After thousands of police officers in the federal capital had to monitor the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the executive branch had to move out to the next major event the morning after. Traditionally, from 11 a.m. onwards, not only music lovers but also state leaders gathered at the Musikverein for the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert.
Maestro Christian Thielemann conducted the annual spectacle, which was taking place for the 84th time. The images were broadcast for the 66th time, with people in around 100 countries watching in front of the screens. Dozens of celebrities from politics and business as well as, of course, head of state Alexander Van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer attended the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic concert. Picture show: The New Year’s Concert in PicturesAfter the traditional Radetzky March, the audience gave the orchestra and the maestro enthusiastic cheers. A standing ovation followed, and the Federal President also stood up. The mood was relaxed, but there were still controls. There were a lot of police on site beforehand and the arriving guests were checked. However, the mood was very relaxed. “If you have a ticket, you get in,” observed our “Krone” photographer before the concert began. The event – after its successful premiere last year – was commented on by ORF cultural presenter Teresa Vogl. The conductor for 2025 has already been decided. But, like everyone else white: After the New Year’s concert is before the New Year’s concert. It has been clear since midday who will accompany the Vienna Philharmonic through New Year’s morning in 2025: Maestro Riccardo Muti. This means they are relying on a real veteran, as the Italian has already conducted the classical event six times. In total, the 82-year-old has conducted the orchestra in well over 500 concerts.
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