New Year's Day Concert, Vienna Jan 1 2016

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The VPO is great in this repertoire, which is not all that easy, y'know, though much sniffed at.

The VPO is great in nearly everything it does. Sadly, they make very few recordings any more.

[peterthekeys]

I was also going to point out that it's generally only for 2-3 numbers at most, in a programme consisting entirely of what are, after all, dances. And some of us actually enjoy it.

I also like the usual Austrian Tourist Board footage of the surrounding countryside that they normally give us.

Happy New Year to one and all.

All the best for 2016 from me also.

I admit to enjoying most of the dance sequences (maybe something to do with the fact that I watch it via Freesat in HD - the footage of the stunning Viennese palace interiors almost matches that of the dancers!)

One thing which always baffles me is how they synchronise the music and the dancing - obviously, some of the sequences have been recorded previously (given the weather and vegetation in the outdoor bits.) Does Mariss Jansons have a monitor, so that he can match the live tempo to that of the dancing?

(I remember that one year (think in the Blue Danube), it was demonstrated that this sequence at least was live - at the end, the dancers came into the Musikverein itself.)

[peterthekeys]

Petroc

Heard on Breakfast on 3 this morning that Petroc had apparently had a dose of food poisoning in Vienna. Poor guy - I really felt for him! Truly a case of Murphy's third law - the one about the worst things happening at the worst possible time and place.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Heard on Breakfast on 3 this morning that Petroc had apparently had a dose of food poisoning in Vienna. Poor guy - I really felt for him! Truly a case of Murphy's third law - the one about the worst things happening at the worst possible time and place.

Naturally, one feels sorry for anyone who is ill, but it's not a matter of world-shattering importance to announce the fact on Radio 3. It's just another example of the cliquey chumminess of the Radio presenters.

[peterthekeys]

Just one more comment and then I'll shut up ...

I always find it slightly amusing when, during the Blue Danube, they show footage of the river itself. It always demonstrates so convincingly the truth of Spike Jones' rejoinder: the Danube isn't blue - it's green. It was particularly apparent today.

[peterthekeys]

Naturally, one feels sorry for anyone who is ill, but it's not a matter of world-shattering importance to announce the fact on Radio 3. It's just another example of the cliquey chumminess of the Radio presenters.

I always find it grates when the Afternoon on 3 presenter hands over to Sean Rafferty for the preview of In Tune (which for me is always a preview of the urge to switch off.)

I wonder if the presenters really are as chummy as that in real life - it would be interesting to listen in on some of the sotto voce comments after they've done the handovers.

[kernelbogey]

I prefer to listen on Radio rather than watch the television. I've made this a new year's day habit for about the last forty (help!) years or so. (Memorably, eight or so years back, listening tucked up in bed in Berlin while huge snow flakes began to fall outside.)

As I've said here before I miss the wonderful, effortlessly multiliingual Austrian presenter we used to hear in former years (though a boarder here suggested I could find such on Austrian radio.

A happy and richly musical new year to all.

BW, kb

[Prommer]

Next year: the Dude.

[Serial_Apologist]

Well it makes a good way to snooze off a late night, with the volume down.

[Prommer]

Well it makes a good way to snooze off a late night, with the volume down.

It is the ultimate hangover cure, I find, especially on a grim New Year's Day. Something about the irresistible lilt that eventually makes the clouds part.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I always find it slightly amusing when, during the Blue Danube, they show footage of the river itself. It always demonstrates so convincingly the truth of Spike Jones' rejoinder: the Danube isn't blue - it's green. It was particularly apparent today.

As with any river, it depends upon the light, vegetation and pollution. The Danube can appear almost black, which is hardly surprising, as it starts in the Black Forest, and ends in the Black Sea.

[MrGongGong]

Well it makes a good way to snooze off a late night, with the volume down.

Why not watch it while listening to Hymnen tonight?

[MrGongGong]

As with any river, it depends upon the light, vegetation and pollution. The Danube can appear almost black, which is hardly surprising, as it starts in the Black Forest, and ends in the Black Sea.

Last time I saw it it was grey and wasn't called the Danube at all.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Last time I saw it it was grey and wasn't called the Danube at all.

Danuvius?
Great Water?
Istros?
Donau?
Duna?
Dunai?
Dunaj?
Dunarea?
Dunav?

[Mary Chambers]

Last time I saw it it was grey and wasn't called the Danube at all.

Very true.