Even though Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert returns year after year, no two annual concert performances are the same. In fact, great care is taken each season to ensure that audiences returning to the celebration time and again will encounter a fresh musical programme every year.
There is always something fresh and unique to discover in our rotating repertoire of lush waltzes, soaring arias, and romantic duets. And while some musical pieces in our concert programme are rarely performed gems, others are iconic classics that audiences hope to see performed year after year!
Out of all the music performed in the repertoire of Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert, here are the Top Five Audience Favourites:
5. “Les oiseaux,” (Doll Song) from Tales of Hoffmann
In the first act of this operetta by Jacques Offenbach, the title character tells a strange story about an enchanting mechanical doll named Olympia who comes to life. Olympia performs this famous aria and Hoffman cannot help but fall in love with her. To perform this challenging aria, the soprano must have exceptional vocal skills... and great comic timing!
Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert's Brigitta Simon
4. Thunder and Lightning Polka – Johann Strauss II
Mother Nature herself is evoked in this lively, energetic 1868 polka! With its robust percussion and frantic pace, the music expresses the wild frenzy of being caught in the rain. Its increasingly frenetic pace mimics the chaos of a drizzle turning rapidly into a downpour. When listening to this polka, it's easy to imagine a group of well-dressed, turn-of-the-century, Viennese partygoers racing to find shelter from an unexpected rainstorm!
3. “Da geh’ ich zu Maxim,” from Merry Widow
Count Danilo, the carefree, fun-loving Pontevedran bachelor at the centre of the will-they-won't-they relationship with the titular widow of Franz Lehár's 1905 operetta spends most of his time at Maxim's. Life as a diplomat is tough, after all! That's why he need to unwind and blow off steam at the famous Parisian nightclub. This comedic ode to Maxim's (and the ladies who work there) is a song our tenors love to perform, and our audiences love to hear.
Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert's Thomas Weinhappel
2. Overture to Die Fledermaus
Since 1874, audiences at Vienna's Theater an der Wien have been ushered into the farcical world of Johan Strauss II's comedic masterwork by the dazzling, vibrant overture to Die Fledermaus. Perhaps the most well-known Viennese operetta, Die Fledermaus is still part of the theatre's regular repertoire 150 years after its premiere. Its lively overture sets the tone for the comedic vaudeville of mistaken identities, forbidden love affairs, and champagne-drenched delights. This famous, beloved overture often kicks off a Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert or welcomes its audience back from intermission. It will be easily recognized by any devotee of the genre, or by those raised on Saturday morning cartoons:
BONUS: “Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiss” from Giuditta
Our list of fan-favourites wouldn't be complete without this passionate aria, sung by the title character in Giuditta. This sincere and sensuous declaration of love showcases Franz Lehár at his musical best.
And of course... our number one pick:
1. Blue Danube Waltz – Johann Strauss II
An unofficial Austrian national anthem, a genre-defining musical composition, and a mainstay of popular culture, no Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert would be complete without the Blue Danube Waltz. Among the most popular pieces of classical music ever composed, this waltz means something different to everyone who hears it, and its meaning can change as time marches on.
Each year as our concert comes to a close, we find ourselves listening to this sublime piece of music and reflecting on the year that's gone by. And while this piece may bring to mind splendid memories of the past, its beautiful refrain also helps us dream about all the wonderful surprises the coming year has in store.
To find out where Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert will be to ring in 2025, see our list of cities here.
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