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If there’s one building in the world that’s purely dedicated to everything about music, it has to be Vienna’s House of Music – Haus der Musik. House of Music Vienna Austria is an award-winning and only one of its kind museum where people can experience a discovery tour of music and sound.
The House of Music was built in 2000 in the former palace of the Archduke Karl and where the founder of the Vienna Philharmonic, Otto Nicolai also lived at one point in time.
House of Music Museum Vienna
Situated in the city center, this modern and interactive museum features six floors that showcase computer simulation, audio recordings, and mixed media. And the place is not just ideal for adults because even kids can learn so much here.
It covers an area of about 54,000 square feet with displays and presentations on anything and everything about music and sound. From the earliest forms, instruments used and developed by man, the science of sound and hearing right to the innovations in the present time.
Here visitors do not only get to hear sound and music, they get to experience using all the senses especially with the interactive displays. There is a lot of things to explore at the House of Music. A highlight of this museum is the archives of the renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
The first floor of the museum is exclusively dedicated to the Vienna Philharmonic spanning its entire history and its outstanding performances worldwide.
There is even a concert hall where visitors can hear excerpts for the Viennese New Year’s Concert and the Schonbrunn Summer Night Concert.
On the second floor is a “sonosphere” where visitors get to hear the sounds from a mother’s womb.
The third floor is a tribute to the musical giants like Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler and Schubert to name a few. There is even an interactive computer programme, the “Namadeus” which lets visitors play with the musical game KV516f created by Mozart.
Another interesting display on the fourth floor is the Virtual Conductor where you can have the chance to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic. Beware though – if the tempo is wrong the virtual orchestra shows their disapproval.
Haus der Musik Vienna Entrance Fees
The museum’s exact address is at Seilerstatte 30 in the city center.
Tourists can visit the House of Music any day starting at 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.
| Single tickets | Price |
| adult | € 14 |
| schoolchildren from 12 years old | € 10 |
| students under 27 years old | € 10 |
| seniors from 60 years old | € 10 |
| Children under 12 years | € 6 |
| Children under 3 years | free |
| Family ticket (Max. 2 adults and 3 children under 12 years) | € 29 |
Visitors here can also learn more about the famous Austrian musicians such as:
- Beethoven
- Haydn
- Strauss
- Mozart
This is the right place to get immersed in their well-known masterpieces.
| Group tickets (Valid from 10 people) | Price |
| Groups regular | € 10 |
| School groups from 12 years | € 7 |
| Children and school groups under 12 years | € 6 |
When it comes to ticket options get more info at the House of music ticket section.
An interesting features of the museum worth experiencing are the vibrating walls and gigantic musical instruments that can be played.
House of Music Vienna – 4th Floor (the Virtual Conductor)
Are you fond of Vienna’s classical music especially those created by its world-renowned musicians such as Johann Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
Have you ever wished you could learn the ways to become a conductor of an orchestra?
If you answered YES to these questions, you’re not far away from making your wish a reality.
In Vienna, the Haus der Musik (House of Music) Museum features a new attraction called Virtual Conductor. This section of the museum provides an opportunity to interested visitors to work with the internationally famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra although not really face to face.
The Virtual Conductor area has a digital music desk and a high definition touch screen which shows the orchestra. When a person at the desk moves his baton, the orchestra will follow the movements. Right now, this digital technology created by Jan Borcher of the Aachen University features various classical music including Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik as well as the Radetsky March by Johann Strauss.
As to how the technology works, the conductor’s baton is equipped with an infrared such that when it’s being moved by an individual at the desk, the orchestra will adapt to the style, speed, and volume. And as a consolation, the person trying out the baton will get rousing applause at the end of his trial.
People might think that conducting an orchestra is an easy task but the museum director says it takes a lot of practice especially since the audience of classical music is normally strict about what they listen to.
If you’re off to the Austrian capital of Vienna, be sure to check this Virtual Conductor feature of the Haus der Musik.
