AUSTRIA - Best of Europe 2014 - page 37

performances.Scheduleswithdailylistingsforeachmonth(includingtourtimes)areposted
all around the building. A list of today's tours in each language is posted to the right of the
entry door; you can also pick up the monthly Prolog program, which includes the schedule.
The entry door opens 30 minutes before each tour and closes when it starts.
Opera Museum (Staatsopernmuseum): This permanent exhibit chronologically traces
the illustrious history of the Vienna State Opera, highlighting the most famous singers, dir-
ectors (including Gustav Mahler and Herbert von Karajan), and performances. It also fea-
tures old posters, costumes, and lots of photographs (€3, included in Opera tour ticket; Tue-
Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon; across the street and a block away from the Opera toward
the Hofburg, tucked down a courtyard at Hanuschgasse 3, near Albertina Museum, tel. 01/
514-442-100).
Performances: Forinformationonbuyingticketsandattendingaperformance,see here .
▲▲▲ Haus der Musik
Vienna's “House of Music” is a high-tech experience that celebrates this hometown spe-
cialty. The museum, spread over five floors and well-described in English, is unique for its
effective use of interactive touch-screen computers and headphones to explore the physics
of sound. Really experiencing the place takes time. It's open late and makes a good evening
activity.
Cost and Hours: €11, includes audioguide for third floor only, half-price after 20:00,
€17 combo-ticket with Mozarthaus, daily 10:00-22:00, last entry one hour before closing,
two blocks from the Opera at Seilerstätte 30, tel. [phone], www.hdm.at .
Visiting the Museum: The first floor features a small exhibit on the Vienna Philhar-
monicOrchestra,includingthebatonsofprominentconductorsandLeonardBernstein'stux.
On the second floor, wander through the “sonosphere” and marvel at the amazing acous-
tics. Spend some time at the well-presented, interactive headphone stations to learn about
the nature of sound and music; I could actually hear what I thought only a piano tuner could
discern. The third floor features fine audiovisual exhibits on each of the famous hometown
boys (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss, and Mahler). Before leaving, pick up
a virtual baton to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic. Each time you screw up, the musicians
puttheirinstrumentsdownandridiculeyou;makeitthroughthepiece,andyou'llgetarous-
ing round of applause.
▲ Dorotheum Auction House (Palais Dorotheum)
For an aristocrat's flea market, drop by Austria's answer to Sotheby's. The ground floor has
shops, an info desk with a schedule of upcoming auctions, and a few auction items. Some
pieces are available for immediate sale (marked VKP, for Verkaufpreis —“sales price”),