Saturday 2 January 2016

MUSIC SATURDAY - FROM VIENNA...

“A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.” - Max Lucado

The New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic (German: Das Neujahrskonzert der Wiener Philharmoniker) is a concert of classical music that takes place each year in the morning of New Year's Day in Vienna, Austria. It is broadcast live around the world to an estimated audience of 50 million in 73 countries in 2012 and 90 countries in 2015.

The music always includes pieces from the Strauss family (Johann Strauss I, Johann Strauss II, Josef Strauss and Eduard Strauss) with occasional additional music from other mainly Austrian composers, including Joseph Hellmesberger, Jr, Joseph Lanner, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Otto Nicolai (the Vienna Philharmonic’s founder), Emil von Reznicek, Franz Schubert, Franz von Suppé, and Karl Michael Ziehrer. In 2009, music by Joseph Haydn was played for the first time: The 4th movement of his “Farewell Symphony” to mark the 200th anniversary of his death.

There are traditionally about a dozen compositions played, with an interval halfway through the concert and encores at the end. They include waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, and marches. Of the encores, the first is often a fast polka. The second is Johann Strauss II's waltz The Blue Danube, whose introduction is interrupted by applause of recognition and a New Year greeting from the musicians to the audience. The last is Johann Strauss I’s Radetzky March, during which the audience claps along under the conductor’s direction. In this last piece, the tradition also calls for the conductor to start the orchestra as soon he steps onto the stage, before reaching the podium. The complete duration of the event is around two and a half hours.

The concerts have been held in the “Großer Saal” (Large Hall) of the Musikverein since 1939. The television broadcast is augmented by ballet performances in selected pieces during the second part of the programme. The dancers come from the Vienna State Opera Ballet and dance at different famous places in Austria, e.g. Schönbrunn Palace, Schloss Esterházy, the Vienna State Opera or the Wiener Musikverein itself. In 2013, the costumes were designed by Vivienne Westwood. From 1980 until 2013 the flowers that decorate the hall have been a gift from the city of Sanremo, Liguria, Italy. In 2014 the flowers has been provided by the Vienna Philharmonic itself. Since 2014 the flowers are arranged by the Wiener Stadtgärten.

Here is the 2007 Concert under the direction of Zubin Mehta:
01. Zivio!, marsch für Orchester op. 456 Johann Strauss II
02. Flatter, Walzer, Op. 62 Josef Strauss
03. Moulinet Polka, für Orchester, Op. 57 Josef Strauss
04. Elfenreigen, für Salonorchester Joseph Hellmesberger
05. Delirien Walzer für Orchester, Op. 212 Josef Strauss
06. Einzugs-Galopp, für Orchester, Op. 35 Johann Strauss
07. Waldmeister, Ouvertüre zur Operette
08. Overture Johann Strauss II
09. Irenen-Polka, Op. 113 Josef Strauss
10. Wo die Zitronen Blüh'n! Walzer für Orchester, Op. 36 Johann Strauss II
11. Ohne Bremse Polka für Orchester, Op 238 Eduard Strauß
12. Stadt und Land (Polka-Mazurka für Orchester op. 322 Johann Strauss II
13. Matrosen Polka, Op. 52 Josef Strauss
14. Geheime Anziehungskräfte (Dynamiden), Walzer, Op. 173 Josef Strauss
15. Erinnerung an Ernst oder Der Carneval in Venedig, Fantasie für Orchester op. 126 Johann Strauss II 16.
Furioso-Galopp, für Orchester  Op. 114 Johann Strauss
17. Leichtfüßig, Polka schnell Joseph Hellmesberger
18. An der schönen, blauen Donau (An der schönen, blauen Donau), Walzer op. 314 Johann Strauss II
19. Radetzky-Marsch, für Orchester, Op. 228 Johann Strauss I (Vater)

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