Michael Bublé in Vienna: how a crooner fills arenas in the streaming age

In February 2023 Michael Bublé played Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on his Higher Tour, named after his 2022 album Higher. Photos from the concert are in the Michael Bublé gallery.

A crooner from Burnaby

Bublé grew up in Burnaby, near Vancouver, listening to his grandfather's records of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Bobby Darin. He spent years singing in clubs and at events before producer David Foster helped him to a record deal. His self-titled album in 2003 introduced a young singer who sounded like he belonged to another era.

Old songs, new audience

Bublé's records mix standards from the Great American Songbook with original pop songs such as "Home" and "Haven't Met You Yet". That combination made swing feel current for people who had never owned a Sinatra record. He has won several Grammy Awards, and his 2011 album Christmas became one of the best-selling holiday albums of all time, which is why his voice turns up in shops and cafés every December.

A big-band show

Bublé tours with a full band, horns and strings, and the shows are as much about entertainment as music. He talks to the audience, jokes about himself and moves between a grand stage and moments of intimacy, often walking into the crowd to sing closer to the people at the back.

Higher

Higher, released in 2022, followed a difficult period for Bublé and his family, after his son's illness led him to step away from music for a while. The album and the tour marked a full return, and the shows carry a warmth that comes across even in a large arena.

Wiener Stadthalle

Vienna's main indoor arena, designed by Roland Rainer, has hosted everything from rock bands to ice hockey. For one night it turned into a swing club for thousands.

See the Michael Bublé photos from Vienna, or browse all concert galleries.