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Things to do in Austria, Austria: The Best Operas
As home to majestic mountains, opulent palaces, and high culture, Austria's attractions are classically sumptuous and enduring. But beyond the waltzes, the strudels, the alpine summits, and Habsburg architecture, its modern cities are proof of just how easily Austria combines the contemporary with the historic.
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1. Salzburg Marionette Theater
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 370 reviews
Famous for its puppet shows, this theater has been delighting children since 1913. It is also home to performances of opera at various times throughout the year.
Reviewed By FrankO829 - Melbourne, Australia
Attended marionette theatre to see Mozart’s magic flute puppetry was masterful a truly wonderful experience English subtitles help Theatre with a difference and an ongoing traditional entertainment The puppets are works of art in themselves Recommend
2. Grosses Festspielhaus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By ameliacatproko - Calabasas, United States
We attended opera, recital and symphony performances in the Grosses Festspielhaus. The seating was reasonably comfortable and the acoustics were fine. The performances during the Salzburg Festival were topnotch.
3. Volksoper
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 388 reviews
The Volksoper Wien, located just ten minutes outside the city centre, stages operettas "Die Fledermaus - The Bat", "Merry Widow", etc.) as well as operas ("The Magic Flute", "La Traviata", etc.), classical musicals ("My Fair Lady", "The Whizard of Oz", etc.) and ballet ("The Snow Queen", etc.). The season, which runs from September to July, consists of some 300 performances divided among some 35 different productions and revivals from previous years. Vienna and operetta - people from far and near will join the two whenever one comes up. Intriguing melodies, swirling dancers, the joy of life - all come together in the classical Viennese Operetta. Much of the music known and loved the world over from composers such as Johann Strauß, Franz Lehár, Emmerich Kálmán ... come from operettas such as "Die Fledermaus", The Merry Widow", "Countess Mariza".
Reviewed By sarahmcole - New York City, United States
I saw The Magic Flute at the Volksoper two evenings ago and it was absolutely fantastic. The formality was slightly relaxed compared to past Opera house visits creating great atmosphere for anyone looking to take in the beautiful art without the pomp and circumstance. Also I was able to get 4th row center tickets for just €120
4. Theater L.E.O. - Letztes Erfreuliches Operntheater
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
5. Bregenzer Festspiele
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
6. Schloss Esterhazy
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 245 reviews
Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt is one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Austria and presents a fascinating view of the resplendent life once lived at the court of the Princes Esterházy But the palace is still the hub of the cultural scene today and regularly provides the picturesque backdrop for festivities and social events
7. Graz Opera
8. Johann Strauss Konzerte Sofiensale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By JamesS398 - Brough, United Kingdom
For many years we have always promised ourselves to attend a Struass or Mozart concert whilst in Vienna and to find a concert that had both at the same time was just the ticket. We purchased our tickets on line via Trip Advisor and you have to visit the building to exchange your voucher into ticket which can be done on the night of the event. The concert hall building was excellent and once inside you were directed to your seats and we were in the second row from the stage so the atmosphere was even more electric. The small orchestra performed outstanding pieces from both composers and we were also treated to several songs by a lady opera singer and also ballet which featured both a man and young woman who definitely knew how to entertain us. The experience overall was brilliant and could have sat there for hours and hours, but unfortunately the concert only last two hours with a 15 minute interval for refreshments which can be taken on the balcony of the building. What a great evening and a memorable one as it was our Wedding Anniversary and what a place to spend it. Definitely something not to be missed whilst in Vienna.
9. Vienna Supreme Concerts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Vienna Supreme Concerts at world famous Albertina Museum and other beautiful Venues in Vienna STRAUSS - MOZART - SCHUBERT WALTZ - OPERA & OPERETTA CONCERTS Program Highlights: • The Bat (Die Fledermaus) • The Sound of Music • The Magic Flute • Turkish March a.k.a Rondo Alla Turca • The Blue Danube Waltz • The Radetzky March
10. Kammeroper
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 10 reviews
The Kammeroper in Vienna has been firmly established as part of the city's cultural life for nearly sixty years and aims to retain the spirit and character that its founder, Hans Gabor, wanted it to have. Since the 2012/13 season, the Theater an der Wien has been responsible for the Kammeroper programme and presents opera productions and portrait concerts. The broad spectrum of the intimate chamber opera repertoire complements the Theater an der Wien's programme and also picks up on some dramatic focal points of the operas presented there.
Reviewed By MuscoviteVT - Moscow, Russia
Finding this tiny theatre is quite a quest! I walked to and fro, I dropped at nearby shops, I even asked a guide, there was a tourist group close to the Greek church – no use, no one appears to have heard of it! At last, when it was already getting dark, I suddenly spotted the entrance – there were no lights there at day time. The trick is that the entrance is in the side lane, not in the street, very difficult to find unless you know where it is. Now you do :)) The start was clearly not the most encouraging. But that wasn’t all! The night before I was at Staatsoper, my first theatre visit in Vienna. And it proved to be absolutely awful! I could never imagine to encounter such rudeness, I wrote about that unfortunate experience in my Staatsoper review. Of course, the next day heading to Kammeroper I was very much on the defensive – who knows, what if they have all theatres like that here? Luckily for me – and, trust me, for them too – the atmosphere at Kammeroper was completely different. The staff was very friendly and competent – maybe they are students and work in their spare time? Anyway, the girl in the cloakroom knew everything about this particular opera, and even found a booklet for with the description of their other productions. To say that it was a classic opera would be an understatement. It’s a 18th century work, Händel‘s ‘Giustino’, very rarely on stage, in fact, I do not know if ever in this century. A very complicated plot, you can look it up online; likewise unusual voices for our times - an alto, a male soprano, two contraltos, God knows where to get them these days... Well, the point was that it was sort of test performance. They had a group of students, and it was to be like an exam for them, if I understood it right. There was only one professional singer, very young, too, but at least he was resident either at this theatre or at Theater an der Wien; his was the title role, a countertenor. You’ll see him on the photos in the centre, in funny shorts. Yes, the stage settings and costumes were ‘modernized’, as it is very much in fashion now. I am not in raptures about it, in fact, I find it rather cheap! Especially in a beautiful location like this… But with young singers it was bearable, sort of a good-natured student party :)) The cost of the tickets was a feel-good factor, too – just about 20 euro, incredible for Vienna which is generally no budget city. I don’t remember the prices in the theatre cafe, it’s downstairs, must be quite modest, like the whole place. Make sure you have cash on you, as far as I remember, they don’t accept cards. The cloak-room is free of charge, and it’s the right thing to do, to my mind – one cannot sit in one’s winter coat and fur boots through the whole performance, can one? This isn’t a railway station after all! They have a WC on the same floor, behind the cloak-room. But I would rather use the one downstairs, it’s less crowded. Both are in a very good shape. When I was choosing the seats I first wanted to try the balcony, but it appears this space is for personnel only, I did not see anyone from the audience there. Then I considered sitting as central as possible – on the sides the sound may be distorted. A few rows at the back of the hall are a bit elevated and provide a fairly good view, you will see it on one of the photos. And note, the seats are arranged chequerwise, otherwise the stalls would be only to listen, not to watch… Oh, just recalled – the opera was in Italian, which language the captions were in I can’t remember, but it didn’t matter, I always read the libretto before heading to the theatre. And, by the way, isn’t it remarkable - out of 9 reviews for this away-from-beaten-paths opera house 5 are in Russian...
