What is the Vienna New Year’s Day concert?

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’s Day 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 Vienna New Year's Day 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 2023 Vienna New Year's Concert?

The 2023 Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert is scheduled to take place on 1 January, conducted by Maestro Franz Welser-Möst in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein.

Who is conducting the 2023 Vienna New Year's Concert?

Maestro Franz Welser-Möst is scheduled to conduct this year's New Year's Concert in Vienna. This will be his third time he has conducted this prestigious concert, the other two times being 2011 and 2013.

What is the programme for the 2023 Vienna New Year's Concert?

Eduard Strauss Wer tanzt mit? Polka schnell, op. 251

Josef Strauss Heldengedichte. Walzer, op. 87

Johann Strauss II.Zigeunerbaron-Quadrille, op. 422

Carl Michael Ziehrer In lauschiger Nacht. Walzer, op. 488

Johann Strauss II.Frisch heran! Polka schnell, op. 386

Franz von Suppè Ouvertüre zur Operette „Isabella“

Josef Strauss Perlen der Liebe. Walzer, op. 39

Josef Strauss Angelica-Polka. Polka française, op. 123

Eduard Strauss Auf und davon. Polka schnell, op. 73

Josef Strauss Heiterer Muth. Polka française, op. 281

Josef Strauss For ever. Polka schnell, op. 193

Josef Strauss Zeisserln. Walzer, op. 114

Josef Hellmesberger (Sohn) Glocken-Polka mit Galopp aus dem Ballett Excelsior

Josef Strauss Allegro fantastique. Orchesterfantasie, Anh. 26b

Josef Strauss Aquarellen. Walzer, op. 258

How to watch or listen to the 2023 Vienna New Year's Concert

The Vienna New Year's Concert is usually 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.

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