The 2022 New Year’s Concert takes place under the baton of Daniel Barenboim in the Musikverein in
Vienna. The artistic collaboration with Maestro Barenboim as conductor began in 1989, although he first
appeared with the orchestra as pianist in 1956. Since then he has conducted many joint concerts,
including the New Year’s Concerts 2009 and 2014.
With this concert it is not only the desire of the Vienna Philharmonic to provide musically definitive
interpretations of the masterworks of this genre, but also, as musical ambassadors of Austria, to send
people all over the world a New Year’s greeting in the spirit of hope, friendship and peace.
Overview:
Year after year, the Vienna Philharmonic – Austria’s most important music ambassador – hosts its New
Year’s Concert. This traditional offering to the world carries a spirit of hope, friendship, and peace. On
January 1st, 2022, ORF will have been televising this ‘concert of concerts’ for over 63 years. In the
meantime, the programme is now broadcasted in almost 100 countries worldwide.
On January 1st, 2022, the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert will take place for the third time
under the direction of Daniel Barenboim, who celebrated his 80th birthday in November. Barenboim’s
collaboration as conductor with the Vienna Philharmonic began in 1989, however, he has been
associated with the Philharmonic since 1965, when he performed with the orchestra for the first time
as a young pianist. This year, the television segments of the concert fall under the theme of ‘World
Heritage’ honouring the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, which protects
cultural and natural heritage sites of exceptional universal value. This year also marks the 30th
anniversary of Austria’s inclusion in the convention. The choreography for the ballet in the palace and
park grounds of Schönbrunn has been created by New Year’s concert debutant and director of the
Vienna State Ballet, Martin Schläpfer, with Austrian’s Arthur Arbesser providing the costume ideas. In
addition to the ballet performance by members of the Vienna State Ballet, the world’s most famous
white horses will again dance for TV viewers in 2022: this time the Lipizzaner horses from the Spanish
Riding School in Vienna will perform to the “Nymph Polka” by Johann Strauss. In the first part of the
concert, a young couple in love stroll through the early morning of the inner city of Vienna (which now
belongs to one of Austria’s twelve world cultural heritage sites) to the sounds of the “Morgenblätter”
waltz.
HISTORY OF THE VIENNA NEW YEAR’S CONCERTS
The Vienna Philharmonic has been presenting its audience with a cheerful and yet equally
contemplative programme from the rich repertoire of the Strauss dynasty and their contemporaries
for some decades now. Not only do the New Year’s concerts enjoy great popularity inside the
Musikvereinssaal in Vienna, they also experience a high degree of recognition and popularity both at
home and abroad due to worldwide TV broadcasting, which now reaches more than 90 countries. Born
out of the darkest chapter of Austria’s history, these concerts have gained increasing popularity over
the decades owing to the fascinating and awe-inspiring works of the Strauss dynasty as well as their
significant interpretation. Today, millions of people from all over the world are touched by this carefree
yet profound music and thus experience the opportunity to create joy and optimism for a new year
ahead. Not only is it the wish of the Philharmonic Orchestra to offer precious interpretations of the
masterpieces of this genre, but also, to convey a gesture in the spirit of hope, friendship, and peace,
as musical ambassadors of Austria.