Mirabell concert: what to expect

How long it lasts and when to arrive

The concert has two parts with an interval of about 15 minutes. The first part runs roughly 40 to 50 minutes and the second about 35 to 40, so allow around an hour and a half to an hour and three-quarters in total. The organiser calls these times guidelines, since applause and interpretation vary. The foyer opens one hour before the concert and the hall 30 minutes before. Start times differ by date, so check your confirmation rather than assuming the usual evening slot. December is fuller, with Sunday-morning Advent matinees and a New Year's Eve gala in the organiser's calendar, and some winter dates start earlier.

Getting there and back

On foot is the organiser's first suggestion: most old-town hotels are within minutes, and the walk can go through the Mirabell Garden. The bus stop is Mirabellplatz, and the main station is a few minutes' walk or three bus stops away. For a taxi, the organiser lists a local number on its info page. If you drive, two car parks sit opposite the palace, entered from Schrannengasse. The above-ground one closes on Thursday daytimes for the market. After the concert, the same short route works in reverse.

The way in through the gardens

The organiser lists two ways in: from Mirabellplatz, or through the Mirabell Garden by the Pegasus fountain. The concert address is the courtyard, Staircase 4, first floor. The garden is free to enter in the daytime all year, with parts closed in winter, and the Dwarf Garden and hedge theatre are among them. Maria and the children dance round the Pegasus fountain in The Sound of Music, so leave a few minutes for it before you collect your ticket.

What to wear

The organiser invites guests to wear neat, ideally elegant evening attire to match the festive setting. Very casual clothing, such as shorts or sleeveless T-shirts, is described as not appropriate. It also welcomes international guests in the festive dress of their home country. The tone is relaxed, though: classically elegant or smart casual both work, as long as you feel comfortable. Coats and heavy jackets are not allowed in the hall, so plan for the cloakroom, and note that umbrellas go there too.

What you see and hear

The hall was the prince-archbishop's banqueting hall, with marble pillars, stucco and ceiling frescoes. The music is chamber music: written for a small group of players, one to a part, in contrast to an orchestra. Goethe described a string quartet as four rational people conversing, and sitting close to the players, you can watch that exchange. The ensembles and soloists change by date. Every programme in the organiser's calendar includes Mozart, with other composers alongside. Nothing is amplified.

Applause, phones and photos

Classical works usually have several movements, and applause is not customary between them. The free programme booklet lists the movements on separate lines under each work. If you are unsure, follow experienced concertgoers, or wait until the musicians bow and relax their instruments. Switch your phone to silent or off. Audio and video recording is not permitted, and photography during the concert is discouraged. Souvenir photos are welcome before and after the concert, in the interval and during encores. The organiser's own view is that applause at the wrong moment is better than none.

Interval, drinks and bags

A buffet before the concert and in the interval sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, Mozartkugeln and light snacks. You can pre-order interval drinks, but you cannot reserve tables. Food and drinks may not be taken into the Marble Hall. Large bags, backpacks and luggage are not allowed in the hall either; handbags up to A4 are fine. Lockable lockers are in the adjoining room, and the organiser says no coin is needed. Pets are not allowed in the palace, apart from trained assistance dogs. Smoking and vaping are banned throughout the building, and allowed only in the courtyard.

Children and access

The organiser recommends its evening concerts for children from age 6, because of the late start, the full length and the quiet atmosphere. Every child needs their own seat; lap seats are not allowed. For guests with reduced mobility, a lift runs from the park-side castle entrance to the first floor, before the concert and again after it. Accessible toilets on the ground floor need a EURO key, which the box office or buffet can lend. The city adds that the Marble Hall has an induction loop. Wheelchair places can be booked in advance, and the organiser asks you to contact it ahead if you need to bring medical equipment such as an oxygen tank.

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A short history of the room

Mirabell was built around 1606 as Schloss Altenau for Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau and his partner Salome Alt. Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt redesigned it between 1721 and 1727. A great city fire in 1818 damaged the palace and destroyed frescoes; today the grand marble staircase and the Marble Hall are its best-known Baroque interiors. The organiser, the city and the tourism board all say the Mozart family made music in this hall for the archbishops of Salzburg. The name Mirabell comes from words for admirable and beautiful.

Seeing the hall by day

The Marble Hall can be visited free on certain weekdays, and the city lists the days and hours on its page. Visits are not possible when an event is on, and the hall is also used for weddings. The rest of the palace houses the mayor's office and the city administration, so those rooms cannot be visited. Check the city's page for current visiting days before you go, as they can change.

Read next: Did Mozart Really Play at Mirabell? The Marble Hall's Story

Who this isn't for

If you have a child under 6, this concert is a poor fit; the organiser recommends the evening concerts from age 6 and the booking listing marks it as not suitable. If you want to take photos or video during the music, you will be disappointed, because both are discouraged or banned. If you want to keep a large bag or backpack with you, it cannot enter the hall. And if you want dinner built into the evening, look at the organiser's separate Dinner & Concert booking.

Read next: Mirabell Palace concert tickets