To the unsuspecting listener, the Vienna Philharmonic's Neujahrskonzert 2024 sounded like it had always sounded. Waltzes, polkas and marches by various descendants of the Strauss dynasty filled the richly decorated Golden Hall of the Musikverein. Those who are a little bit versed in the history of this annual festive concert, however, noticed that conductor Christian Thielemann placed different
… accents than during his 2019 debut. Almost a third of the pieces on the program were by a composer other than a Strauss. The number of Strauss classics could also be counted on just one hand. Indeed, Strauss junior's polkas Figaro and Nachtigall sounded for the first time at a New Year's concert, as did his posthumously published Ischler Walzer. The latter piece was premiered in 1900 by Karl Komzák. A nice link in the program was therefore Komzák's own Erzherzog Albrecht-Marsch, with which the concert began. It was the prelude to more newcomers, such as Joseph Hellmesberger Jr. with his Estudiantina Polka and the Dane Hans Christian Lumbye with the gallop Glædeligt Nytaar! The biggest surprise, however, was the Quadrille WAB 121 by Anton Bruckner, whose bicentennial will be commemorated in 2024. Remarkable in it was a quote, intended or not, from Joy to the World (2:40). It connected seamlessly with Thielemann's short speech. If there was one thing Thielemann wanted to achieve with this concert, it was to bring a moment of beauty to a world "torn apart by wars and intolerance. In that context, Hellmesberg's waltz Für die ganze Welt undoubtedly sounded as well. With that, we must do it for another year. (JWvR)more
