CD REVIEW
– NEUJAHRSKONZERT 2024
CHRISTIAN THIELMANN
VIENNA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Sony DVD
Video 196588589492
Faced with having
run out of CD storage space and a
decreasing bank balance –
and receiving gentle
encouragement from my wife –
I was resolved not to buy so many
releases in 2024, but soon
succumbed to the lure of a
competitive postage free lower
price for this DVD from HMV/eBay.
It is of the
always eagerly anticipated
programme of music from the
glorious flower bedecked Golden
Hall of the Musikverein in
Vienna, shown live on TV to
millions in over 90 countries
around the world on New Year's
Day. 2-CD, Blue-ray and 3-Vinyl
LP versions of the concert are
also available at higher prices.
This year there
are nine out of 19 pieces that
have never been heard before at
the event by what is now a
high-paying packed audience.
These include the rousing opening
number, Erzherzog
Albrecht-Marsch by Karel
Komzák, Glaedeligt Nytaar!
(Happy New Year!) Galopp by
Hans Christian Lumbye (1810-74)
– "the Danish
Strauss" – and Quadrille
for piano four hands by Anton
Bruckner (d 1896) marking the
bicentenary of his birth.
Newly heard from
the Strauss family are Johann
ll's Figaro-Polka
(composed in thanks to the
publisher of the French newspaper
for its concert reviews), Ischler
Walzer and Nightingale
Polka, and Eduard's The
Mountain Spring. Also new
are For the Whole World Waltz
and Estudiantina Polka,
with its noteworthy pizzicato
playing, from Joseph
Hellmesberger ll.
Two other
composers involved with
previously played pieces are Carl
Michael Ziehrer (Viennese
Burghers) and Josef Strauss
(Deliriums Waltz). I
would have liked more from the
last-named, my favourite of the
famous musical brothers.
As in 2019, the
60th year of his 1st April birth,
wielding the baton –
although not always necessary for
Strauss with this orchestra
– is the highly-respected
West Berlin-born maestro,
Christian Thielmann, currently
chief conductor of the
Staatskapelle Dresden and the
designated Generalmusicdirektor
of the Berlin State Opera. A
closely shared artistic
relationship between him and the
VPO is evident in his conducting
and their playing.
Just a reminder
that this is a DVD and, as well
as the wonderful music, you get
for your money two bonus
features: 'Anton Bruckner –
A Journey of Discovery' and
'Ischler Walzer & Wiener
Burger Complete Ballet Sequences'
featuring the Wiener
Staatsballett.
With their annual
concert the Vienna Philharmonic,
as musical ambassadors of
Austria, send a New Year's
greeting to all of us "in
the spirit of hope, friendship
and peace" – needed
more than ever throughout our
world today.
Next year the
Italian, Riccardo Muti, is
scheduled to conduct for the
seventh time.
©
Peter Burt, February 2024
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