the essential
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will play its traditional New Year’s concert in Austria at 11:15 a.m. on January 1st. A composer appears on the program for the first time.
This is the unmissable classical music event on January 1st. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs on the first day of the year for its traditional New Year’s concert. It will be broadcast live on France 2 and on the radio on France Musique from 11:15 a.m. with comments from Xavier Szymczak.
When was the first concert?
The New Year’s concert was first performed in 1939 in Vienna, Austria. The first television broadcast dates from 1958. Concerts are given on December 30 and 31 and January 1, but only the New Year’s concert is filmed.
Where is the concert taking place?
The Vienna Philharmonic concert takes place in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein. It is renowned for having one of the best acoustics in the world.
Who will be the conductor?
The New Year’s Orchestra will be led this year by Italian conductor Riccardo Muti. He will officiate for the seventh time at the New Year’s concert after having already had this honor in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2018 and 2021.
What are the special features of the concert this year?
The year 2025 will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss Jr. On the occasion of this event, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will perform eight works by the composer of the famous “Beautiful Blue Danube”. For the first time in the history of the concert, the work of a woman will be performed: Constanze Geiger.
What is the program for the 2025 concert?
- Johann Strauss père: Freedom March (March of Freedom), op. 226
- Josef Strauss: Village swallows from Austria (Hirondelles villageoises d’Autriche), valse, op. 164
- Johann Strauss: Demolirer-Polka (Polka des démolisseurs), French polka, op. 269
- Johann Strauss: Lagoon Waltz (Valse des lagoons), op. 411
- Eduard Strauss: Luftig und duftig (Léger et aérien), polka rapide, op. 206
- Johann Strauss: opening of the operetta Der Zigeunerbaron (The Gypsy Baron)
- Johann Strauss: Accelerations (Accelerations), valse, op. 234
- Joseph Hellmesberger: Fidele Brüder (Faithful Brothers), march from the operetta Das Veilchenmädel (The Girl with the Veil)
- Constanze Geiger: Ferdinandus Waltz (Valse de Ferdinand, arrangement: Wolfgang Dörner)
- Johann Strauss: Either – or! (Soit… soit!) Polka rapide, op. 403
- Josef Strauss : Transactionen (Transactions), false, op. 184
- Johann Strauss: Annen-Polka (Anne’s Polka) op. 117
- Johann Strauss: Tritsch-Tratsch (meaning rumours, gossip), polka rapide, op. 214
- Johann Strauss: Wine, Woman and Song (Vin, femme et chant), valse, op. 333
The concert generally ends with three encores after the main program. The first is a fast polka, the second is “Le Beau Danube Bleu” during which the audience applauds in the introduction and finally with “La marche de Radetzky” where the audience claps their hands in rhythm with the complicity of the conductor.
Does the musical programming vary often?
Traditionally, the music played is that of the Strauss family (Johann Strauss, Johann Strauss II, Josef Strauss, Eduard Strauss). In 1980, the orchestra played for the first time works by a non-Austrian composer: the Frenchman Jacques Offenbach.
Have French people ever conducted the orchestra?
Only one conductor has led the New Year’s concert: Georges Prêtre in 2008 and 2010. He died in 2017 and was buried in Navès in Tarn.
How to attend the New Year’s concert?
The demand for places is so strong each year that a draw is organized by the philharmonic orchestra after registration on its website. Around 900 seats, out of the 1744 in the room, are available for sale. The others are reserved for members of the orchestra, its partners and its patrons.
What is the price of tickets?
The price of tickets for the New Year’s concert ranges from €35 to €1090.
Was the New Year’s concert a ratings success?
Filmed by Austrian television, it is broadcast live in 90 countries and attracts around 50 million viewers. France 2 has the broadcasting rights for France.
