Vienna holds a unique and central place in the history of classical music. During the height of the Habsburg Empire, the city was not only the political and cultural heart of Central Europe but also the birthplace of the Classical era in music. As the Habsburg rulers and the Viennese aristocracy were great patrons of the arts, they created an environment where composers could thrive and Vienna became a magnet for musical talent from across Europe.

In this program we will hear music from great composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, Richard Strauss, and Franz Lehár who all lived or worked in Vienna, shaping its vibrant musical life. Mozart composed many of his masterpieces there, while Brahms spent much of his career in the city, contributing to its reputation as the home of refined musical tradition. Strauss, celebrated for his operas and tone poems, and Lehár, the master of operetta, continued Vienna’s legacy into the late Romantic and early modern periods.

Vienna’s musical institutions reflect this rich heritage. The Vienna Conservatory, the Vienna State Opera, and the Musikverein – home of the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic – stand as monuments to centuries of artistic excellence.

1.30 h (c/i)