House of Music

The House of Music (Haus der Musik) is an interactive sound museum located in a historical palace in the Old Town of Vienna. In the 19th century, it was home to its founder, German composer Otto Nicolai, who composed his opera Merry Wives of Windsor there and also established the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The first floor houses a historical archive displaying, for example, the decree of establishment of the Vienna Philharmonic, the programme of the first philharmonic concert of 1842 and the batons of some famous conductors. The second floor is dedicated to experiencing sound phenomena using interactive exhibits. The third floor displays a collection of personal items, costumes, historic documents and other items that belonged to famous composers that were connected with Vienna, such as Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. The fourth floor houses a multimedia installation called the “Virtostage”. Here, visitors can try to virtually conduct a 15-minute opera using a video projection that was recorded by the members of the Vienna Philharmonic. The museum has a unique glass roof where visitors can refresh themselves in the self-service café “Nicolai”. The House of Music does not have its own car park.