01.01.2021 - New Year's Vienna Concert

Now, many of you I'm sure will be familiar with today's entertainment! Held at the Austrian capital’s Musikverein concert hall, the Vienna Concert is performed by the outstanding Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and is broadcast on TV across the world to over 90 countries.

"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."

While there is a 2021 New Year's Concert going ahead, there will undoubtedly be some changes and differences, so I thought we might enjoy a double dose and revisit last year's concert to get a flavour of the atmosphere we are familiar with!

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While we are on the classical music topic, I wanted to share this video with you. I think it is so powerful and it left me with the hairs on my neck tingling - I hope you also enjoy!

This is Ruth's daughter's choir and thought it a good way to bring in the New Year. Thanks for sharing this.