Sisi Dinner – Living History
An interactive theatre experience with dinner

In a unique combination of theatre, multimedia staging, and a royal dinner, guests immerse themselves deeply into the life of Empress Elisabeth.

The Sisi Dinner is an evening in the style of Living History, produced by Monika Mosser: dramatic scenes, historical visual projections, and an elegant ball evening turn this event into a vivid journey through time — accompanied by an exclusive menu in a traditional setting.

Kept hidden for decades, Empress Elisabeth’s poetic legacy reveals a new image of the monarch. Between the 1870s and 1898, she wrote hundreds of verses — about loneliness, longing for freedom, loss, and quiet rebellion against the world of the Viennese court.

Only in the 1980s was the multiple award-winning historian Brigitte Hamann granted access to the legacy. Her biography, “Empress Against Her Will,” opened the door to Sisi’s innermost self for the very first time.

A royal crown resting on a red velvet cushion, flanked by two lit candles, with guests dining at long tables in the background during the Sisi Dinner immersive experience.

Overview:

The Vienna Residence Orchestra – A Brief Overview

Celebrating Anniversaries with the Viennese Classical Concerts

What is Viennese Classical Music?

The Composers Featured in Our Concerts

Our Ensemble

The Program

Customer Reviews

Upcoming Concerts

What is the Sisi Dinner all about?
Living History

The Sisi Dinner is a theatrical biography of Empress Elisabeth’s life, based on her secret poetic diary and paired with a delicious 3-course dinner.

The life of Empress Elisabeth is portrayed as authentically as possible. Guests are invited to an evening at the Viennese imperial court, introduced to its ceremonial traditions, and immersed in Living History.

The play is interactive – involving the audience – and staged as a promenade theatre piece with music and visual projections from the imperial era. The mature Empress herself, along with her herald, tells Elisabeth’s story, re-enacts scenes from her life, and guides the audience through a multimedia journey.

The venue is the historic Hotel Stefanie – Vienna’s oldest hotel. With its imperial charm and historic furnishings, it offers the perfect setting for this special experience.

To ensure the experience feels as authentic as possible, the performance is held in German. At the same time, English translations ensure that non-German-speaking guests can follow the story at all times.

The entire evening unfolds within a three-hour experience, accompanied by a fine dinner and concluding with a delightful ball.

The Schedule
Experience Empress Elisabeth up close – the Sisi Dinner at a glance

The Sisi Dinner is more than just an evening meal – it is a multimedia journey through time into the life of the legendary Empress.
In three impressive stages, you will experience theatre, banquet and ballroom dance – just like at the Imperial Court of Vienna:

  • 6:30 PM: Reception in the reception hall
    Entry into the imperial ceremonial register, awarding of noble titles, and a glass of violet sparkling wine as a welcome drink.
  • 7:00 PM: Act 1 – “Fateful Years of the Empress”
    15-minute performance in the Small Ceremonial Hall
  • 7:15 PM: Starter in the Banquet Hall
    Beverage orders, clear beef soup with garnish
  • 7:45 PM: Act 2 – “The Young Empress”
    15-minute stage performance
  • 8:00 PM: Main Course with Music
    Beef Tafelspitz or porcini mushroom ravioli
  • 8:30 PM: Act 3 – “The Blossoming Years of the Empress” 15-minute stage performance
  • 8:45 PM: Dessert with music Duet of apple strudel and Kaiserschmarren
  • 9:00 PM: Multimedia promenade “Die Fledermaus”
  • 9:10 PM: Act 4 – Dance & Finale Prize draw, Blue Danube Waltz with the winner, quadrille, photos with the Empress, dance evening in the banquet hall

Menu & Beverage Information
Sisi Dinner – Living History

At the Sisi Dinner, you will enjoy an exclusive 3-course menu featuring traditional Austrian specialties – served in the historic ambiance of Hotel Stefanie.

You can choose between two options:

3-course menu – Classic:

Beef broth with Kaiserschöberl
Old Viennese Tafelspitz with root vegetables, roasted potatoes, apple horseradish, and chive sauce
Duet of apple strudel and Kaiserschmarren

3-course menu – Vegetarian:

Clear vegetable broth with Kaiserschöberl
Porcini mushroom ravioli with green salad
Duet of apple strudel and Kaiserschmarren

A violet aperitif is included. All other drinks are ordered à la carte and charged separately on site.

