Situated on Openring, the Vienna State Opera House embodies both the whimsical elements and traditional history of the city. The building, which dates back to 1869, boasts the original Renaissance arched style on its facade, complemented by playful notes like the two flying horses (harmony and the muse of poetry) designed by architect Ernst Julius Hähnel.

Naturally, it is here that Vienna’s tonied classical music pedigree comes alive. For example, depictions of Mozart’s Magic Flute can be seen in the cycle of Moritz von Schwind on the building’s loggia or in the Rudolf Eisenmenger-designed Gobelin tapestries inside. The latter is located in the 120-meter long hall named after Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, whose debut conducting performance at the Opera House was on May 11, 1897.

Its program features local and international acts, with a particular emphasis on German operas like Faust, written by Charles Gounod, and based loosely on the 1808 work by Goethe.