Setting the Stage for Austria’s Palace Festivals

The special atmosphere of the Baroque palace owned by the counts of Esterházy inspired Joseph Haydn’s music. The composer was a court musician, bandmaster and composer at the court of the Esterházys in Eisenstadt from 1761 until 1803. The Herbstgold Festival is now held in the same hall that saw the premieres of Haydn’s works so many centuries ago.

The Festival’s repertoire ranges from classical music performances to orchestra performances, Jazz evenings and world music.

During summer, the Baroque gem Halbturn Palace in Burgenland is the venue for the Halbturn Palace Concerts. It is hard to say what is more enchanting: the high-calibre concerts or the scenery. Performances are held in the historic hall, which is graced with the famous fresco "Allegorie der Zeit und des Lichtes," which roughly translates to "Allegory of Time and Light". The magnificent fresco hall was commissioned in 1765 by Empress Maria Theresia and executed by Franz Anton Maulbertsch.

The oldest music festival in Burgenland guarantees an intimate setting and an outstanding program between classical music and jazz.

The Carinthian Summer was founded in 1969 and ranks among Austria's most important music festivals. The variety of concerts ranges from orchestra concerts, jazz and vocal music to staged concerts, sacral operas (Kirchenopern) and picnic concerts. Literature and the fine arts also have a place at the Carinthian Summer Festival.

The festival is held in natural and historic locations throughout Carinthia, such as Tentschach Palace and Bach Palace. Each year, the unique atmosphere of the Carinthian Summer attracts performers and visitors from all over the world.

The Taggenbrunner Festival is an annual highlight in St. Veit an der Glan in Carinthia. The event is a unique combination of culture and culinary highlights amid the picturesque setting of Taggenbrunn Castle. Every summer, visitors from all over the world enjoy the program of high-quality concerts, opera performances, plays and readings underneath the roofed courtyard of the castle while dining on regional specialities and wines.

For more than 15 years now, music lovers have been diving into the world of music at the Grafenegg Festival – one of the most renowned festivals worldwide. International stars such as director and pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, soprano Anna Netrebko or the Vienna Philharmonic, as well as special introductory productions, are hallmarks of the festival. 

The open-air concerts are held on the stage of the so-called cloud tower, the „Wolkenturm.“ It was specifically constructed for the festival on the premises of Grafenegg Castle and boasts excellent acoustics. 

The hallmark of the KlassikFestivals Schloss Kirchstetten is performances in small, intimate settings. Operas in the Italian Belcanto tradition, in which patrons are integrated into the performance, or the cycle "Kammermusik: gehört-erzählt "with its candle-light settings, are among the enchanting highlights of the KlassikFestivals.

The open-air concert "Klassik unter Sternen "is an annual favourite with audiences. Another highlight is the festival's "Symphonic Rock" open-air production, combining the symphonic orchestra's sound power with a rock concert's untamed energy.

The Schloss Weitra Festival invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of musical theatre. Set against the striking backdrop of this historic castle, it offers a diverse programme of operettas and musicals each year. These atmospheric productions provide a rich opportunity to experience art and culture up close while taking in the unique ambience of this historic venue.

Nestled within the scenic Waldviertel landscape, the festival promises an unforgettable experience for all the senses.

The Steyr Music Festival is set in the impressive Lamberg Castle, perched on a rock above the Upper Austrian town of Steyr, where the Enns and Steyr rivers meet. Once a defensive moat protecting against enemy troops, this historic space has transformed over the centuries into a setting for cultural enjoyment, hosting the festival each summer. Music lovers can enjoy world premieres and original productions, with concerts spanning classical to contemporary music, as well as open-air cinema under the stars.

What makes the KLANGLICHT Festival in Graz so special is the combination of light art, colours and music, which turns Eggenberg Palace – a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site – and its gardens into an audiovisual work of art. During the festival, spectacular light installations are projected onto the facade and mounted in the various parks of the palace. 

The visual experience is accompanied and augmented by music composed specifically for the event. The KLANGLICHT Festival presents a special opportunity to enjoy art and culture in an innovative and immersive form.

The Piber Castle Festival blends top-tier drama with exceptional music within the splendid baroque setting of Piber Castle. Each year, this historic venue is transformed into a vibrant stage for classic and contemporary plays that captivate audiences. Set amidst the rolling hills of Western Styria, the festival offers an immersive experience that brings the region's cultural richness and traditions to life.

A festival for those who seek to experience art and nature in perfect harmony.

The Innsbruck Festival Weeks of Early Music focuses on Baroque operas and concerts in historic settings throughout Innsbruck. The festival aims to perform Early Music in its original sound – often with instruments built with traditional methods. Patrons of the festival enjoy the numerous free-of-charge events such as the “Lunch Concerts,” the „Musica montana“, and the „Concerte mobile“, as well as their historic locations in the heart of Innsbruck. 

During summer, many music and theatre performances are held outdoors, as is the case at the Garden Palais of the princely family of Liechtenstein in Vienna. There, you can enjoy a lovely evening in the shade while enjoying a delightful meal and outstanding art events. 

While guests are pampered with a three-course meal and delicacies from the cellars of the Palais Liechtenstein, the Summer Rhapsodie provides an entertainment program of literature, cabaret and theatre, as well as concerts ranging from classical to pop.

The annual Summer Night Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic is held amid the Baroque palace park of Schönbrunn – between the palace and the Gloriette. In 1996, the garden and palace joined the ranks of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. 

The glamour of this location and the magic of classical music combine to make this Summer Night Concert a truly spectacular event. The concert, which is free of charge, is also broadcast internationally.