A taste of Vienna in the heart of London

If you were to head down to the South Bank yesterday, nestled between the usual myriad of chaotic fun and food stands, was a rather more sophisticated happening. For a sea of red picnic blankets were situated around a grand screen showing the live screening of the Summer Night Concert with Vienna live orchestra.

Seen in the City were lucky enough to attend and it has to be one of the nicest events we’ve been to this year. Free for the public, it was worth it for the atmosphere alone. Nestled under trees dripping with fairy lights, the sun setting over the Thames, sitting on a soft picnic blanket (provided free) and with a glass of Vienna wine in hand, it was a truly fantastic evening.

The music itself is beautiful and to anyone watching the screen panning over the beautiful Schönbrunn Palace park in Vienna it generated a real source of wanderlust and left many wondering just when they can visit the beautiful city for themselves.

The Summer Night concert has seen the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra play at this venue every year since 2004, always providing free entrance and a spectacular evening for all. This famous ensemble attracts around 100,000 visitors and plays to a global TV audience all around the world.

The 90-minute concert featured works from Bizet, Berlioz, Poulenc and Ravel and was conducted by Semyon Bychkov.

Media Director Jean Philip De Tender said of the event: “Classical music forms a core part of public service media programming and, thanks to the EBU, viewers around the world will enjoy a unique performance from one of the finest orchestras in the world in this spectacular setting,”

You can find out more about the concert and things to do in Vienna here.