The Vienna New Year's Concert 2001 was an experience alone because of the pleasant encounter between the glamor of Viennese society and the modest charisma of conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Thus the conductor looked almost resigned when the audience disrupted his service for "An der schönen blauen Donau" with applause, in order to enforce the traditional New Year's greeting. Harnoncourt then
… introduced this New Year's greeting, saying, "Art is the greatest gift of God. Let us love it also in the next millennium." Unsurprisingly, Harnoncourt's programming contained a number of surprises. Thus the program started with the original version of the "Radetzky-Marsch", of which the well-known version is always played at the end. Furthermore, the concert paid tribute to Joseph Lanner, who was born in 1801. But also of famous waltzes such as "Sei umschlungen, Millionen" and "An der schönen blauen Donau" Harnoncourt gave fascinating lectures, which will undoubtedly make this New Year's concert memorable. Who knows, John Eliot Gardiner may also be next. (HJ) _more
