Watch New Year's Day from Vienna, 2012

0 comments

The Vienna Philharmonic continues a cherished tradition by starting 2012 with waltzes, marches, and more at the Musikverein in Vienna. Watch the concert here.

Tracing its roots back to 1939 and informed by the legacy of a special relationship with Johann Strauss, Jr., the New Year's Day concert by the Vienna Philharmonic features an unmatchable grace and buoyancy in music by Strauss and others.

Johann Strauss, Jr., performed with the Vienna Philharmonic for the first time in 1873, and several performances followed over the next five years.  But it wasn't until 1925, during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Strauss's birth, that the Vienna Philharmonic fully embraced the composer's music. 

In 1929, Clemens Krauss conducted a concert made up entirely of The Waltz King's music, and the tradition was sealed.
 

The guest conductor for 2012 is Latvian conductor Mariss Jansons, who leads his second New Year's Day concert.  He previously conducted the 2006 New Year's Day concert, and his debut with the Vienna Philharmonic was in April of 1992.  Jansons currently holds posts with two of the most revered orchestras in the world:  the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Here is the program for the 2012 New Year's Day concert with the Vienna Philharmonic:
 

Johann and Joseph Strauss: "Vaterländischer Marsch (Fatherland March)"
Johann Strauss: "Rathausball-Tänze (City Hall Ball Dances)", Waltz, op. 438
Johann Strauss: "Entweder – oder! (Either - Or!)", Fast Polka, op. 403
Johann Strauss: "Tritsch-Tratsch (Chit-Chat)", Polka, op. 214
Carl Michael Ziehrer: "Wiener Bürger (Viennese Folk)", Waltz, op. 419
Johann Strauss: "Albion Polka", op. 102
Joseph Strauss: "Jokey Polka (Jockey Polka)", Fast Polka, op. 278

- Intermission -

Joseph Hellmesberger, Jr.: Danse Diabolique (Devilish Dance)
Joseph Strauss: "Künstler-Gruss (Artists Greeting)", Polka française, op. 274
Johann Strauss: "Freuet euch des Lebens (Enjoy Life)", Waltz, op. 340
Johann Strauss, Sr.: "Sperl Galopp", op. 42
Hans Christian Lumbye: Copenhagen Railway Steam Gallop
Joseph Strauss: "Feuerfest (Fireproof)", Polka française, op. 269
Eduard Strauss: "Carmen-Quadrille", op. 134
Peter I. Tchaikovsky: "Panorama" from the Ballet "Sleeping Beauty", op. 66
Peter I. Tchaikovsky: "Waltz" from the Ballet "Sleeping Beauty", op. 66
Johann and Joseph Strauss: "Pizzicato Polka", no opus number
Johann Strauss: "Persischer Marsch (Persian March)", op. 289
Joseph Strauss: "Brennende Liebe (Burning Love)", Polka Mazur, op. 129
Joseph Strauss: "Delirien (Delirium)", Waltz, op. 212
Johann Strauss: "Unter Donner und Blitz (Thunder and Lightning)", Fast Polka, op. 324