Practical
What to wear and expect
Shorts, filming, pew seating, how long the hour feels and what the Christmas version changes: the practical side of the church concert in Vienna.
Pick your concert date ↗Quick answer
Wear trousers or a skirt, because shorts are not allowed, and leave the video camera in the bag, because video recording is not allowed. Expect about one hour of chamber music on a wooden pew. The programme may change, and the Christmas and New Year's concert in the same church is a separate ticket with its own dates.
The two ticket rules
The concert's ticket lists two things as not allowed: shorts and video recording. Both are simple to follow. In summer, bring trousers, a long skirt or a dress that covers the knee, and put them on before you walk to the church. For filming, the rule is about video, so keep the phone away during the music. For photographs, follow any signs in the church, and ask a steward if you are unsure.
Seats
The seats are church pews, wooden benches with straight backs. Recent visitors mention that they can be hard, and that is worth planning for over an hour. Arriving in good time lets you choose where to sit. A pew with a clear view of the ensemble and the altar is a better choice than one behind a pillar. If you are tall or sensitive to hard seats, an aisle pew is easier to shift on.
How long the hour feels
The concert lasts about one hour, and your date on the calendar carries the start time. That is a shorter sit than a full concert-hall evening. Chamber music in a church tends to move between pieces without a long pause, so the time passes in short movements. If you want a longer evening, the Musikverein concert is about two hours.
The programme can change
The operator may alter the programme. The ticket page names Vivaldi, Schubert, Beethoven and Haydn, and its description adds Mozart and Bach. Treat that as the kind of music to expect, not a promise of particular pieces. If hearing one work matters to you, check the booking page for your date and read the confirmation again the day before. The operator, not the church, sets the programme.
Eating and drinking
Food and drink are left to you. The inner city around the church is pedestrian, and the start time on your date tells you whether dinner falls before or after. Book a table ahead if your concert is on a busy day, and allow time to walk to the church rather than arriving by rushing from the table.
The Christmas and New Year's concert
A separate concert is held in the same church around the Christmas and New Year season, with its own booking page, its own dates and its own ticket. It lasts about an hour. It is not the same ticket as the regular concert, so check which one you are buying, and look at its calendar for your dates before you plan a winter trip around it.
Cancelling and changing
The regular concert can be cancelled at no charge until 24 hours ahead on GetYourGuide, and payment can wait. The terms attach to the date you choose, so read them on the page for that date.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear shorts to the concert?
No. The ticket lists shorts as not allowed, so wear trousers, a skirt or a dress.
Can I film the concert?
No. Video recording is banned.
Is the Christmas concert the same ticket?
No. It is a separate concert in the same church, with its own booking page and its own dates.
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