Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert 2018

[Richard Tarleton]

Have to say, I'm enjoying the director's fascinating with the lovely lady piccolo player...

And the equally lovely lady harpist

The eagle on the mural in the railway station [?] - Stephanie's Gavotte - is a golden eagle in second winter plumage.

[Richard Barrett]

Happy birthday Alpensymphonie and many HIPPy returns!

I listened to the concert on the radio, and didn't like it as much as last year's. The familiar pieces were as they always are and the unfamiliar ones didn't really yield any new discoveries.

Something that irritated me whenever PT started talking though was his total lack of effort towards anything resembling German pronunciation (including of course the last name of the principal composers). Does he think he's still at Classic FM?

[Petrushka]

Have to say, I'm enjoying the director's fascinating with the lovely lady piccolo player...

Karin Bonelli, PG. Also happy to share the 'director's fascinating'

Found a few audio dropouts on the TV relay a tad frustrating, likewise the constant director's obsession with the flowers and the hall, not to mention the adverts for the Vienna Tourist Office. It's beautiful city, no question, I've been there a few times, but it's not why I watch this concert.

Agree with Barbs, a serviceable concert but not one to make me rush out and buy the CD sums it up nicely.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Petroc talks too much .

And his pronunciation is shocking.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Happy birthday Alpensymphonie and many HIPPy returns!

[kernelbogey]

...Something that irritated me whenever PT started talking though was his total lack of effort towards anything resembling German pronunciation (including of course the last name of the principal composers)...

This has been such a constant in Petroc's broadcasting that it is embarassing, his being now the 'resident' presenter of the New Year'sDay concert, that he appears to have done nothing to improve his pronunciation; even more so since he appears to enjoy his trip to Vienna. (I even wonder if there is a deliberate choice here for some personal reason.)

Come on, Petroc, it's not that difficult. Auf geht's!

[Constantbee]

Spot on with your guess at the flowers.

I sometimes think the displays could with a bit more foliage, but I think I spotted something evergreen in front of the brass section!

[Pianorak]

the constant director's obsession with the flowers.

No obvious sneezing. Either there weren't any hayfever sufferers present or they had all taken their antihistamine tablets.

[Stunsworth]

Found a few audio dropouts on the TV relay a tad frustrating

I noticed those too. Surprised that it wasn’t broadcast in 5.1 sound.

[zola]

Interesting that the interval feature on TV celebrated 100 years of modernism in Vienna. Architecture ? Check. Painting ? Check. Design ? Check. Music ? I think you can guess the answer.

[Petrushka]

I noticed those too. Surprised that it wasn’t broadcast in 5.1 sound.

You might like to catch the Austrian Radio relay which is in 5.1 sound http://oe1.orf.at/player/20180101/498284

[Alison]

Did you know the Suppe, Pet?

Didn’t recognise the timpanist and felt he could have been more assertive.

[Nick Armstrong]

Seemed a short first half this year .

A recording of the TV production is on in the background (the music doesn't reward more attentive listening, for me) - and I was also amazed by the short measure of the first half.

The main interest for me is seeing Muti conduct - he conducted the first London concert I ever attended, back in the 70s (Philharmonia, Brahms), and it's reassuring to see him looking on such good form (though he looks a bit bored sometimes ) - thank heavens not everyone I associate with my introduction to live music is dead (RIP Claudio, Klaus etc )

Otherwise, the pretty/precious tourist video TV presentation and the Squire's clod-hopping pronunciation have to be ignored (the fast-forward button dealt with the interval feature, after the

excruciatingly cheesy

first few seconds). Mind you, is it me or are the flowers even more extravagant/magnificent than usual? Maybe I just haven't noticed before.

In any event, many happy returns EA!

[Prommer]

I gather it IS to be Thielemann in 2019, which would be beyond amazing, but why no announcement - did Petroc not mention it??

[Prommer]

And here it is

http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en?platform=hootsuite

Modified rapture.