An “alternative” New Year’s concert in Vienna organized by Philharmonic musicians, an implicit criticism of misogyny

On January 1, on the sidelines of the traditional New Year's concert given by the Vienna Philharmonic, musicians from the orchestra, often accused of misogyny, will offer a recital devoted almost exclusively to works composed by women.

For the first time in Vienna, a concert “ alternatives » will be given on January 1, in parallel with the traditional New Year's concert that Riccardo Muti will conduct this year at the Musikverein for the seventh time. 7 musicians (strings and winds) from the Wiener Philharmoniker, united in the new ensemble La Philharmonica, will indeed offer a recital in the Ehrbar Saal in Vienna at 4 p.m.

Lara Kusztrich and Adela Frăsineanu-Morrison (violin), Ursula Ruppe (viola), Ursula Wex (cello), Anna Gruchmann (double bass), Andrea Götsch (clarinet) and French bassoonist Sophie Dervaux, united in the new ensemble La Philharmonica, will perform on this occasion works by female composers interspersed with tunes by Johann Strauss II, of which we will celebrate in 2025 the bicentenary of his birth… in Vienna.

The Vienna Philharmonic only includes 24 women among the orchestra's 145 members

An initiative considered as an implicit criticism of the reputation of misogyny which sticks to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, made up of exclusively male musicians until 1997. And even if the illustrious Viennese institution now includes 24 women (14 violins, 2 violas , 2 cellos, a double bass, 2 harps, a flute, a clarinet and a bassoon) among the 145 members of the orchestra, we is still far from legitimate parity, despite timid progress in this area.

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This gender imbalance continues to regularly cause controversy. We remember the one created last year by Daniel Froschauer, the president of the Wiener Phihlarmoniker, who declared that a female conductor would conduct the New Year's Concert “when the time comes”. Particularly derogatory remarks when we know that, since its creation in 1939, this concert event has only been directed by 18 male conductors and never by a woman.

Fortunately, some tangible signs suggest that the situation is developing favorably. Thus, in May 2025, Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla will become the first woman to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic for subscription concerts.

Philippe Gault