Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert 2021

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've always wanted to be one of those people who collected all the New Year's Day concert recordings.

At such a late stage, this seemed to be the best solution. This is the 2020 Extended Version, updating the box of five years ago.

[Barbirollians]

After RO’s review I decided to make this the first new NYD concert CD I have bought since Carlos Kleiber in 1992.

It is indeed splendid played in CD sound compared to just the TV speakers . Cracking record.

[Alison]

A bit late to comment but what struck me was how relaxed and happy the orchestra looked when they are usually so straightlaced. Was this because they are glad to be back playing or the lack of audience or even the effect of Muti. Whatever the reason, I heard it in the playing too.

Perhaps it was the uniqueness of the occasion that galvanised the orchestra into heights they didn’t readily find in Muti’s previous appearance.

But then I think Muti was more engaged this time too for the same reason.

[Petrushka]

Perhaps it was the uniqueness of the occasion that galvanised the orchestra into heights they didn’t readily find in Muti’s previous appearance.

But then I think Muti was more engaged this time too for the same reason.

I've got the concert on my hard drive but think I may well go for both the CD and DVD for the first time in ages.

[HighlandDougie]

Perhaps it was the uniqueness of the occasion that galvanised the orchestra into heights they didn’t readily find in Muti’s previous appearance.

But then I think Muti was more engaged this time too for the same reason.

How could one resist? Duly ordered (first since Carlos K) - if only for "Poet and Peasant" ...

[Barbirollians]

How could one resist? Duly ordered (first since Carlos K) - if only for "Poet and Peasant" ...

The booklet is odd as if it was written before the pandemic. No mention of the pandemic, the empty hall etc .

[bluestateprommer]

The booklet is odd as if it was written before the pandemic. No mention of the pandemic, the empty hall etc .

That's actually been the case for years now with the VPO NJK albums, where the idea has been to try to issue the album within 10 days or so of the concert. To do that so quickly, the record label (Sony Classical, DG, Teldec [the last as far back as Harnoncourt in 2001]) has to have everything pretty much at the ready with imagery, text, etc., all set up in advance. One can look at past albums and suss out that imagery is taken from past concerts, if someone like Muti has conducted the New Year's Concert previously, in some cases.

To address questions/issues/miscellany in previous posts:

a) # of ladies in the orchestra this year: I counted 12.

b) Transcript of Muti's speech (#65, #66): well, you asked for it (albeit with one slight elide because of one word choice by Muti that might flag this post):

"We are playing this New Year’s Concert in a very unusual situation. We know that we are playing for many million of people around the world, practically more than 90 different countries. But it’s very strange for us, to play in such a beautiful, historical hall, completely – empty . But the orchestra played wonderfully, not only because they wanted to convey to you the message of music, but also because always, the Wiener Philharmoniker are surrounded by the spirits of Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler, that in this hall, and many other composers, and interpreters, that in this hall, made history.

Very few words just about the fact that, of course, it’s, we all had a very, very difficult, difficult year, actually, a horrendous, horribilus annus, as in Latin I would say. But we are still here, believing in the message of music. Musicians have, in their weapons, flowers, not things that (k-ll). We bring joy, hope, peace, brotherhood, Love with capital L.

So music is important not because it’s an entertainment. Many times we see, are very aware, music is seen as entertainer. Music is not only profession; it is a mission. That is why we do this work. So, mission for what? To make the society better, to think about the new generation, that has in one complete year been completely deprived from deep thinking, thinking all the time about health. Health is the first, most important thing, but also, the health of the mind. And music helps. So, my message to the governors, and presidents, and prime ministers everywhere, in every part of the world, consider culture, always, as one of the primary – primera – elements to have a better society in the future.

With this message, we will play now the famous Blue Danube, and I hope that on the waves of this beautiful music full of joy, and sadness, life, and death, we can hope for a better year. This is why I would like to ask all my colleagues here to say “Happy New Year” in their wonderful language. So I will say:

Die Wiener Philharmoniker, und ich, wunschen ihnen:

Prosit Neujahr!

Grazie."

BTW, for the American relay of the 2nd half on the Great Performances PBS series, most of Muti's speech was excised, i.e. the "political" bits. They also tweaked the address by Daniel Froschauer to edit out his accidental, though charming, slip in English where he had said "Maestro Music..Muti", simply where Froschauer was heard to say "Maestro Muti".

c) Looking ahead (#64, #67): actually, the VPO is way ahead of all of us on this game, as they need to be. I refer to this video from the VPO's site with the orchestra's librarian, Florian Wieninger:

https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/media/videos#wieninger

Transcript of the video's translation, since we're all in the mood for transcripts (....), slightly paraphrased:

“The New Year’s Concert is the most important concert of the Wiener Philharmoniker, and has a corresponding preparation phase of about one and a half years, the start of which the board of directors plan with the conductor what the programme will be. About three weeks after the previous New Year’s Concert, our work begins.

We don’t play any arrangements, but rather new editions, if they were not previously available. This means that for every New Year’s Concert, seven to eleven new pieces are prepared, scientifically created, editions created, markings written, etc., etc..

Additionally, the repeats need to be discussed with the conductor, as this influences the length of the programme. This is important, as the concert must not be too long or too short. And! This information we need to provide the filmers, the sound engineers, etc., reliably.”

In terms of new conductors to invite, I agree with LHC that Philippe Jordan will get the invite at some point, if only as a courtesy as the new MD of the Vienna State Opera. Also agree that Harding and Hrusa are future possibilities as well. Another younger generation name who will, I think, get the invite at some point is Andres Orozco-Estrada. But here's another name who might get the invite: SSR. I don't doubt that Dudamel and Nelsons will each be invited back in due course. I remember reading that Nelsons said that the orchestra plans its NJK invitations to conductors up to 3 years in advance.

It also became evident from listening to Petroc that he was not able to travel to Vienna to present this concert. For the American TV presentation, Hugh Bonneville was at Goodwood House, and not in Vienna himself either.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I’ve only just got around to ordering the CD of this year’s concert - at half-time during the Czech Republic/England game -and it dropped through my letter box before 12 noon today. Remarkable service. Seven new works not included in the big Sony/VPO box.