The selected menu is guaranteed up to three working days before the event. For later bookings, changes may occur in exceptional cases.

Full refunds for the Sisi Dinner – Living History are possible up to 72 hours before the event starts. A 50% cancellation fee applies for later cancellations.

Planning a visit with a larger group or organizing an exclusive corporate event? We are happy to create a customized offer for you.
Simply contact us via email – we look forward to your inquiry! [email protected]

The Empress’s Secret Diary
1898–2025

Historical Portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria

Familiar, hidden, forgotten – until today.

Locked away for decades, Empress Elisabeth’s poetic legacy reveals a completely new image of the monarch. Between the 1870s and her death in 1898, she wrote hundreds of verses – some in Switzerland, some while traveling – about loneliness, the longing for freedom, loss, and her quiet rebellion against the world of the Viennese court.

These texts, written as poetry, were entrusted to the State Archives of Lausanne – with the express condition that they should not be opened until 60 years after her death. Elisabeth wanted only future generations – “souls of the future” – to gain insight into her true inner thoughts.

It wasn’t until the 1990s that Brigitte Hamann was granted full access to the collection. Her biography, “Empress Against Her Will”, opened the door to Sisi’s innermost self – far from imperial splendour, and close to a woman full of doubt, longing, and poetic clarity.

“They call it grace – I call it chains.”

(Elisabeth, poetic legacy)

Hotel Stefanie

 

Hotel Stefanie, named after Crown Princess Stefanie of Belgium, is far more than just a venue – it is a living piece of history. For over 400 years, it has welcomed guests from around the world and is considered the oldest hotel in Vienna.

With its imperial elegance, historical furnishings, and lovingly preserved details, the hotel provides the perfect setting for a dinner with Empress Elisabeth. The authentic atmosphere makes the experience especially immersive – one truly feels transported back to the Vienna of old.

Here, history merges with the present – and the Sisi Dinner becomes a genuine journey through time.

 

 

Front entrance of Hotel Stefanie in Vienna with a doorman standing outside. The sign above reads “HOTEL STEFANIE,” and the building has golden framed glass doors and windows.
Close-up of the sign at Hotel Stefanie in Vienna, stating it is Vienna’s oldest hotel since 1600, with Austrian flags above the sign and golden framed windows in the background.

Empress Elisabeth – A Brief Overview
Sisi’s most important milestones – briefly summarized

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Born in Bavaria in 1837

Empress Elisabeth was born on December 24, 1837, in Munich. From an early age, she displayed a strong desire for freedom and did not conform to the strict etiquette of the imperial court.

1854 Empress of Austria

At just 16 years old, she married Emperor Franz Joseph I and became Empress of Austria. Her life at the Viennese court was marked by duties – but also by rebellion against court etiquette.

1898 Tragic death in Geneva

On 10 September 1898, Elisabeth was assassinated in Geneva. Her life story became a legend – she remains a fascinating figure of the monarchy to this day.

Today

Today, we present “Living History – Empress Elisabeth” – a unique theatrical biography that brings the life of the Empress to life through music, historical projections, dinner, and ball.

The foundation of this multimedia journey through time is her secret poetic diary, offering a profound insight into her inner world and serving as the starting point for this immersive experience.

Key Figures Surrounding Empress Elisabeth
and their impact on history and the present day

The story of Empress Elisabeth is not just the tale of an extraordinary life, but also a web of people, fates, and decisions that shaped her existence – and continue to resonate to this day.
From her family to political companions, and even those who sealed her tragic end or revealed her true self decades later:
This overview presents the most important figures surrounding Sisi – including their life dates and what they are known for.

Name * † Known for
Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) 1837 1898 Empress of Austria, poet, assassinated in Geneva
Emperor Franz Joseph 1830 1916 Emperor of Austria-Hungary, husband of Elisabeth
Crown Prince Rudolf 1858 1889 Son of Elisabeth, tragic death in Mayerling
Crown Princess Stefanie 1864 1945 Wife of Crown Prince Rudolf, namesake of Hotel Stefanie
Luigi Lucheni 1873 1910 Anarchist, assassin of Sisi
Duchess Ludovika 1808 1892 Mother of Elisabeth
Maximilian of Bavaria 1808 1888 Father of Elisabeth
Brigitte Hamann 1940 2016 Historian, author of "Empress Against Her Will"
Marie Valerie 1868 1924 Elisabeth’s favourite daughter

Upcoming Dates
Sisi Dinner – Living History

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