The most beautiful cities in Austria

Welcome to one of Europe’s most beautiful countries. Austria’s landscapes, regions and townscapes provide almost the full range of European variety in the centre of the continent. Austria is often associated, rightly, with winter sports, but there is so much more on offer. Its alpine areas are rugged and picturesque, but that’s far from being the whole story.

Performing arts

Music

To most Austrians, their music is preeminent in culture. Vienna was the centre of European music late in the 18th century, when musical genius was epitomised by the so-called First Viennese School of Joseph Haydn, Salzburg-born Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. The talents of these greats and others were sponsored by the leaders of imperial Austrian society.

Beethoven, who was born in Bonn, first moved to Vienna in his 20s to study under Haydn and spent most of his last 35 years there. He spanned, along with his younger contemporary Franz Schubert, the Classical and Romantic eras.
From late in the 1820s, the two Johann Strausses, the younger christened "the waltz king", were the darlings of Viennese society with their lighter musical forms.

Vienna's dominance lasted well into the 20th century and lured other German-speaking composers, including the unrelated Richard Strauss, Johannes Brahms, the conductor Gustav Mahler and Hugo Wolf (most famous for his songs). Hungarian-born Franz Liszt also studied there.

Linz native Anton Bruckner, one of the great organists, brought the Romantic era to a close with his symphonies and sacred music. The innovative modern composers Arnold Schoenberg – who was part of the Expressionist movement – Alban Berg, and Anton Webern have been called the Second Viennese School.

Hungarian-born Franz Lehár became influential in the 20th century as a composer of operettas, especially for the work known worldwide as The Merry Widow. Only since World War II has Mahler’s work been fully appreciated.

Musical ensembles

Wiener Philharmoniker: Vienna's leading orchestra is the leading force in Austrian Classical music and has been performing since 1842. Based in what could be called the world's musical capital, this means prestige.
Wiener Staatsoper: This operatic orchestra is in a close relationship with its philharmonic associate and only musicians who have performed capably with the Staatsoper for three years can apply to join the Wiener Philharmoniker.
ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien: This much younger radio orchestra performs contemporary and sometimes forgotten works and premieres, filling a different orchestral niche including operettas.
Grazer Philharmoniker: The Graz orchestra  accompanies operatic, operetta and ballet performances and plays dozens of concerts each year.
Bruckner Orchester Linz: The orchestra, named after the beloved Austrian composer, is based at the Musiktheater am Volksgarten in Bruckner’s home town. It appears in operas, operettas and other musical theatre performances as well as its concerts.
The orchestra has several ensembles and opens its rehearsals to visitors several times a year.
Mozarteumorchester Salzburg: Salzburg's orchestra doesn’t play only Mozart, operas and ballets. The concert program includes several Thursday concerts a year, Sunday matinees and summer open-air performances.
Alban Berg Quartett: The string quartet is highly rated internationally and tours and records and well as being in demand at testivals.
Vienna Boys’ Choir: Perhaps the world’s best known choir is the Wiener Sängerknaben, established by Maximilian I in 1498. The choir performs for the public, at masses in the Hofburg palace chapel, and tours extensively abroad. Travellers can attend Friday afternoon performances in the MuTh auditorium at the choir’s headquarters in Augarten.