Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert 2025

[Sir Velo]

What a superb player, Sophie Dervaux is.

[Dave2002]

Only criticism so far: Muti should be in morning dress and could afford to crack a smile!

I've always liked Muti's performances, but never watched him conduct before. His style seems absolutely natural - and even though occasionally the orchestra is on auto-pliot ** - mostly they are following hime pretty well - none of that rigid over controlled metricality we've seen from some in recent years.

I wonder if his gestures were always so economical - but this is style I can really relate to.. He's pretty much in control,, and the players seem to be following. Lovely.

I might start another thread about the technical quality - not sure whether to put anything here or in another section. Currently I'm watching/listening directly from our TV which is a fairly modern [2-3 yrs old wide screen digital model]. The sound quality is not great.
I wonder if there's a way I can feed that back into our higher quality audio system which is just underneath this one. Alternatively I could use a digital feed to the audio kit from another source, [some sort of audio streamer maybe?] which might improve the sound quality significantly, but then the audio and video might go out of sync. Does anyone want to discuss this here - or shall we look into SQ improvements in some other thread? There are other approaches - possibly including recording both audio and video and recombinning them - but I would like to have more impressive sound.

** in one of the piece round 11.20am I think he wanted a slower rit at the end - but it's not a big deal.

[mopsus]

…and he was incorrect in initially telling us that Muti had been music director of the LPO instead of the Philharmonia. He slipped in an unacknowledged correction later on.

We are intrigued by the '49 European countries' to which the concert is allegedly broadcast. Maybe a couple of new ones have appeared for 2025.

[Prommer]

Lots of women in the band this year, for those who care about such things. And they have even located a lady vicar in the audience!

[Dave2002]

Also using a score, which is cheating…

But - as Otto K once almost said, when asked - "Because he can".!

[Prommer]

I suspect Muti must have said, I’ll do it again but not if we have to play any of the minor crap.

[Ein Heldenleben]

What a superb player, Sophie Dervaux is.

Principal bassoon at 25 it seems - what an incredible achievement.

[mopsus]

We are intrigued by the '49 European countries' to which the concert is allegedly broadcast. Maybe a couple of new ones have appeared for 2025.

..... and it was Berg not Schoenberg who arranged Wein Weib und Gesang ...

[Prommer]

..... and it was Berg not Schoenberg who arranged Wein Weib und Gesang ...

ooh what a lovely piece!

[Dave2002]

We are intrigued by the '49 European countries' to which the concert is allegedly broadcast. Maybe a couple of new ones have appeared for 2025.

Probably includes Israel, [as per Eurovision] but this listing only has 44. Need to check EBU country lists to get an answer I guess.

https://www.worldometers.info/geography/how-many-countries-in-europe/

[Ein Heldenleben]

I've always liked Muti's performances, but never watched him conduct before. His style seems absolutely natural - and even though occasionally the orchestra is on auto-pliot ** - mostly they are following hime pretty well - none of that rigid over controlled metricality we've seen from some in recent years.

I wonder if his gestures were always so economical - but this is style I can really relate to.. He's pretty much in control,, and the players seem to be following. Lovely.

I might start another thread about the technical quality - not sure whether to put anything here or in another section. Currently I'm watching/listening directly from our TV which is a fairly modern [2-3 yrs old wide screen digital model]. The sound quality is not great.
I wonder if there's a way I can feed that back into our higher quality audio system which is just underneath this one. Alternatively I could use a digital feed to the audio kit from another source, [some sort of audio streamer maybe?] which might improve the sound quality significantly, but then the audio and video might go out of sync. Does anyone want to discuss this here - or shall we look into SQ improvements in some other thread? There are other approaches - possibly including recording both audio and video and recombinning them - but I would like to have more impressive sound.

** in one of the piece round 11.20am I think he wanted a slower rit at the end - but it's not a big deal.

Well I listened to the first half on FM with the TV pics a few secs delayed . Now on freeview where the sound is fine but not as good as FM.
I love the way Muti is so flexible with tempi at time - drawing out the violin lines - never more so than in that beautifully played Annen Polka.
Might be tricky to dance to..

[Barbirollians]

…and he was incorrect in initially telling us that Muti had been music director of the LPO instead of the Philharmonia. He slipped in an unacknowledged correction later on.

Yes heard that with a great deal of surprise !

[Barbirollians]

It’s a fabulous concert so far . They should have him back every year until he can no longer do it 😀

[Prommer]

OK I am now calling for a male harpist. This prejudice has gone on long enough.

[Barbirollians]

Noticeable also how much the members of the orchestra are smiling.