The Wiener Mozart Konzert has stood for musical quality, authenticity and Viennese tradition since 1986. Four decades shaped by music, passion and international concert culture.
What began as a single concert in Vienna quickly developed into an established concert series with an international audience. Early tours abroad marked the beginning of its worldwide presence, while performances at the Vienna Musikverein and the Vienna State Opera laid the foundation for its position today in Vienna’s most renowned concert halls.
Today, the Wiener Mozart Konzert is a firm fixture of Vienna’s cultural scene. With several concerts per week and more than 200,000 guests every year, it combines musical excellence with a refined and authentic presentation of Viennese Classicism.
Four decades of Wiener Mozart Konzert – from its beginnings in 1986 to an internationally renowned concert experience.
The first Wiener Mozart Konzert takes place in Vienna – the start of an international success story.
Already in its founding year, the Wiener Mozart Konzert performs abroad, including in Italy.
International expansion with a concert tour through Japan.
Move to the Vienna Konzerthaus and first concert with over 1,000 guests.
First concert at the Vienna Musikverein – today one of the most important venues.
Six-week tour through Japan and Korea with a total of 25 concerts.
Anniversary with open-air concerts at Schönbrunn and up to 20,000 guests in Frankfurt.
First performance at the Vienna State Opera – alongside the Musikverein a key venue of the concert series.
Opening of the office on Kärntner Straße with a direct view of the Vienna State Opera.
Performances by pianist Sophie Neubauer at the Vienna Musikverein.
Introduction of an in-house ticketing system and modernization of sales.
Up to six concerts per week – a significant expansion of the format.
For the first time, the Vienna Mozart Concert welcomes over 200,000 visitors in one year.
For the first time in its 34-year history, no concerts take place.
Concert operations resume after 20 months and the next generation takes over.
First concert abroad after the pause in Athens, establishing a new annual tradition.
For the first time, the Vienna Mozart Concert is led by a female conductor.
New ticket shop and special concerts with Bösendorfer at the Musikverein.
Launch of the anniversary year with new concert formats at the Vienna Konzerthaus.
Behind four decades of concert history lie countless performances, encounters and unforgettable moments. A few figures offer a glimpse into the remarkable history of the orchestra:
since its founding, more than 2,400 of them at the Vienna Musikverein.
equivalent to more than 187 days of continuous performance.
almost 19 days of pure waltz sound
over the past four decades.
been part of the Vienna Mozart Orchestra to date.
carefully styled over 40 years.
Notable
Star Guests
Guests at the concerts have included Hillary Clinton, Nicolas Cage, Mel Gibson, as well as members of European royal families and many other international personalities.
Hollywood
at the Vienna State Opera
During one of the orchestra’s concerts, a scene from the film “Mission: Impossible” starring Tom Cruise was filmed on the roof of the Vienna State Opera.
Funny
Tour Stories
During a tour of Japan in 1991, the promoter insisted that the musicians appear in strict Mozart style: dark beards had to be dyed white, and round glasses were mandatory.
Gerald Grünbacher founded the Wiener Mozart Konzert in 1986. That same year he met his wife Maria, who quickly joined the company and shaped it from the very beginning. Gerald worked as a professional musician in the stage orchestra of the Vienna State Opera and with the Vienna Philharmonic, bringing his musical network and artistic vision to the company. Maria, who had studied engineering in Brazil, took on the technical and organizational side: among other things, she programmed the entire ticketing system herself and was the very first “Mozart seller” on Vienna’s streets — an image that remains part of Vienna’s cityscape to this day.
Sophie Grünbacher (now Sophie Neubauer), the daughter of the family, is also carrying on the musical tradition. The talented pianist performed with the Vienna Mozart Orchestra in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein at the age of 15 in 2005.
Since 2020, Philipp Grünbacher has led the company into its second generation. In 2024, he founded the ‘Strauss Dinner Show’ at the ‘Mirage’ in Vienna’s Prater. The following year, he presented the ‘Imperial Gala Concert’ at Palais Auersperg, a ‘best of’ concert featuring the soloists of the Vienna Mozart Orchestra.
What began in 1986 as an idea among a few musicians has become a family business that embodies Vienna’s musical tradition, carries it forward, and adapts it to new formats.
Join us to experience Viennese Classicism in all its glory, right where it originated: in the heart of Vienna.
