amazed by how much the Viennese are still smoking up in cafés and restaurants. I guess old habits die hard.

All I could do was reminisce about my great memories from this beautiful city. So many good times to think about. I had such a love for this city when I left the first time that I was afraid it wouldn't be the same when we returned on this trip. And of course it wasn't. Vienna felt very different to me, but in a good way. It still felt like I was returning home.

Brunch at Café Leopold

[As you can see, I enjoyed documenting our hot drinks at various cafés. I've been inspired by one of my favorite blogs, Merisi's Vienna for Beginners. Visit her daily blog to see the beauty of Vienna and especially their café culture.]