Vienna New Year's Concert 2025: Muti Wants to "Bring Vienna's Message of Peace to the World"

On Saturday, orchestra chairman Daniel Froschauer and Riccardo Muti traditionally faced the world press one last time before the major classical event. "We can send a message of peace from Vienna to the world," said the maestro.

Vienna New Year's Concert 2025 to be Muti's Last

"Music is the best medicine for the soul," Muti asserted. In today's world, "harmony, beauty, and peace" are needed. "We musicians are only a small part of the world, unfortunately. What we can contribute to peace, beauty, and harmony is little, but very important. We need music more than ever because it is indeed a medicine for the soul." Many governments do not understand this and cut cultural budgets first when facing economic problems. "That is a mistake."

About the message of the New Year's concert 2025 in Vienna, Muti said: "We hope to carry a ship full of beauty and love on the waves of the blue Danube." In 1993, when he conducted his first New Year's concert in Vienna, he thought it was a one-time event for him. "Because it is very demanding and technically difficult." And every time he said it was the last time: "But this time it is the last!", Muti knocked on the table.

The star conductor from Naples has already led the Vienna Philharmonic through a concert over 500 times - so they know each other well. "I have a very special relationship with Riccardo Muti," said Philharmonic Chairman Froschauer. "Every time I pick him up from the airport, it feels like more than friendship, it's like family." Froschauer recalled at the press conference the year 2021, when they had to play without an audience due to Covid. "Muti saved the concert." Polkas, marches, and waltzes usually evoke enthusiasm from the audience. "But back then there was silence. You can't imagine how difficult it is to bring music to a climax in silence without an audience," Muti added.

Vienna New Year's Concert 2025 Puts Yearly Regent Strauss at the Center

The program for New Year's Day mainly pays tribute to the then newly minted annual jubilarian Johann Strauss Son, whose 200th birthday is being celebrated. A total of eight pieces by the King of Waltz are scheduled - not even counting the traditional encore of the "Blue Danube Waltz". Pieces by his father are also offered. "And we should not forget to mention Eduard Strauss," said Muti. "Perhaps the least talented of the family. But I'm not saying untalented," the Italian chuckled. The music of the Strauss family expresses melancholy and joy. Both moods are part of Vienna's personality.

First Work by a Woman at the Vienna New Year's Concert 2025

Less familiar, but no less spectacular, is what is planned for part 2 of the morning: the "Ferdinandus Waltz". This was written by Strauss's contemporary Constanze Geiger (1835-1890) and represents the first work by a woman ever to be performed at the New Year's concert on January 1st. A historic and delicate step towards programmatic gender equality. "I chose the piece because of its quality," emphasized Muti. "I don't conduct because a piece is by a man or a woman, but when the music is good."

ORF Broadcasts Vienna New Year's Concert 2025 Live Again

This event can be experienced not only by the prominent guests in the Musikverein itself, but also by TV viewers around the globe. ORF is broadcasting the event for the 67th time with 14 cameras to all over the world, with the concert being broadcast in nearly 100 countries. From 11.15 am, Teresa Vogl will comment on the concert on ORF 2, preceded by a making-of at 10.35 am. "This is an opportunity to show that culture is part of our identity," said ORF Director General Roland Weißmann at the media event.

During the event itself, the traditional ballet interludes, choreographed for the first time by the British Cathy Marston, can be experienced as an accompaniment to some concert pieces. These are interpreted by ensemble members of the State Ballet and also honor Johann Strauss on the anniversary. The dancing takes place in Lok 12.10 in the Technical Museum and through the Südbahnhotel at Semmering.

Last but not least, the intermission film "2025 - A Strauss Odyssey" also honors the annual regent, in which the real great-great-nephew of the master, Thomas Strauss, steers a spaceship towards Earth and incidentally conducts explorations about his great ancestor. The listeners of Ö1 are blown away by this visual experience. The classical music station also broadcasts the New Year's morning live from the Golden Hall.

More about the Vienna New Year's Concert 2025 can be found here.

(APA/Red)

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