On June 2 the Vienna Philharmonic and conductor Valery Gergiev are inviting everyone to enjoy a musical treat in the park at Schönbrunn Palace. Admission is free!

At the Summer Night’s Concert the Vienna Philharmonic will perform open air at the Schönbrunn Palace Park, with their usual top quality. However, there is something that is not usual about this concert that has been held once a year since 2004: admission is free. With this gesture, the famous ensemble would like to make a special gift to the approx. 100,000 visitors and the worldwide TV audience.

“Virtuoso Images” with Gergiev
The orchestra will be directed by the Russian star conductor Valery Gergiev. He is the director of the Maryinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, where among others, soprano Anna Netrebko began her career. He is also principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and regularly works with the Vienna Philharmonic.

As soloist, the Austrian Benjamin Schmid will accompany the world class orchestra with his violin – a Stradivari from the year 1731. Musically, this year’s motto “Virtuoso Images” will be interpreted with the following program:

Franz Liszt: Les Préludes
Niccolò Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, 1st Movement (adapted by Fritz Kreisler)
Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures of an Exhibition