Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert 2020

[richardfinegold]

This will be my 49th New Year's Day Concert! I still long for the Boskovsky era and, apart from Karajan in 1987 and the two Carlos Kleiber concerts (1990 & 1992), it's never really had the same sparkle and magic that Boskovsky had in spades.

Yes, it's a well established historical fact that the NYDC tradition began in the National Socialist era but it's no longer relevant if indeed, it ever was. None of the present day VPO members were anywhere near to being born then and it's all 75 years ago. Very few people from that time can now be living. Can't journos who should know better now please move on?

Some of us have really long memories, particularly those of us whose families may have been wiped out by Einsatzkommandos commanded by the likes of Austrian Otto Skorzeny, in the service of the the Austrian Corporal himself. I imagine that there are families that lost people in the London Blitz that may not be able to forget that the New Years Day Concert was an attempt to regain Cultural Legitimacy months after the Anschluss and Kristallnacht, when Artists by the score were refusing to have any truck with the odious regime. Now learning that the famous Radetzky March encore was arraigned by a Party Member who also arranged the Horst Wessel Lied....ugh.
Otoh....the Music itself cannot be blamed for being appropriated by unsavory people. And the concert has moved beyond it’s unseemly origins. However, is there something wrong about reminding people of those origins? At a time when hatred of all kinds, and Anti Semitism in particular are resurgent, a little History Lesson accompanying the spectacle for me makes it more enjoyable?

[Darkbloom]

I wonder if Nelsons has slimmed down a bit since I saw him in August, when he looked like a baby elephant. Maybe the thought of a concert televised across the globe has encouraged him to lose some weight.

[Bryn]

I wonder if Nelsons has slimmed down a bit since I saw him in August, when he looked like a baby elephant. Maybe the thought of a concert televised across the globe has encouraged him to lose some weight.

Well, his name is Nelsons, not just a singular Nelson.

[BBMmk2]

Looks really good this year. I love the Suppé.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Yes, it's a well established historical fact that the NYDC tradition began in the National Socialist era but it's no longer relevant if indeed, it ever was. None of the present day VPO members were anywhere near to being born then and it's all 75 years ago. Very few people from that time can now be living. Can't journos who should know better now please move on?

My thoughts exactly.

[Richard Barrett]

the Music itself cannot be blamed for being appropriated by unsavory people. And the concert has moved beyond it’s unseemly origins. However, is there something wrong about reminding people of those origins? At a time when hatred of all kinds, and Anti Semitism in particular are resurgent, a little History Lesson accompanying the spectacle for me makes it more enjoyable?

Indeed. Understanding the complexity of the history behind a very large proportion of our shared cultural heritage is more important than ever. Sweeping it under the carpet is no good for anyone. Anyway I'll be watching the concert this morning, apart from the Radetzky March the sound of which brings me out in hives.

[Richard Tarleton]

apart from the Radetzky March the sound of which brings me out in hives.

https://marywcraig.com/2017/04/02/the-battles-of-custoza-and-novara-and-the-radetzky-march/

I was trying to think of a UK equivalent. There is a Duke of Cumberland's March, but fortunately nobody seems to have recorded it. I doubt I could listen to that, however rousingly played.

[Ein Heldenleben]

The opening of this Beethoven film has set the cheese dial to maximum...

[Prommer]

I wonder if Nelsons has slimmed down a bit since I saw him in August, when he looked like a baby elephant. Maybe the thought of a concert televised across the globe has encouraged him to lose some weight.

Please post picture of yourself immediately so we can have a look at you.

[Stanfordian]

I wonder if Nelsons has slimmed down a bit since I saw him in August, when he looked like a baby elephant. Maybe the thought of a concert televised across the globe has encouraged him to lose some weight.

What has his weight got to do with anything?

[Barbirollians]

Please post picture of yourself immediately so we can have a look at you.

Good for Andris N if he has lost some weight albeit not of much relevance to his music making .

I am a bit behind watching it on a recording an hour behind . So far however do good - streets ahead of last year’s Thielemann bore fest.

[seabright]

They just played what Petroc said was a polka by Edouard Strauss. Definition of polka: "A lively dance in duple time." Yet what we actually heard was a slow waltz in three-four time. Ooopss!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Good for Andris N if he has lost some weight albeit not of much relevance to his music making .

I am a bit behind watching it on a recording an hour behind . So far however do good - streets ahead of last year’s Thielemann bore fest.

I was thinking what a good mover he is on the platform ! Seriously good trumpeter as well by the sound of it ...

[pastoralguy]

The camera keeps 'finding' a young middle aged bespectacled gentleman of dark skin. Any one have any idea who he is?

Happy New Year!

[eighthobstruction]

....turned on 1115hr....William Tell break neck with clapping (I expect , turned off immediately)....is this cheap radio????....Sheeeeeeesh!!!!

....was in fact of course Radetzsky....slip of adled mind....