New Year's Concert

New Year's Concert

Mateusz Molęda, photo: Alexej Gorlatch Instead of waiting for the usual broadcast of the New Year’s concert from the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein to hear Strauss waltzes, polkas and showstopping numbers from operettas, the musical atmosphere of Vienna can be experienced during the New Year’s Eve concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic. It is not easy to grasp the genealogy of the Strauss family. Josef, Eduard and as many as three Johanns are among the most famous members of the enterprising Austrian family with Hungarian roots, which over the course of the nineteenth century produced an abundant corpus of popular songs that resounded at carnival balls. The progenitor of the musical dynasty was the first of the Johanns, who was said to have been inspired by the music of bands wandering between the Viennese taverns along the Danube. However, it was his first-born son, also Johann, who made a name for himself as the ‘king of the waltz’ and the composer of numerous popular operettas, to mention but titles such as Die Fledermaus and Wiener Blut. Another descendant, Josef, the most universally talented of the siblings, planned a different career for himself, successfully completing studies in engineering. However, a sudden substitution for the sick Johann II turned his fortunes to music for life. After Josef’s death, the youngest of the brothers, Eduard, took over the responsibility of leading the family orchestra. Together with the orchestra, he visited the most diverse corners of the world, and at the beginning of the twentieth century, he published his written history of the musical Strauss family.

New Year's Eve Concert

New Year’s Eve Concert

The brochure on page 24 contains incorrect prices for the concert on 30 December in the Konzerthaus. The following prices apply: € 45 / 48 / 51 /55 /60 / 65

New Year’s Eve Concert

Mateusz Molęda, photo: Alexej Gorlatch Instead of waiting for the usual broadcast of the New Year’s concert from the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein to hear Strauss waltzes, polkas and showstopping numbers from operettas, the musical atmosphere of Vienna can be experienced during the New Year’s Eve concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic. It is not easy to grasp the genealogy of the Strauss family. Josef, Eduard and as many as three Johanns are among the most famous members of the enterprising Austrian family with Hungarian roots, which over the course of the nineteenth century produced an abundant corpus of popular songs that resounded at carnival balls. The progenitor of the musical dynasty was the first of the Johanns, who was said to have been inspired by the music of bands wandering between the Viennese taverns along the Danube. However, it was his first-born son, also Johann, who made a name for himself as the ‘king of the waltz’ and the composer of numerous popular operettas, to mention but titles such as Die Fledermaus and Wiener Blut. Another descendant, Josef, the most universally talented of the siblings, planned a different career for himself, successfully completing studies in engineering. However, a sudden substitution for the sick Johann II turned his fortunes to music for life. After Josef’s death, the youngest of the brothers, Eduard, took over the responsibility of leading the family orchestra. Together with the orchestra, he visited the most diverse corners of the world, and at the beginning of the twentieth century, he published his written history of the musical Strauss family.

Guest performance New Year's Concert

NOSPR / Bayona / New Year's Concert

There are concerts which should be found in everyone’s calendar, particularly at the time of year when we replace our calendars with entirely new ones. Some of those are the meetings with music on New Year’s Day. Even though their repertoire is rarely surprising, this is exactly where their charm lies. Beginning another year, we want to surrender to insouciant fun and hopes of a glorious new time to come. Simultaneously, despite the time flying, we want to keep certain things the way they are.It is such an atmosphere that we are unfailingly introduced to with the most famous waltzes and polkas by members of the talented Strauss family, as well as tunes from operettas by Franz von Suppé, Franz Lehár and Bedřich Smetana. Of course, we have all heard The Blue Danube and Radetzky March, hundreds of times – but should this be of any significance? Once a year, let us once more luxuriate in the well-known melodies we have already heard so many times, just for the sake of the pleasure itself. A comfortable chair in the best concert hall in the world, the NOSPR and Nestor Bayona on stage, and danceable rhythms and melodies sparkling with joy in the air. What more could one wish for!Szymon MaliszewskiConcert duration (intermission included): approximately 110 minutes

New year's eve concert from Vienna

Vienna’s Schoenbrunn Palace Orchestra celebrates the 200-year anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss.The traditional New Year’s Eve concert by the Schoenbrunn Palace Orchestra from Vienna will have extra dazzle and shine in 2025, in celebration of the 200th birthday of “Waltz King” Johann Strauss, whose musical legacy continues to captivate the hearts of people worldwide.Johann Strauss was born in Vienna in 1825 and is unmatched in the way he shaped the music of his time. His waltzes, polkas and operettas are timeless masterpieces that are now considered symbols of the Viennese musical tradition. 2025 marks 200 years since his birth – a significant anniversary that will be celebrated around the world.Schoenbrunn Palace Orchestra, known for unparalleled interpretations of Strauss and other composers from the classical Viennese period, will use this special occasion to honour the musical legacy of the “Waltz King”. With performances in the magnificent halls of Schoenbrunn Palace, the orchestra has garnered renown and become a cultural ambassador for Vienna. The Schoenbrunn Palace Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve concerts in Scandinavia are a highlight of the international concert calendar.With masterful performances of Strauss’ works, and by conveying the Viennese musical tradition, these concerts not only generate a festive spirit for the new year; they also create unforgettable moments for audiences and present the legacy of the “Waltz King” to the whole world.

New Year's Concert with Roderick Cox

»Where to sow love, joy as love grows up.« Shakespeare already knew this – which is why we are setting off a lovingly put together musical firework at the turn of the year: it bears the stamp of our guest conductor, who is convinced that »we can understand ourselves and our feelings better through music«. Roderick Cox found his way against all odds: he grew up in a single-parent home in Macon, a small town in Georgia. There was no money to buy an instrument or go to concerts – until a foundation helped him out and he eventually got access to a classical music training programme. Today, he is a strong champion of young African-American artists from underrepresented social backgrounds. And he attracts international attention with his well thought-out concert programmes. In his debut on our conductor’s podium, he would like to showcase the range of US-American music – a fascinating mixture, sparkling like champagne. And although the pieces all originate from his home country, they also deal with more global themes and their expressive power is boundless nonetheless. The musical sparklers and possibly a few more sparking encores add a festive flair, but hopefully also remind us all how invaluable the power of music is for love and peace – in the words of Roderick Cox: »Classical music is not just an art to make us feel good, but it should also inspire social thinking, point the finger at injustice, support our freedom and connect people with each other.«

NEW YEAR'S EVE CONCERTS

NEW YEAR'S EVE CONCERTS