Music

This year we celebrate Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday. This brand-new video series takes you on a musical pilgrimage through Beethoven’s Vienna.

A musicians' initiative to do aerosol studies made the Festival's 100th anniversary possible after all. From here, the studies will help the Vienna Philharmonic and others stay safe from COVID-19.

In New York City, piano sales surged during lockdown. In Vienna, “a small awakening” – but little support from Stadt Wien.

For the 250th anniversary of the great composer’s birth, Vienna has pulled out all the stops; join us in tracing his footsteps.

The longest-running piece of musical theater of all time, Die Fledermaus captures an era, and (perhaps) the way Austrians like to see themselves.

How Vienna continues to give musicians what they need and crave

Defying globalized monotony, Viennese dialect makes a musical comeback.

The Resonanzen Festival, nine intensive days of early music in January, confirms that music still holds all the cards. It’s not f...

In Japan, Vienna is the Ongaku no Miyako, “the capital of music,” and that’s where Mayu Kotari wanted to be. A pianist from Tokyo, Kotari has been liv...

Mesmeric Metamusic Composer Olga Neuwirth creates magnificent soundscapes from apparent chaos Following one modernist paradigm in the fine arts ...

Austrians like to show off their serious appreciation of classical music. But if you want them to erupt into joyful singing, you’ve got to play them s...

The 1970s pop icons are reunited and on tour at Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra, and up-and-coming tour Vienna’s most storied venues at the Wave...

The Junges Ensemble at the Theater an der Wien: boot camp for six newly minted opera singers. The opera world can be “a crazy and dangerous place...

After a six-year hiatus, the Californian alt rockers are finally back on tour Once labeled as “a nu-metal band for people who don’t like nu-metal...

Widely regarded as one of the greatest singers/songwriters ever, Elvis Costello is known for his witty lyrics, often using wordplay in his songs, whic...

From chill lake-side vibes to eclectic performances in old Italian towns, the European festival circuit has it all. Here are our 5 favorite open air f...

Vienna closes its concert halls in the summer, but the nearby countryside offers a plethora of musical events For much of July and August, Vienna...

Vienna’s annual jazz summer presents international stars and local talent. As orchestras go on tour and Vienna’s major concert halls take a well-...

Twenty years of the Arnold Schönberg Center and an exhibit on Jung-Wien, Vienna’s fin-de-siècle creative wave “New music is never beautiful on fi...

The Canadian art rock band returns with its most upbeat album yet. Ever since their critically acclaimed debut album Funeral back in 2004, Montre...

On composer Ignaz Pleyel and a tiny museum less than an hour from Vienna. It’s a story that sounds like sardoodledom – a contrived plot, improbab...

The introspective musician creates dreamy beats for a changing world. With an eclectic style that draws from jazz and world music, English electr...

The campy continent-wide tournament of patriotic pop hysterics returns. Every year in May, Europeans fall under the peculiar spell of an unusual ...

Benjamin Britten’s take on Shakespeare’s seminal comedy comes to life in a brand new production. English may not be n...

The legend and Nobel laureate continues his never ending tour with his first triple album. One of the most important ...

Thoughts about music in a raucous world and International Noise Awareness Day. The concert halls in Vienna are phenomenal spaces. You might think I...

Fu Manchu, the masters of stoner rock, return with a fuzzy new album. One of stoner rock’s most celebrated names, Fu Manchu and their distortio...

The Texan orchestra makes its Vienna debut alongside a star soloist. Fresh off winning a Grammy this year for their rendition of Alban Berg’s W...

One of hip-hop’s founding fathers, Slick Rick weaves stories out of street life. A legend in his own time, Slick Rick is a name revered among the o...

Some might find it astonishing that the string quartets by Beethoven continue to be a defining edifice in the music world. But once again, ther...

The retro virtuoso Pokey LaFarge uses his classic sound to express everyday blues. Combining new and old, singer-song...

The music legend throws an audio-visual block party for the history of Hip Hop. With Hip Hop entering something resemblin...

The Klangforum’s Festliche Tage Alter Musik – with works composed between 1908 and 1961 – show us how old (and beautiful) modern music really ...

