A Concert at Kursalon offers you a charming performance of Viennese
music. The "Alt Wien" Salon Orchestra plays beautifully, re-creating
the melodies of
Salon
Orchestra "Alt Wien"
The Salon
Orchestra "Alt Wien" was founded in 1999 by Professor Udo Zwölfer,
the long-term principal leader of the Vienna Volksoper Orchestra. Just as in
the times of Johann Strauss, the orchestra plays without a conductor. It is the
principal violinist who leads the orchestra, thus achieving a historically
accurate performance of Viennese music.
Kursalon:
Imperial Spa Pavilion
In the 19th century, spas became very fashionable in Europe.
Spas provided not only water cure, but also different other diversions for
guests, and soon became meeting centre for the elite. A distinct spa culture,
in which medical reason usually played only a minor role, emerged.
In 1862, Emperor Franz Joseph I ordered the construction
of a Kursalon or spa pavilion. The Kursalon, built between 1865 and 1867, was
designed by Johann Garben in the style of the Italian Renaissance.
Officially, it served as a spa, where visitors could drink
mineral waters. At the beginning social events were prohibited. In fact, it was
a place where the aristocracy would meet and mingle and soon, the ban of fun
started to be ignored. The Kursalon served as a venue for concerts and dances
ever since 1868. Instantly, the Kursalon became Vienna′s most fashionable and
trendy place to go out. Johann Strauss, whose golden monument stands it front
of the building, used to perform here with his orchestra.
Today the Kursalon is a popular venue for balls, concerts
and parties. There are four halls on two floors in the Kursalon, a 1,000 square
meter large terrace, overlooking the City Park, and a Café-Restaurant.