Forum Gitarre Wien

Forum Gitarre Wien is a classical-guitar competition in Vienna, Austria. It is held every year, usually in August.

Repertoire requirements

1st Round (online): Free program, various styles (10-12 min). 2nd Round (Sep 2): Free program, various styles (15-18 min). Final Round (Sep 3): Free program, various styles (25-30 min). No repetition of works between rounds. The program must be performed from memory. The stated time is the pure playing time.

Official website

http://www.forum-gitarre.at/

Visiting? A guitarist's guide to Vienna

Vienna, a city long synonymous with classical music, annually hosts the Forum Gitarre Wien, a significant event for classical guitarists. This festival and competition takes place in a metropolis renowned for its imperial past, elegant lifestyle, and profound cultural contributions, offering a rich experience that extends beyond the concert hall into the very heart of European musical history.

Getting there

Vienna International Airport (VIE) is the primary gateway, with excellent connections to the city centre via the City Airport Train (CAT) or regular S-Bahn services, taking around 15-25 minutes. Vienna is also a major rail hub, easily accessible from across Central Europe. High-speed trains connect it to cities like Munich, Prague, and Budapest. The city's efficient public transport system, including trams, buses, and the U-Bahn, makes navigating without a car straightforward.

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Austria runs on Type F sockets, standard across most of Europe, so you will only need a travel adapter if you are coming from the UK, Ireland, or beyond Europe.

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Where to stay

To immerse yourself in Vienna's charm, consider staying in the central districts, particularly within or near the historic city centre (Innere Stadt). This area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, places you within walking distance of many concert venues, museums, and historical landmarks. Accommodations range from luxurious hotels reflecting Vienna's imperial grandeur to boutique options and reliable chains. For a more local feel, districts like Leopoldstadt (2nd) or Wieden (4th) offer good transport links and a slightly more residential atmosphere, often with public housing (Gemeindebauten) known for its distinctive style.

What you'll hear

The Forum Gitarre Wien brings together an international roster of performers and pedagogues, featuring masterclasses, lectures, and a competition that showcases emerging talent. The event's focus covers a broad spectrum of classical guitar repertoire, providing opportunities to hear both established works and contemporary pieces performed at a high level. The Karl Scheit Competition, mentioned in connection with Simon Molitor, is likely part of or closely associated with the festival, highlighting the legacy of the Viennese guitar school.

Vienna itself has been a crucible for guitar music. Anton Diabelli, an Austrian composer and publisher, made Vienna his home and composed numerous works for classical guitar. His legacy is perhaps best known through the waltz that inspired Beethoven's monumental Diabelli Variations. Simon Molitor, a German-born Austrian guitarist and composer, was another influential figure in the early 19th-century Viennese guitar scene, renowned for his theoretical writings and compositions like the Große Sonate Op. 7. Although Johann Kaspar Mertz was born in nearby Pressburg (Bratislava), he was active in Vienna, where he developed his distinctive Romantic guitar style, notably in his Bardenklänge Op. 13.

The local table

Viennese cuisine offers a rich array of dishes, from hearty classics to delicate pastries. No visit is complete without trying a Wiener Schnitzel, typically served with potato salad, or Tafelspitz, boiled beef with horseradish and apple. For dessert, the Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot jam, is an icon, as is the apple strudel (Apfelstrudel). Vienna's coffeehouse culture is legendary; find a traditional Kaffeehaus for a Melange and a slice of cake. Look for establishments offering regional specialities from Lower Austria, which surrounds Vienna.

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While you're there

Vienna's imperial past and rich cultural life offer endless exploration. Wander through the historic city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, admiring the Hofburg Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom), and the elegant Ringstrasse with its grand buildings. For guitar enthusiasts, a pilgrimage to St. Marx Cemetery is essential to visit the confirmed grave of Anton Diabelli. While Johann Kaspar Mertz's burial place in Vienna is unconfirmed, his birthplace, Bratislava, is a short trip away, about an hour by train or bus, and hosts the Guitar Festival of J. K. Mertz. Day trips could also include the Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence, or a visit to the Belvedere Palace to see Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss." Beyond the city, the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) offer scenic walks.

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More guitar events in Austria: Internationales Gitarrenfestival Rust · Karl Scheit International Guitar Competition

Also in August: Classical GuitarFest West · Francisco Tárrega International Guitar Competition · GUITARTALENT Brno · Harmonia Cordis International Guitar Festival · International Guitar Festival in Hersbruck · Japan Guitar Competition

Listing data is compiled from official sources and can change each edition. Always confirm dates, deadlines and requirements on the organizer's official website before applying or booking travel. Spotted an error? See our terms or let us know via the About page.

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