The famous Vienna New Year’s Day concert takes place on – surprise, surprise – 1 January at the Austrian capital’s Musikverein concert hall.
Performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in the world, it begins at 11.15pm and is broadcast on TV across the world.
What music does the Vienna New Year’s Day concert include?
The programme every year consists largely of familiar waltzes, polkas and other dances by the Strauss family – especially Johann Strauss I and Johann Strauss II – but also includes other composers. Today, Johann Strauss II’s much-loved Blue Danube Waltz always features as one of the encores.
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When was the first Vienna New Year concert?
Ironically, the first ever Vienna New Year’s Day Concert took place not on 1 January but on 31 December, 1939, when it was intended primarily as a wartime morale-booster. Clemens Krauss conducted the music on that occasion and continued to lead the majority of the concerts until 1954. At that point, it was taken over by violinist and conductor Willi Boskovsky, who, from 1955-79, played a large part in making it the much-loved occasion that it has become today.
Today, famous maestros from across the world take it in turn to enjoy the spotlight of what is one of the most popular events in the musical calendar. And for those who want to relive the action once 1 January is past, a recording of each year’s concert is quickly released. - 2022's recording is below
Who has conducted the concert throughout its history?
- Clemens Krauss: 1939, 1941–1945, 1948–1954
- Josef Krips: 1946–1947
- Willi Boskovsky: 1955–1979
- Lorin Maazel: 1980–1986, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2005
- Herbert von Karajan: 1987
- Claudio Abbado: 1988, 1991
- Carlos Kleiber: 1989, 1992
- Zubin Mehta: 1990, 1995, 1998, 2007, 2015
- Riccardo Muti: 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2018, 2021
- Nikolaus Harnoncourt: 2001, 2003
- Seiji Ozawa: 2002
- Mariss Jansons: 2006, 2012, 2016
- Georges Prêtre: 2008, 2010
- Daniel Barenboim: 2009, 2014
- Franz Welser-Möst: 2011, 2013, 2023
- Gustavo Dudamel: 2017
- Christian Thielemann: 2019
- Andris Nelsons: 2020
- Riccardo Muti: 2021
- Daniel Barenboim: 2022
When is the 2024 Vienna New Year Concert?
The 2024 Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert is scheduled to take place on 1 January, conducted by Christian Thielemann in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein.
Who is conducting the 2024 Vienna New Year Concert?
Maestro Christian Thielemann is scheduled to conduct this year's New Year's Concert in Vienna. This will be his second time he has conducted this prestigious concert, the first time being back in 2019.
What is the programme for the 2024 Vienna New Year's Day Concert?
Karl Komzák Erzherzog Albrecht-Marsch, op. 136
Johann Strauss II Wiener Bonbons. Walzer, op. 307
Johann Strauss II Figaro-Polka. Polka française, op. 320
Josef Hellmesberger (Sohn) Für die ganze Welt. Walzer
Eduard Strauss Ohne Bremse. Polka schnell, op. 238
Johann Strauss II Overture to the Operetta "Waldmeister"
Johann Strauss II Ischler Walzer. Nachgelassener Walzer Nr. 2
Johann Strauss II Nachtigall-Polka, op. 222
Eduard Strauss Die Hochquelle. Polka mazur, op. 114
Johann Strauss II Neue Pizzicato-Polka. op. 449
Josef Hellmesberger (Sohn) Estudiantina-Polka aus dem Ballett "Die Perle von Iberien"
Carl Michael Ziehrer Wiener Bürger. Walzer, op. 419
Anton Bruckner Quadrille, WAB 121 (Orchestr. W. Dörner)
Hans Christian Lumbye Glædeligt Nytaar! Galopp
Josef Strauss Delirien (Deliriums), Waltz, op. 212
The Vienna New Year Concert will be shown on BBC Two at 10.15am on New Year's Day (1 January), hosted by Petroc Trelawny. You can also catch it on Radio 3.
