Premieres Friday, June 25 at 9 p.m.

As the world welcomes a new decade, Great Performances continues the tradition of ringing in the New Year with the Vienna Philharmonic at Vienna’s famous Musikverein. Under the baton of three-time GRAMMY Award-winning guest conductor and Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director Andris Nelsons, the concert spotlights the talent of the Vienna State Ballet and the Vienna Philharmonic with beloved waltzes by Strauss and more. PBS favorite Hugh Bonneville (Masterpiece: Downton Abbey) returns as host for a third year, touring Musikverein’s archives, which hold the largest collection of Beethoven manuscripts in the world, the Beethoven museum and other locations associated with the legendary composer in honor of his 250th birthday (December 17, 2020).

The Vienna Philharmonic performs approximately 40 concerts in Vienna annually, among them the New Year’s concert and the Summer Night concert Schönbrunn, which are broadcast in numerous countries around the world. 

Music Selections

Franz von Suppé – Light Cavalry Overture

Josef Strauss – Cupid Polka 

Johann Strauss (Jr.) – Be Embraced, You Millions!, Waltz 

Edward Strauss – Frost Flower, Polka 

Josef Hellmesberger (Jr.) – Gavotte

Hans Christian Lumbye – Postman Gallop

Ludwig van Beethoven – Selections of Contredanses

Johann Strauss (Jr.) – Enjoy Life, Waltz

Johann Strauss (Jr.) – Chit-chat, Polka

Josef Strauss – Dynamiden, Waltz

Encores

Johann Strauss (Jr.) –The Beautiful Blue Danube, Waltz

Johann Strauss (Sr.) – Radetzky March