Daniel Barenboim’s third New Year’s concert with the Vienna Philharmonic was very traditionally programmed with music mainly by Johann Strauss and was implemented with nostalgic, luxurious sound, noble nobility and few gags.
In his moving address, Barenboim emphasized the invisible power of synergetic interaction in an orchestra – everyone has to listen to the other and you have to find a common line with or without a conductor. And so this New Year’s concert was something special in a completely different sense. Because seldom has such a concentration, such an intense will to pull in the same direction, and precisely the cohesion invoked by Barenboim and recommended to imitate the world within the orchestra of almost 80 individualists. Correspondingly harmonious was the result of pure elegance and beauty, of loving detail, which did not lead to mere analytical meticulousness, but to intense, but never unduly exaggerated emotion.
This “concept”, which was certainly not one, was also radiated by Michael Beyer’s calm, subtle image direction, both in the live broadcast and in the pre-produced parts. Likewise, the choreography for the Vienna State Ballet by Martin Schläpfer, dressed in simple elegance by Arthur Arbesser, alternated between classical top dance and barefoot dancing, modern forms of movement probably never before integrated into a New Year’s concert. Serene nobility also shaped the choreographic implementation of the Lipizzaner in Josef Strauss ?? Nymph polka.
The next New Year’s Concert will be conducted by Franz Welser-Möst from Upper Austria, who has enjoyed a long and successful collaboration with the Vienna Philharmonic. The 61-year-old has been wearing the orchestra’s ring of honor since 2014. It will be his third New Years concert after 2011 and 2013.
Source: Nachrichten
