New Year's Day Concert 2014

[teamsaint]

I'm so envious,it looks a stunning arena.
I bet Alwyn 3 would sound great in there.

Alwyn 3 would sound great over the PA at Trowbridge town FC, never mind in Vienna.

perhaps it will get a Proms run out in 2014. (1957 was its last time out there).

[Petrushka]

And where has Rainer got to?

He's still there in the list of players http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/orchestra/members

The VPO personnel on stage this morning seemed very much to me to be the younger members of the orchestra, perhaps the chance for the tradition to be passed down. Just looking at the list of retired members induces a feeling of nostalgia for all those players whom I saw each New Year's Day or in the concert hall.

The other night I played a recently issued DVD of Solti conducting the VPO in 1964. The contrast could hardly be more stark. Most of the 1964 VPO look like elderly professors and the average age on display looks like 60. Mind, at the very back of the first violins I can just make out future concertmaster, Werner Hink.

[Historian]

One thing about the ballet has always puzzled me. If the dancing is pre-recorded, how do they manage to keep exactly in time with the live music?

On the BBC Red Button channel this morning, they showed the first half of the concert live, together with a documentary about the sessions when they record the ballet music in (I think) the summer. Not sure if it's available on Iplayer.

I know the ballet excerpts are execrated by some, but many other people certainly enjoy them. For me, it's a way to get my daughter to listen to some Strauss (et al).

Anyway, "Prosit Neujahr!"

[Alison]

Well up to standard today I thought: a well thought out and structured programme, Barenboim seemingly more at ease than in 2009. Lots of highlights evenly spread out.

[Petrushka]

Well up to standard today I thought: a well thought out and structured programme, Barenboim seemingly more at ease than in 2009. Lots of highlights evenly spread out.

Glad you enjoyed it! I've ordered the deluxe CD set from the VPO on line shop http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/s...d/888430277625

[Prommer]

He's still there in the list of players http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/orchestra/members

The VPO personnel on stage this morning seemed very much to me to be the younger members of the orchestra, perhaps the chance for the tradition to be passed down. Just looking at the list of retired members induces a feeling of nostalgia for all those players whom I saw each New Year's Day or in the concert hall.

The other night I played a recently issued DVD of Solti conducting the VPO in 1964. The contrast could hardly be more stark. Most of the 1964 VPO look like elderly professors and the average age on display looks like 60. Mind, at the very back of the first violins I can just make out future concertmaster, Werner Hink.

Yes, very few greybeards today: I wonder if they have retired or are putting their feet up to allow the youth a go... and the women!

[Stanfordian]

He's still there in the list of players http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/orchestra/members

The VPO personnel on stage this morning seemed very much to me to be the younger members of the orchestra, perhaps the chance for the tradition to be passed down. Just looking at the list of retired members induces a feeling of nostalgia for all those players whom I saw each New Year's Day or in the concert hall.

The other night I played a recently issued DVD of Solti conducting the VPO in 1964. The contrast could hardly be more stark. Most of the 1964 VPO look like elderly professors and the average age on display looks like 60. Mind, at the very back of the first violins I can just make out future concertmaster, Werner Hink.

Hiya Petrushka,

I enjoyed yesterday's New Year Concert played by the VPO under Barenboim. As usual I noticed the small number of women (around 7 I think) who were all wearing pants not dresses. Maybe they are treated as honorary men! The VPO are untypical and I really don’t know how it has got away with recruiting so few women over these more enlightened years. Many orchestras especially in Britain and Europe seem to have just as many woman if not more in their ranks as men.

In the last 5 or 6 years I have seen a number of international orchestras including most of the European and nearly all the British. I have to say how the age profile these days has dropped and seems considerably youthful. I must say when I have seen several of the American orchestras I am often surprised by the inclusion of several players who seem much older than the European and the British.

[Flosshilde]

They cheered up later...

After visiting the bar during the interval & knocking back the champagne?

[Flosshilde]

I thought VW's costumes were bonkers but fun,

Probably rather more exciting & original than the music

I've always been a fan (even before I had a sort-of family connection)