The World Famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Welcome to the New Year 2022 Concert
Music is the shorthand of emotion — Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910), Russian novelist
The ‘Wiener Philharmoniker’ (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) performs every year at the New Year’s Concert in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein (Society of Friends of Music in Vienna) on the first day of the New Year at 11:15 hrs.
Daniel Barenboim, an Israeli pianist and conductor is scheduled to conduct on 1st Jan. 2022. About 50% of the capacity of the hall will be allowed to attend due to the pandemic.
The program consists of the lovely and nostalgic music prevailing from the family of Johann Strauss including Johann Strauss II, the “King of Waltz” and his contemporaries.
The music lovers from the entire world look on to join the celebrations; the most famous concert in the world is broadcast by television and radio. An estimated number of spectators/audience in over 95 countries who enjoyed the concert was over 55 million.
For the first time in history the concert, on 1st Jan. 2021 was held without any audience due to the pandemic. It was conducted by Italian conductor Riccardo Muti
Eurovision and Euroradio brands collaborate on the founding ethos of solidarity and cooperation to create a Centre for sharing.
The word philharmonic is composed of the Greek words “Philos” and “Harmonikos” refers to a friend/s or organization for love of harmony in the musical sense.
The concert typically includes the usual polkas, waltzes, marches and similar from the Strauss family and their contemporaries. A traditional encore is The Blue Danube waltz from Joseph Strauss II and the Radetzky Military march from Joseph Strauss I.
There had been a tradition of concerts on New Year’s Day in Vienna since 1838. However, there were some discontinuities. From 1939 till date New Year concerts are held every year.
Austria has a long history of music.
Emperor Franz Joseph-I, marked the completion of the neo-classical building by placing the capstone and the gorgeous Musikverein became a Viennese landmark. Baron Theophil Edvard von Hansen was the architect.
On 6 January 1870, the Musikverein opened its doors to concert lovers for the first time. The city’s largest concert hall, the glittering Große Musikvereinssaal (or Golden hall) has impressive life-size, gilded, female sculptures stationed all around the perimeter of the hall.
This hall accommodates 2,000 audiences and acoustic architects around the world have tried to emulate it ever since.
The Musikverein in Vienna is regarded as the crown jewel among the world’s concert halls.
According to Wikipedia, the first encounter between the musicians of the Vienna Philharmonic and Johann Strauss II (1825–1899) was in a premiere where Strauss II had composed the waltz “Wiener Blut” for the Vienna Opera Ball held in the main hall of the Musikverein on April 22, 1873.
Vienna has 7 major concert halls and at least 20 dedicated music venues. It is also the main centre for learning music and many conductors studied in Vienna. Vienna has a great musical heritage of Mozart, Strauss, Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven and many more.
Admiring the geniuses of Joann Strauss, Andre Rieu, the famous Dutch violinist and conductor said; when I was 4 or 5, I attended my father’s concerts. He often played Strauss waltzes as encores and I saw something happening with the audience.
“Where would I be without Johann Strauss’s beautiful ‘Blue Danube?’ Without this piece of music, I wouldn’t be the man I am today. It’s a tune that brings out the emotion in everyone and makes them want to waltz”- Andre Rieu.
I strongly believe, Music is an arena of love and peace, the soul of life.
We can start the music without knowing notes; still, we will add melody to our life.
A very happy new year to all readers
Tara Desai
2022 concert* is available for a week at the following link.
Please read if time permits.
A warm musical Adios to 2021
Do you hate to be a Musicophile? Then you must listen to the Viennese Waltz