The rising diva graces the Vienna jazz firmament A new star on the jazz-horizon, Morgan James – who cut her teeth with co...

Founded this year by young professional musicians from all over Europe, the Alma Mahler Kammerorchester celebrates music without borders while...

Viennese music legend Harri Stojka looks ahead at 60 There’s very little certainty in the life and career of an artist. M...

Contemporary music is center stage again for the 30th year running Loud, emotional, noisy or sublime – contemporary music has m...

Twelve singer-songwriters take the stage for Vienna’s best-known festival of its kind Intimate, emotional and atmospheric, singer-songwrite...

The compact disc is still a viable archival medium, especially for classical music.

A plethora of orchestras for non-professionals makes Vienna a paradise for amateur music You took piano lessons and then you quit. The lessons ...

Two weeks of Yiddish celebration from around the world show the versatility of a classic folk tradition Expressive melodies that draw from Yiddis...

Enchanting and confusing, Die Zauberflöte returns to the house it helped build However you look at it, the story is confusing. Somehow, Mozart’s ...

The international showcase festival and conference presents indie rock and club culture in all its glory Presenting the city’s clubscape alongsid...

The alternative hip-hop legend returns with a new album in tow A seminal figure among turntablists, DJ Shadow (Josh Davis) greatly contributed to...

Outdoor concerts at Schloß Grafenegg are the perfect setting for an ambrosial sound experience My first summer job as a teenager was ushering at ...

The American alternative rock band legends crash into Vienna supporting their latest album When it comes to late 20th century rock, Dinosaur Jr. ...

With a socio-critical musical reportage, the exceptional P. J. Harvey reinvents herself once again Rock-goddess, poet, MBE – for three decades, t...

A plethora of genres and styles define this venerable festival. Attracting household names and promising newcomers from contemporary jazz as well...

Notable tributes and newcomers make this year a salute to musical innovators then and now. June in Vienna just wouldn’t feel the same without tho...

Your guide to the best musical performances at churches throughout Vienna. It is obvious, but must be said: A church is not a concert hall. But...

Seminal composer-pianist Terry Riley and his virtuoso guitarist son Gyan pair up for a rare intimate performance Often mentioned along with conte...

Composer, interpreter and conductor Pierre Boulez is unquestionably the most important “serious” musical figure of the last seven decades No one ...

The Strauss Family: Kings of the Blue Danube Music megastars are the kings: the king of pop, the king of rock, the king of the guitar. Vienna’s...

An eclectic repertoire of world renowned artists present dance in manifold forms at Osterklang. Reveling in sound and movement since 1996, Osterk...

The Tiger Lillies promote their latest album A Cold Night in Soho. Combining prewar cabaret with Brechtian aesthetics, macabre themes and an an...

Jazz greats Ron Carter & Richard Galliano team up for a rare live performance Turning 80 this year, bass man Ron Carter has few peers left st...

The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW) celebrates its 200th anniversary with a cascade of events Friends of mine used to live...

On its 18th birthday, this world music festival explores Spain Still going strong after 18 years, the city's own International Accordion Festival...

The enduring fascination of string quartets for musicians, composers and audiences The remarkable thing about the string quartet is how it endure...

The legendary soundtrack composer goes on tour, celebrating 60 years of music Iconic, influential and prolific with over 500 film and TV scores a...

The dust has settled from the New Year's fireworks. Now Vienna looks forward to its famous ball season. Whether you're a seasoned ball-goer or haven't...

The deadly rivalry between the Sharks and the Jets ignites once again, as an international cast takes the stage celebrating Jerome Robbins’ legacy Th...

What do old musical instruments displayed in glass cases have to do with music? The world-renowned Collection of Historic Musical Instruments has the ...

The Irish-American punk rockers kick off their European tour in Vienna Raucous and bursting with Celtic pride, The Dropkick Murphys have been mixin...

A closer look at the Vienna Philharmonic and the New Year’s Concert, its most important event of the year A curious thing, tradition. On the firs...

Saul Williams incites the braying masses to revolt, a frustrated prophet for the digital age. In modern times, hacking is associated with the act...

The Vienna Songwriting Association puts indie music on center stage Giving artists the chance to wow an audience hungry for newcomers, the Blue B...

