Small Group Highlight: Salzburg Classical Music Concert

The Austrian city of Salzburg enjoys a deep-seated connection to the arts – particularly to the world of classical music. Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756 before eventually becoming one of the most prolific musical geniuses the world has ever seen.

Mozart Statue on Mozartplatz in Salzburg | ©Tourismus Salzburg

Brass band performing in the old city of Salzburg | ©Tourismus Salzburg, Foto: Breitegger Günter

Salzburg’s identity as an artistic and musical hotbed continued to develop into the 19th century, with Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber penning the iconic Christmas carol “Silent Night” in the city in 1818. Then, in 1920, composer Richard Strauss, writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal, and theatre director Max Reinhardt founded the annual Salzburg Festival as a way to use music and theater to promote peace after the widespread devastation of World War I. The city’s rich artistic heritage continues to this day, as we discover on our Alpine Splendor: Switzerland and Austria small group tour when we attend an intimate classical music performance in famed Mirabell Palace.

Mirabell Palace

After checking into our Salzburg hotel and beginning to explore the city, we gather for dinner before heading to Mirabell Palace for the evening’s performance. Originally built in 1606 for Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Mirabell Palace today functions as a municipal building for the city of Salzburg, with the palace’s ornate Marble Hall serving as a popular venue for weddings, ceremonies, and concerts. Upon arrival, we stroll through the stunning Mirabell Gardens – which we explore more fully on the following day, and which you may recognize from some of the most iconic scenes in The Sound of Music – to the Marble Hall.

Entrance to Mirabell Gardens | ©Tourismus Salzburg GmbH, Photo: Patrick Langwallner

Mirabell Gardens with Hohensalzburg in the background

Pegasus Fountain in the Mirabell Gardens | ©Tourismus Salzburg GmbH, Photo: Patrick Langwallner

The opulent Marble Hall, ready to seat guests

Concertgoers waiting for the performance to begin

There, we take our seats in the first four rows, and over the course of the next hour, the performers treat us to a program that “carries on the spirit of the Mozarts and the important Salzburg musical tradition through their skill and virtuosity.” It’s a truly special small group experience, and one that cements Salzburg’s reputation as “The Stage of the World.”

You too can join us for this small group highlight on Alpine Splendor: Switzerland and Austria – simply submit an online reservation request or call us at 1-888-370-6765 and one of our Travel Counselors will be happy to assist you. And click here to see some of the other small group highlights we feature on our tours.