Welcome to Haus der Musik, the unique interactive Sound Museum.
Haus der Musik is an interactive sound museum which provides a new approach to music on a playful as well as scientific level. For years the aim has been to provide knowledge and understanding as well as open-mindedness and enthusiasm when dealing with music. Since its opening in 2000, Haus der Musik has welcomed over 3 million visitors.
After it opened its doors to the public, Maestro Zubin Mehta assumed HAUS DER MUSIK’s honorary chairmanship. What inspired him to do so was the cheerful and direct presentation of the musical material that brings people with a wide range of music tastes together, gets them talking, grabs their interest and counteracts any preconceived notions associated with encountering music from an intellectual and musicological point of view.
Birthplace of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
At one time the former Palais of Archduke Charles, today’s Haus der Musik was also the residence of Otto Nicolai (1810 – 1849), who composed the opera “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and founded the Vienna Philharmonic concerts here. On the “Beletage” first floor, the only historically preserved rooms in the house, the Vienna Philharmonic present original documents from their history.
Vienna has always been a city of musical innovation and a place where people were not afraid to try the unconventional. At Haus der Musik we seek to reflect Vienna‘s pioneering character in terms of music by offering our visitors inventive and novel approaches deliberately distinct from classical music education.
Conveying music in its vast variety interactively and innovatively.
Besides historical aspects we put a particular emphasis on the interplay of natural and electronic sound production and the relationship between analogue and digital. We seek to build bridges between tradition and innovation. Playfully create your own waltz by casting the dice, hear your name as an original composition by Mozart, be part of a multimedia opera or conduct the world famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. This is a place, where the great composers of classical music are experienced in a completely new and unique way.
In addition to our interactive exhibition, Haus der Musik offers a dense programme including live concerts, artist talks, and a varied agenda particularly for children as well as music festivals. To host all these activities and more we dispose of an event hall and our magnificent glass-roofed inner courtyard.
Support children and young people to have access to music. Worldwide.
In 2015, Haus der Musik has gone international. We are the first Austrian museum to have signed an international license agreement enabling the creation of a music museum based on the Viennese model in Mexico, the Casa de la Música de Viena en Puebla. Furthermore, in cooperation with our partner the Lang Lang International Music Foundation – for whom we also act as ambassador – we have presented Stairplay, a new music education project. At its centre lies the transformation of a grand staircase into an interactive piano. Haus der Musik has also supported public schools by acquiring new instruments which they urgently needed. With ideas of the like we seek to stimulate children and adolescents’ curiosity, spark their enthusiasm and instil in them a sense of openness for music. We consider our cooperation with the Lang Lang Foundation as well as the creation of the Mexican “Casa de la Música” as wonderful opportunities to spread our ideas internationally.
My team and I wish you an inspiring, exciting and fun visit at Haus der Musik.
Simon K. Posch
Director of Haus der Musik