The alternative rock icons come to town with a brand new album A huge influence on the grunge movement and bands like Nirvana, Blur or Radiohead,...

Bernhard Günther, the new artistic director of the Wien Modern festival, sets his course Where do we come from? Where are we going? And where the...

No, I’m not talking about the Republican Party’s candidate for President and his "bragadocious" misogyny. Rather, it was the news that The Swedi...

The Dutch jazz institution brings a fresh and funky injection of sax-appeal. Propelled to global stardom in the early 1990s with her break out debu...

The New York slam poet breaks back into the hip-hop scene. An alternative hip-hop icon since acquiring the title of Nuyorican Poets Cafe's Grand ...

Ernst Krenek’s opera Pallas Athene weint: A musical megaphone for our political times. Does music amplify the uproar of the world around us, or d...

An intro to subscriptions for the upcoming music season, or how to remember where you put the tickets The concert season has finally reopened. From...

The eclectic musician reunites with his backing band The Innocent Criminals for a new album A darling of the alternative crowd, socially conscious ...

The club culture festival presents emerging international artists Now going into its sixth iteration, the Waves Vienna Music Festival and Conferenc...

After 18 years, the Canadian-American singer-songwriter is still going strong Known for his characteristic, warm voice, a complex, ever-changing st...

Youth choirs from around the world sing for a better tomorrow Hosted by Vienna’s classical music posterboys the Wiener Sängerknaben, the World Pe...

Salzburg is far more than Mozartkugeln, especially during festival season The majestic Salzburg cathedral is the scenic backdrop for the seminal...

The nearby open air festivals will keep you busy while Vienna is on vacation Bathed in sunshine, white wine and world-class entertainment, the Au...

An impressive line-up of big names in venerable venues await Going strong since 1991, this major date on the summer festival circuit starts right...

The city’s monster festival offers a little something for everyone Drawing a staggering 3.3 million over three days last year, Donauinselfest, th...

Pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja celebrates her 70th birthday performing Franz Schubert Pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja doesn’t take time for pleasantries...

Throughout its 65 year history, this festival has consistently presented the year’s most innovative offering of music, drama, performance, and dialogu...

Austrian band contests and the next generation in pursuit of the big stage by Benjamin Kubaczek & Cynthia Peck   “Competitions are...

This year’s Europop fiesta has the The Good, The Bad, The Bizarre… and The Australians Best known as the launch pad of ABBA, the European Broadca...

The popular urban happening celebrates a decade on Vienna’s inner-city waterway Originally set in motion by Martin Staudinger in 2007, the free f...

Nigel Kennedy pays tribute to the king of electric guitar with his Jimi Hendrix Project Lime green sneakers, a messy, greying punk haircut, baggy...

The Radiokulturhaus introduces Britain’s post-jazz scene Attracting a plethora of talent, London has long boasted a lively jazz scene, with many ...

Art and music collide at this two-day electronic music festival Kicking off the warm season at MusemsQuartier, Electric Spring both showcases and...

The garage rockers re-form and hit the road again, with a new album out With a musical style reminiscent of The Clash with a bit of The Smiths mi...

With the resurgence of vinyl going global, the City of Music finds itself punching far above its weight with a thriving record store culture As t...

Péter Eötvös’s Tri Sestri at the Staatsoper: A cornerstone work about paths not taken, memory and farewells It takes only about ten notes of a lo...

Classical saxophone gets its due at this festival, featuring a week of international talent performing all over town Usually associated with jazz...

René Clemencic and his Consort celebrate half a century of early music concerts at the Musikverein What do we know about European music in 1492, ...

Showing off the instrument’s versatility, this international festival offers a month of squeezebox fever.   Featuring both regional and i...

The Wiener Ukulele Stammtisch brings amateur ukulele players together every month for an informal strum-and-sing meetup On a Monday evening, in t...

A plethora of performances on stages both large and small, to delight even the youngest. So borrow a child and go! One of the most wondrous momen...

Wien Modern, the festival for new music, in its 28th year Apparently Wien Modern wants to change its image. This year the nearly month-long festiva...

Tunnel: the popular student hangout and live jazz club gets a “reboot”, refusing to fix what’s not broken Reinventing a classic is fraught with p...