The Vienna Philharmonic's annual Neujahrskonzert or New Year's Concert offers the ultimate in comforting tradition. Various conductors have tried to stretch its boundaries a bit, but not this time; Daniel Barenboim, who has conducted the concert many times, not only sticks to tradition here but leans into it. Perhaps he felt that a pandemic-weary public wanted the familiar, or perhaps this is part of the secret to Barenboim's artistic longevity. He is certainly capable of inspiring controversy, but he is equally likely to ...
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The Vienna Philharmonic's annual Neujahrskonzert or New Year's Concert offers the ultimate in comforting tradition. Various conductors have tried to stretch its boundaries a bit, but not this time; Daniel Barenboim, who has conducted the concert many times, not only sticks to tradition here but leans into it. Perhaps he felt that a pandemic-weary public wanted the familiar, or perhaps this is part of the secret to Barenboim's artistic longevity. He is certainly capable of inspiring controversy, but he is equally likely to then turn around and pitch the ball right over the middle of the plate (to use a non-Viennese metaphor). That's what happens here, as no fewer than 15 of the 18 selections are by members of the Strauss family; there are two pieces by Joseph Hellmesberger Jr. and one by Carl Ziehrer. Barenboim does include a few lesser-known pieces that are worth hearing, like the zippy polka schnell Kleine Chronik, Op. 128. Overall, one feels that the audience is just itching to give its "Prosit" at...
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