Haus Der Musik

Lonely Planet review

The Haus der Musik (House of Music) rates among the best museums in the city. Spread over four floors (the fifth is a café and restaurant), it helps explain sound in an amusing and interactive way (in English and German) accessible to both children and adults.

The first floor houses the Vienna Philharmonic's historical archives, where a shortened version of the world famous New Year's concert can be heard and you can compose your own waltz with the interactive roll of a die. The second floor's 'prenatal listening room' re-creates noises heard by babies in the womb. The following rooms delve into the mechanics of sound and feature engaging instruments, interactive toys and touch-screens. You can test the limits of your hearing and play around with sampled sounds to record your own CD.

On floor 3, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss and Mahler each have a room; their lives and talents are detailed in a thoughtful and informative manner. The floor also has a 'virtual conductor': A video of the Vienna Philharmonic responds to a conducting baton and keeps time with your movements.

The final level deals with experimental and electronic music, which you can also modify yourself.