Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert 2019

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes. It reminds me of the pan European one size fits all carry on smiling at all times style of dancing one sees on cruise ships.

Funnily enough for the Czardas they did try something more a bit more contemporary but it just looked ugly . Why can't they get some one like Matthew Bourne or David Bintley to create something artistically worthwhile?

[zola]

I would imagine that Rolex is rather pleased with the free publicity the BBC is giving them this morning.

But it's not free is it ? That's how sponsorship works.

[Prommer]

Perfect tempo for the Blue Danube... as you can see from the rhythm in the double basses.

[johnn10]

Rolex has been the sponsor for several years but this is the first time I can recall the fact being mentioned by the BBC. Given that the top price tickets are around a thousand euros and presumably the VPO gets money from the European Broadcast Union it does rather make wonder what the Rolex sponsorship actually pays for.

[Ein Heldenleben]

As always I wonder how many watch this and think I must go out and spend £5000 on a Rolex...?

[Barbirollians]

I gave up before the Blue Danube - found it the dreariest NYC I have ever seen - much of the conducting lacking in sparkle despite the perfect playing .

[pastoralguy]

As always I wonder how many watch this and think I must go out and spend £5000 on a Rolex...?

£5k...!? And the rest!

[Ein Heldenleben]

£5k...!? And the rest!

You can get an Oyster Perpetual for £4369 . They're a useful standby when the Patek is having a battery change don't you think?

[Bryn]

I gave up before the Blue Danube - found it the dreariest NYC I have ever seen - much of the conducting lacking in sparkle despite the perfect playing .

I didn't know John Wilson got the job this year.

[johnn10]

At times the conducting style reminded me of watching v old silent footage of early 20th century Germany with a burly uniformed bandmaster conducting a brass band. The hand movements seemed more appropriate for say a stirring bit of Verdi.

[gradus]

I didn't know John Wilson got the job this year.

Imv one of the best I've ever seen, simply wonderful choice of music, although I only heard the second half.

[Richard Barrett]

I only caught the second half on account of having been cooking and generally hosting for 16 people yesterday evening and getting to bed very late, but I found it a great improvement on last year both in repertoire and performance. I have the feeling that CT knows exactly when to just let the VPO do what it does and when to nudge it gently here or there, which is surely the best way to approach this concert.

[Nick Armstrong]

Another example of "what you see is not what you hear" I think. It's not at all obvious from watching this concert how Thieleman gets results, but the same could be said of some other outstanding conductors. This is the first time I've actually seen him perform.

Don’t expect to enjoy the visuals with Thieleman, as he is rather wooden, but the preparation, rehearsal, and understanding of tradition will be there.

Just taking a look at my recording from this morning. Some sparkling playing (though I have a very limited appetite for this sort of music - is there really some Richard Strauss to come? ). I last saw Thieleman at the Proms making Bruckner and the Dresden Staatskapelle sound very shallow and dull - I just don't trust this bloke's music-making somehow. Borne out by what I'm seeing, or trying not to see - I'm typing this to avoid watching the bugger. Will fast forward to any Richard S, then delete I think.

[Petrushka]

I found it a great improvement on last year both in repertoire and performance. I have the feeling that CT knows exactly when to just let the VPO do what it does and when to nudge it gently here or there.

I'd go along with this assessment. However, I just feel there has been a lack of sparkle in recent years and as a long time NYDC enthusiast (this was my 48th) I sorely miss the sheer sense of fun that was so evident in the Boskovsky era. Catch the 1974 second half to see how it should be done https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfgvqWEFa54

[jayne lee wilson]

Perhaps they should invite Jos van Immerseel one year - as long as they invite his AEB as well....(see listening thread...)...

Might try the present occasion as Musique de Table later (usually enjoy the ballet, but have never enjoyed Thielemann's Bruckner...). When I'm less gloomy about what's left of the day, or the year ahead...