Tailor-made Holidays for Music Lovers from C and H Travel Ltd
Opera and Operetta Breaks in Vienna
Opera, Operetta, Ballet and Concerts
The Vienna State Opera
The origins of the Vienna Opera date back to the beginning of the 18th Century. The present building dates from 1868. The Opera House suffered damage to the facade and some of the extensive foyer areas in the Second World War. Following restoration it re-opened in 1955.
Approximately 50 operas and 20 ballets are performed in the repertoire each season which runs from 1st September to 30th June. This is unequalled by any other Opera House in the world! Artistic standards are of the highest level. The House has a permanently engaged ensemble of singers complemented by international guest artistes.
The members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra are recruited from the State Opera Orchestra. Backstage over 250 technical staff work throughout the day and night to prepare the daily changes of programme!
Vienna State Opera House Repertoire for 2011 - 2012
The Opera and Operetta season in Vienna runs from September 2011 to the end of June 2012.
Click here to view the Vienna State Opera Programme for 2011-2012.
The Vienna Volksoper
The Vienna Volksoper is Europe's leading Operetta House and Vienna's largest theatre for opera, musicals and dance. The repertoire includes operas from the 18th, 19th and 20th century along with more than 100 performances of operettas every year. The season runs from September to July and consists of 300 performances from around 35 different productions.
After the Second World War the Volksoper provided the alternative venue for the Vienna State Opera whilst the Opera House was being restored.
Everything about the productions at the Volksoper is first rate, the principal artistes, the chorus and the orchestra are of a quality found only in Vienna!
Vienna Volksoper Repertoire for 2011 - 2012
The Volksoper Season runs from September 2011 to June 2012
- Bernstein - Candide
- Bizet -Carmen
- Dvorak - Rusalka
- Fall - Madame Pompadour
- Herman - Hello Dolly
- Humperdinck - Hansel and Gretel
- Kalman - The Gypsy Princess
- Kolonovits - Antonia and the Little Devil
- Lehar - The Land of Smiles; The Merry Widow
- Leoncavallo - Pagliacci
- Loewe - My Fair Lady
- Mozart - Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail; Die Zauberflote
- Nicolai - The Merry Wives of Windsor
- Puccini - Il Tabarro / Gianni Schicchi
- Rodgers and Hammerstein - The Sound of Music
- Rossini - La Cerentola (Cinderella)
- Sondheim - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
- Strauss, Johann - Die Fledermaus, Wiener Blut
- Strauss, Ricard - Salome
- Verdi - Rigoletto, La Traviata
The Theater an der Wien, Vienna
This historic theatre dates back to 1801. It was built by Emmanuel Schikaneder, librettist of "The Magic Flute". The theatre was the venue for many notable world premieres including Beethoven's "Fidelio" and several of his symphonies and other orchestral works.
"Die Fledermaus", "The Gypsy Baron," "The Bird Seller", "The Beggar Sudent", "The Merry Widow" and "The Land of Smiles" (amongst many others) all received their premiere performances here.
In the 1980's the Theatre was the home for large scale musicals such as "Cats".
In 2006 the Theatre was re-inaugurated as an Opera House, as part of the Mozart bi-centenary celebrations, and is now known as Vienna's "New" Opera House.
The repertoire for the 2011-12 season is as follows:
- Britten - The Rape of Lucretia
- Catan - Il Postino
- Handel - Semele; Rodelinda, Regina De' Longobardi
- Kurt Weill - The Seven Deadly Sins
- Mozart - La Finta Gardiniera
- Poulenc - Dialogues Des Carmelites
- Rameau - Castor et Pollux
- Strauss - Ariadne auf Naxos
Summer Operetta at the Theresianum, Vienna
The Theresianum is located near to the Karlsplatz in Vienna, and close to the tram stop for Baden. This is the location for the Viennese Summer Operetta, now in its fourth year.
For summer 2012 the productions will be:
Lehar's well loved operetta "The Land of Smiles"
and "The Polish Wedding" by Joseph Beer.
Summer Opera and Operetta at Schonbrunn Palace 2012
The Theatre at Schonbrunn Palace
We have no information on any plans for summer 2012 as yet. We will annouce details as soon as these become available.
The theatre at Schonbrunn dates from 1747. Situated in the western wing of the Palace it was originally used by the Empress Maria Theresia for private Court performances. The theatre was refurbished by Napoleon in 1809 and electric lighting was installed in 1898.
Summer Opera at Klosterneuberg Abbey, near Vienna
The Augustininan Abbey of Klosterneuberg is situated to the north of Vienna.
Each summer Opera performances are given in the Abbey grounds. Performances by the young professional singers are of an exceptionally high standard. For summer 2012 the chosen Opera will be Donizetti's Opera "Don Pasquale".
The Abbey itself is open to the public and offers fascinating tours of the magnificent Baroque interior.
Klosterneuberg can be reached by public transport or taxi from Vienna.
Concerts in Vienna
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
The following orchestras and ensembles perform regularly in Vienna. Just contact us with your preferred dates and we will let you know what is available during that period.
- The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - One of the greatest orchestras in the world.
- The Mozart Ensemble - Chamber concerts in Mozart's former residence.
- Vienna Imperial Orchestra - Viennese Waltzes, Polkas and Marches with orchestra, singers and dancers.
- Vienna Mozart Orchestra - Concerts of Viennese Music in various venues including The Golden Hall.
- Vienna Hofburg Orchestra - Concerts of Viennese Music in the Imperial Hofburg Palace.
- Vienna Waltzer Orchestra - Concerts of Viennese Music in the Palffy Palace.
- Orchestra "Old Vienna" - Concerts in the Kur Salon in the Stadt Park.
- Schonbrunn Palace Orchestra - Daily concerts of Viennese Music in the beautiful Schonbrunn Palace.
- Schonbrunn Palace Summer Operetta - Performances in the private theatre in beautiful Schonbrunn Palace are given daily in July and August.
- The Spanish Riding School
- Vienna Residence Orchestra
- The Vienna Boys' Choir
The Stadt Theater in Baden
Apart from the Summer Operetta Festival in Baden, the town's beautiful Stadt Theater offers a full programme of operetta, musicals and drama.
Baden is easily reached from the centre of Vienna by tram (the "Badnerbahn"). The journey takes just under one hour and the service runs regularly throughout the day and late into the evening so there is no difficulty with getting back to Vienna after an evening performance. A regular bus service also operates between Vienna and Baden.
If you are staying in Vienna during July or August 2012 it is also possible to attend the following performances:
"Die Fledermaus" at the Lakeside Festival at Morbisch -
Dedicated transport by coach from Vienna is available.
"Carmen" at the St Margarethen Opera Festival -
Dedicated transport by coach from Vienna is available.
"Countess Maritza" at the Baden Operetta Festival
"The Three Musketeers" at the Baden Operetta Festival
Baden is easily reached by tram from Vienna.
For more information about the above Festivals
please click here.