An evening at the theatre

In the evening, the capital’s musical spirit resonates in venues once reserved exclusively for the aristocracy. This is the case with the Orangery at Schönbrunn Palace: it was here, on 7 February 1786, that Emperor Joseph II organised the historic musical contest between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, which has gone down in European history as a legendary event. Today, that magnificent aristocratic orangery hosts daily concerts at Schönbrunn Palace, where a classical orchestra brings to life the famous arias of Mozart and Johann Strauss, accompanied by opera singers. The curtain finally falls on this lesser-known side of Vienna at the Theater an der Wien. Opened in 1801 by Emanuel Schikaneder, Mozart’s impresario and librettist, the building was home to Ludwig van Beethoven, who lived here and conducted the triumphant premiere of his *Fidelio*. Freshly restored and awarded the title of ‘Opera House of the Year’, the building combines the perfect acoustics of its galleries with a bold scenic vision. Climbing up to its terrace at dusk, overlooking the bustling Naschmarkt whilst sipping a glass of chilled Grüner Veltliner, is the most memorable way to bid farewell to the city.