Vienna's most prominent classical music concert is undoubtedly the Neujahrskonzert (New Year's Concert) performed every January 1st by the Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) and broadcast all around the world. Unless you are a president, a head of State, a king, or a queen on a State visit, getting tickets is a tough job: you can place an order, but since thousands of other people worldwide do the same, there is a lottery deciding who gets the possibility to actually purchase tickets.

More information (in German) about the New Year’s Concert can be found on the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s website:
http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/index_en.html

There is a whole range of other attractive options for seeing a classical concert in Vienna, though. The two most prominent venues are the Musikverein (Musik = music + Verein = association) and the Konzerthaus (Konzert = concert + Haus = house), both located close to each other on the southern end of the center.

Concerts there are really popular and most events are sold out rather quickly. It is a good idea to buy tickets well in advance. The websites of both venues allow you to purchase tickets online if you can pay by credit card.

Musikverein
1st district
Bösendorferstraße 12
Metro: U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz
Tel: 5058190
http://www.musikverein.at

Konzerthaus
3rd district
Lothringerstraße 20
Metro: U4 Stadtpark
Tel.: 242002
http://www.konzerthaus.at/WKHG/homee.nsf/

On Stephansplatz and around the Hofburg, tourists are usually approached by men and women in Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart-like costumes (to decide whether they look elegant or just silly is up to you). They sell tickets for evening concerts in Schönbrunn and other locations. Although the quality of these events is most likely good, they are purely for tourists and an evening at the Musikverein or the Konzerthaus is definitely a more authentic experience.