If you find yourself drawn to the sublime in the music capital of Europe (which is natural), head straight for the House of Music.
Housed in a restored building that once belonged to Archduke Karl, the museum is always full of enthusiastic visitors. And most of them are children. It is worth noting that the number of visitors to the museum increases every month, which shows how popular the House of Music is.
Young music lovers are immediately drawn to the Haus der Musik. In the museum's inner courtyard, they are greeted from the start by the music computer rides.
This is the start of a never-ending series of intellectual pleasures that not only children but also adults will enjoy. Would you like to be the greatest and most powerful, the beacon of every orchestra — the conductor?
With the electronic conductor's baton, you get to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for a few minutes! Be prepared for applause and... tomatoes — if you fail, the musicians will tell you what they think of your conducting.
The five-storey House of Music is full of unusual surprises and original displays. Here you can get your hands on a variety of musical instruments, enjoy the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra exhibition, immerse yourself in the Sonosphere and the Sea of Voices chamber music room, and experience the Forest of Consciousness, where any surface can be made to sound with a wave of the hand.
A particularly popular attraction for young visitors to Vienna's Haus der Musikverein is the interactive sound booth, where unusual sound experiments can be carried out. It's a hands-on music lesson where the different sound waves and frequencies are vividly illustrated and high and low notes are explained.
There's no better lesson for children interested in music! On the third floor of the museum, there are stands dedicated to famous musicians closely associated with Vienna.
The auditorium of the House of Music regularly hosts children's recitals and concerts. The repertoire is varied and wide ranging, from the classics "Mozart for children" to fun interactive performances. Every Tuesday during the summer holidays there are interesting guided tours of the museum with special discounts for school children.
Haus der Musik does not have a single tour guide, but this is not a problem for tourists. Visitors are given an audio guide at the entrance. As the collection of this magical, interactive museum in Vienna is getting richer every year, we recommend that you plan a few hours for your visit.
And some other useful information:
- The Haus der Musik also hosts various concerts, so keep an eye out for the events list.
- All information on displays, inscriptions near the exhibits, text on the screen, etc. is presented in German and English.
- The museum has a free cloakroom for bags and coats (but you can make a voluntary donation). The staff always seem surprisingly friendly and helpful.
- The Haus der Musik is full of interesting things. As well as the usual souvenirs (CDs, books, etc.), be prepared to see musical socks and cufflinks, as well as "musical" pasta.
- Some of the interactive stalls are very popular with visitors. In high season you may have to wait to wave your baton at the first violin of the Vienna Philharmonic. We recommend arriving early or at the end of the working day.