What to expect from the Vienna Philharmonic 2024 New Year’s Concert?

Christian Thielemann returns for a second stint at the prestigious conductor’s podium

On 1 January, it has become a beloved European tradition to ring in the first day of the new year in style with a beautiful selection of classical music pieces performed by the Vienna Philharmonic at its home – the Musikverein concert hall.

Just like last year, the concert will be broadcast to more than 90 countries around the world from the Golden Hall at the Musikverein.

It has also become a tradition to feature a different prominent conductor each year and the organizers have announced that Christian Thielemann, principal conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden and designated general music director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin, will return for a second stint. His first conducting performance at the Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert was in 2019.

We have enjoyed a close artistic partnership with Christian Thielemann for many years, making him a Philharmonic conductor with whom we have a particularly strong relationship,” said Daniel Froschauer, Vienna Philharmonic’s chairman, as quoted by The Violin Channel.

Featuring a classical Austrian composer for the first time

The Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert is a staple of grand Viennese classical music, focusing on waltzes, and especially music from the prominent Strauss dynasty of composers.

This year will be no different, however, the organizers have announced that there will be one notable change since for the first time ever music from another Austrian composer – Anton Bruckner – will also be included. 2024 will mark the 200^th anniversary of the birth of this less-known composer.

In addition, the promise is to perform music pieces by Strauss composers, which the wider audience might not be as familiar with.

You can consult the New Year’s Concert program and list of performances here. The concert is scheduled to begin at 11:15 (CET).