If you are interested in music, then Vienna is the right city in which to learn German and at the same time enjoy classical music. But lovers of rock and pop also get their money’s worth in Vienna alongside their German course.
TIP: Open-air festival after your German course
The Donauinselfest in Vienna (Danube Island Festival) is central Europe’s biggest open-air festival, and takes place every year in the second half of June. The musical spectrum is as broad as music itself. As well as international rock and pos stars, Austrian artists also appear on Danube Island. Entry is free. How to get there from your German course at DeutschAkademie Vienna? Just take the subway U1, a few steps from your German course.
Enjoy Classical music in Vienna after your German course
The greatest musical figures in history lived and worked in Vienna: Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss, Gustav Mahler, Arnold Schönberg, Alban Berg and Anton Webern.
Because of the importance of these musicians the tradition is especially maintained in Vienna by regular concert events and festivals, very close to your German course. Concerts and festivals for classical and modern music mostly take place in the Musikverein (one street away from your German course) or in the Konzerthaus.
But Vienna is also the capital of the waltz. The Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert (one street away from your German course) is the most famous classical concert in the world. It takes place at the beginning of every new year in the Musikverein and always ends in the traditional way: with the Blue Danube waltz by Johann Strauss Junior.
The most famous composers of Vienna: experience Vienna after your German course
After your German course you will have the opportunity to learn about famous musicians of Vienna.
Joseph Haydn
was born in 1732 in Rohrau in Lower Austria and brought to Vienna as a choirboy in 1740. After leaving the Vienna Boys’ Choir in 1749 he lived in an attic in the house at Kohlmarkt 11 and earned his living as a dance fiddler, serenader and organist. From 1758 he worked as a Kapellmeister. In 1856 he died in his house in Vienna.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
was born in 1756 in Salzburg and settled in Vienna in 1781. He was already composing at the age of six and inspired the Empress Maria Theresia with a harpsichord concerto. Mozart died in 1791 in Vienna. There is an tombstone of honour in the Zentralfriedhof, although he was actually buried in the St Marxer cemetery. However, only the approximate position of his grave is known.
Ludwig van Beethoven
was born in 1770 in Bonn in Germany and settled in Vienna in 1792. For a short while he had lessons from Joseph Haydn. In 1827 he died and was buried in Vienna. He has a grave of honour in the Zentralfriedhof. If you do a German course in Vienna you can visit the Zentralfriedhof. Go there by tram!
Franz Schubert
was born in 1797 in Vienna, and was like Joseph Haydn a choirboy in the Vienna Boys’ Choir and died in 1828 in Vienna. He also has a grave of honour in the Zentralfriedhof. (Go there by tram after your German course).
Johann Strauss Junior
was born in Vienna in 1825, died in 1899 and is buried in the Zentralfriedhof (Go there by tram after your German course). Because he wrote the Blue Danube waltz, he is also known as the Waltz King.
Gustav Mahler
was born in 1860 in the Czech Republic and died in 1911 in Vienna. From 1897 he was conductor of the Vienna State Opera, and between 1898 and 1907 he also ran it. Mahler brought many world stars of the time to Vienna, and brought a golden age to the Vienna State Opera (just opposite of your German course at DeutschAkademie Vienna).
Arnold Schönberg
was born in Vienna in 1874, and died in 1951 in Los Angeles. He is the founder of twelve-tone music and of the Second Vienna School. Also important for the Second Vienna School were the Viennese composers Alban Berg (1885 to 1935) and Anton Webern (1883 to 1945).
Do a German course in Vienna and enjoy music! The opera house is just opposite your German course.