The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
It is probably one of the most famous and best orchestras worldwide and lies at the musical heart of Vienna – the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Its headquarter is the Wiener Musikverein (the Vienna Music Association) and the orchestra was founded in 1842.
The members are selected from the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. The admission process to the orchestra consists of a number of steps one being the demonstration of his/her capabilities of at least three years at the opera and ballet. Its history spanning more than 150 years has seen a number of important musical personalities like Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein and many more. It was under Mahler that the orchestra gave its first performance abroad in 1900 at the Paris World Exposition.
The Blue Danube Waltz is one of the most well-known pieces always played on New Year
More than a century afterwards the popularity of the orchestra is unbroken. Today it is still called one of the finest in the world. In 2006 the orchestra was chosen as the finest orchestra of Europe by seven leading trade publications, and two radio stations. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra well-known for its characteristic sound which is a result of the instruments used that are different from those used by other orchestras.
One of its highlights is certainly the annual New Year’s Concert that celebrates the music of the Strauss family. This concert is broadcasted worldwide. Subscription Tickets for regular concerts of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra are currently subject of a 6-year long waiting list for week days and 13 years for weekends.
For everyone that want to turn the orchestra into a profit there is the Wiener Philharmoniker gold coin – one of world’s most famous bullion coins. It is used as an investment product and has repeatedly been named as the best selling coin in the past.
