Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert 2023

[bluestateprommer]

Time for the annual thread for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra's New Year's Day concert, 2023 version. First up, standard links:

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra page: https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/...concert/10249/

ORF:
Part 1: https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20230101...Philharmoniker
Interval feature: https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20230101...rauss-Dynastie
Part 2: https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20230101...Philharmoniker

BBC R3: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001cglj (not sure why this shows up under R3's schedule for Saturday, but never mind)

Full program(me), minus the 'secret' encore and the two standard final pieces, with (*) marking the first performance at the VPO's New Year's Concert:

Eduard Strauss: "Wer tanzt mit?" ('Who'll join the dance?"), Polka schnell, op. 251 (*)
Josef Strauss: "Heldengedichte" ("Heroic Poems"), Walzer, op. 87 (*)
Johann Strauss II: "Zigeunerbaron-Quadrille", op. 422 (*)
Carl Michael Ziehrer: "In lauschiger Nacht" ("On a Cozy Night"), Walzer, op. 488 (*)
Johann Strauss II: "Frisch heran!" ("Come on in!"), Polka schnell, op. 386 (*)

Franz von Suppè: Ouvertüre zur Operette "Isabella" (*)
Josef Strauss: "Perlen der Liebe" ("Pearls of Love"), Walzer, op. 39 (*)
Josef Strauss: "Angelica-Polka", Polka française, op. 123 (*)
Eduard Strauss: "Auf und davon" ("Up and away"), Polka schnell, op. 73 (*)
Josef Strauss: "Heiterer Muth" ("Blithe Spirits"), Polka française, op. 281
Josef Strauss: "For ever", Polka schnell, op. 193 (*)
Josef Strauss: "Zeisserln" ("Siskins"), Walzer, op. 114 (*)
Josef Hellmesberger Jr.: 'Glocken-Polka' ('Bells Polka') mit 'Galopp' aus dem Ballett "Excelsior" (*)
Josef Strauss: 'Allegro fantastique', Orchesterfantasie, Anh. 26b (*)
Josef Strauss: 'Aquarellen', Walzer, op. 258

The quotes around 'secret' are because the BBC R3 page discloses the 'unannounced' encore, Johann Strauss II's "Banditen-Galopp".

One major twist in this year's concert is that the Wiener Chormädchen (Vienna Girls Choir) is participating for the first time ever, joining the Vienna Boys Choir. The young ladies are set to sing Josef's "Heiterer Muth". Of course, once I watch the videos, I'll do the count as to the number of ladies in the orchestra itself, as no doubt Petroc will. As usual, from the BBC R3 staff, Petroc gets the presenter's call, but no idea if he will be able to travel to Vienna to present in person, or whether the plan is to play it safe and he stays in the UK to watch from video monitors. But if nothing else, ORF's presenter once again is Eva Teimel, barring any COVID flare-up like what got her this last-minute presentation gig last year, when she unintentionally shattered ORF's glass ceiling for radio presenters of this concert.

As to the program itself, many of the selections look exceptionally unfamiliar, which is welcome news. Petrushka will be glad to see Josef so well represented, with the lion's share, 8 out of the 15 selections. I'm actually not back home yet to check my Excel database to (*) all the selections which are receiving their first VPO New Year's Concert performances, but if and when I get back there, I'll do the retro-research. It's possible that up to 10 (**) of these selections are total newbies to this event.

While FW-M is far from scintillating (self-effacing well past the point of blandness, to put it one way), if nothing else, he knows to let the orchestra play. So it will really be all about the music, and with all the offbeat repertoire, that can be but a good thing. We shall see.

(**) Correction: 13 of the selections are new to the VPO's New Year's Concert, with the (*) archive check done

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

FW-M may not be in the league of conductors that the Vienna Philharmonic deserves, but he continues to introduce “new”works to the NYD list, so I shall be forced into buying the CD.

[LHC]

The number of pieces that are new to the concert may be explained by this quote from an interview about the forthcoming concert with FW-M (as reported on Lebrecht’s website):

‘I have everything that Johann and Josef Strauss and Joseph Lanner wrote at home. During the pandemic, before I was invited to conduct the New Year’s concert, I often browsed through my library and discovered great things. When I was then invited, I asked for a list of all the pieces that had ever been played at the New Year’s concert to be sent to me. Seventy percent has never been played! Of course, as with Mr. Mozart, not everything is at an exalted level. Enough but at the highest level.’

[Petrushka]

You are correct in saying I'm pleased about the inclusion of so many items from the pen of Josef Strauss, bsp, but I'm especially glad to see te waltz, Perlen der Liebe, there as I've been longing to hear the VPO in this absolute gem. Boskovsky recorded it with the Johann Strauss Orchestra of Vienna in the 1970s but you will understand my longing to hear the VPO in it once you hear it.

Perlen der Liebe is Josef's opus 39, is a concert waltz, and is way ahead in technical assurance and melodic genius than anything by his brother, Johann, at the same stage in his composing career. It is a masterpiece that deserves to be up there with the finest creations of the Strauss family.

[Alison]

Very much looking forward to this. The previous FW-M concerts sounded better than I’d remembered upon playing the CDs several years later.

[Prommer]

Was that a bit of Viennese head banging from FWM?

[Prommer]

Nice first half! Not many women as usual but those there are, are rather beautiful!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Looks like some one has bought the director of these terribly cheesy interval features a drone for Christmas.

[Ein Heldenleben]

This Tango/ Zigeuner mash up of the Beethoven D minor piano sonata played by white clad extras from a Hollywood heaven dream sequence has to be the weirdest thing I’ve seen this year.

[kernelbogey]

Looks like some one has bought the director of these terribly cheesy interval features a drone for Christmas.

I thought the CGI rather inventive.

[Prommer]

Was that a bit of Viennese head banging from FWM?

During the fast polka which closed part one.

[Prommer]

It’s like nothing ever changes… even after a pandemic.

Reassuring, or annoying, according to taste.

[Ein Heldenleben]

It’s like nothing ever changes… even after a pandemic.

Reassuring, or annoying, according to taste.

Good to hear so much unfamiliar music but they need to ditch the terrible interval features and sort out those risible ballet sequences. There must be so many contemporary choreographers who can do a better job.

[Prommer]

Good to hear so much unfamiliar music but they need to ditch the terrible interval features and sort out those risible ballet sequences. There must be so many contemporary choreographers who can do a better job.

Even an instinctive reactionary can - if they possess any taste - agree on that!

[Prommer]

Also good to see the girls singing alongside the boys.

Boosts the female quotient by some way too…