Runners of the VCM and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in One Ensemble

A fantastic atmosphere and standing ovation: the concert for the marathon, featuring 42 VCM runners and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under conductor Tobias Wögerer, filled the sold-out Golden Hall of the Musikverein with enthusiasm.

The Vienna Symphony Orchestra performing together with VCM participants: this appearance opened the marathon weekend on Saturday, April 18, in a truly unique way.

What made it special: runners taking part in a VCM race had the opportunity to apply with music videos in order to perform alongside members of the renowned orchestra. Numerous high-quality submissions were received and reviewed. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra selected 42 runner-musicians for this concert premiere.

The musicians delivered a perfect warm-up program for the Vienna City Marathon with works by Strauss, Schubert, Brahms, Suppé, and Lehár - including Austria’s marathon record holder Aaron Gruen on the cello, who will compete in the elite field of the marathon tomorrow.

“We played the Sport Polka today, and the tempo marking is: fast. I hope I can live up to that in tomorrow’s marathon as well. It felt like a good shakeout run. The concert gives me focus for tomorrow. That’s where I’m putting all my energy,” said Aaron Gruen, who performed in the final three pieces of the program.

“Finding a shared rhythm with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and all the VCM runners was pure joy,” said conductor Tobias Wögerer, who will run the Wiener Städtische Half Marathon on Sunday.

“Our Concert for the Marathon shows how music brings people together. Runners, audience, and orchestra became a shared and unique movement today,” said Jan Nast, Artistic Director of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

“In 2008, I had a dream: after establishing the VCM as a marathon in the world capital of music, I wanted to stage a classical concert at the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein as part of the Vienna City Marathon. The special idea was that national and international marathon participants who are also good musicians could perform with a famous Viennese orchestra. Together with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, we made it happen,” said Wolfgang Konrad, the long-time organizer of the Vienna City Marathon, who first conceived the idea years ago.

This ensemble came together for the first time on Friday. The runners were recognizable in the orchestra by their turquoise VCM shirts worn under black jackets or blazers. On Saturday and Sunday, all of them will compete in an event of the Vienna City Marathon, with more than half taking on the full marathon distance.

A new edition of this unique project is already confirmed: on Saturday, April 17, 2027 - the day before next year’s marathon - another “Concert for the Marathon” will be performed at the Vienna Musikverein.