Enjoying the Culture 169with bars. In the summer, head to the Volksgarten near the
Hofburg, where music (from techno to classical) is broadcast
into the park. Many people also head out to the Donauinsel,
the island in the middle of the Danube River. The shore is
lined with restaurants and bars. If heavy smoking bothers
you, these open-air events are good options. If you want to
party in Salzburg, check out http://www.salzburg-night.at. In
Innsbruck, discos and night clubs are listed on http://www.
innsbruck-tourismus.com. For a listing of discos and clubs in
Graz, including Irish and British bars, investigate http://www.
vrgraz.at under local-guide.
Enjoying Classical Music Today
If you love classical music, you probably could not be in a
better place. Even if you are not a great enthusiast, the quality
of the performances staged in Austria might just turn you
into one. Vienna and Salzburg are regarded as top musical
cities, but cities like Linz and Innsbruck also have much to
offer. We begin with Vienna.
Musikverein
The Musikverein, the concert hall where the Viennese
Philharmonic Orchestra and other internationally renowned
orchestras, conductors and soloists perform, is a pure delight.
It was built in the late 1860s and is most famous for the annual
New Year’s Day concert, broadcast live around the world. If
you can’t attend that concert (you have to book more than
a year in advance), you have hundreds of others to choose
from. You must attend a concert in the lavishly decorated
Grosser Saal (Main Hall). The acoustics are impeccable, which
means that even the seats behind the orchestra are well worth
the price. Depending upon the programme, tickets may be
difficult to obtain. You might want
to consider becoming a member
or purchasing a subscription. For
those of you on a tight budget,
Stehplätze provide an opportunity
to hear the greatest symphonies
in the world for very little money.
Remember that Austrians dress
up quite elegantly when they
attend the theatre, opera or a
concert. Even if you purchase a
cheap ticket for a Stehplatz, you
are expected to look nice. This
means absolutely no sneakers
or jeans.