170 CultureShock! Austria
These cheap tickets are sold shortly before the performance,
but you should arrive early because a long line can form.
Then you will be allowed entry into a standing room area at
the back of the hall. Once the show begins and you become
lost in the music, you won’t even notice that you are standing
as the hours slip by.Dinner For You?
After enjoying a wonderful performance, there is no better way
to end the evening than to enjoy a quick dinner at a restaurant or
coffeehouse. You will notice many other patrons flocking to nearby
establishments and you should go immediately if you want to secure
a table. Although it is quite normal, Susan remembers doing a double-
take the first time she saw a woman in a long evening gown and fur
coat eating a Frankfurter with her husband. If you’re not that hungry,
then go to enjoy a coffee and a scrumptious pastry.Konzerthaus
The Konzerthaus is another beautiful place to enjoy first-
class musical performances. This is home to the Vienna
Symphony Orchestra, but other world-class artists, not
necessarily classical ones, also take the stage. The building
houses three concert halls: the Grosser Saal, the Mozartsaal
and the Schubertsaal.Staatsoper
The Staatsoper (State Opera House), just a few blocks
from the Musikverein, is another jewel. Located along the
Ringstrasse at the end of Kärntner Strasse, it was the first of
the great buildings on the Ring. It was completed in 1869 and
opened with Mozart’s Don Giovanni. It was nearly destroyed
in 1945 after being bombed during World War II, but was
rebuilt and reopened in 1955 after the occupying forces had
left. The Staatsoper’s programme changes daily and offers
an incredible variety of operas and ballets over the course
of the year (September through June). Tickets go on sale
exactly one month before the performance, and again a
subscription would ensure you a ticket. The Staatsoper also
has Stehplätze, some of which have excellent locations. The