Overview

• The 85th annual Neujahrskonzert, directed by Riccardo Muti, celebrated the legacy of Johann Strauss and his family of composers.
• This year's program featured the debut of the 'Ferdinandus-Walzer' by Constanze Geiger, a nearly forgotten 19th-century composer.
• Citywide festivities in Vienna included performances, waltz dancing, and a reimagined Donauwalzer involving hundreds of local musicians.
• Vienna is preparing a year-long celebration for Strauss's 200th birthday, with 65 productions planned across 69 locations in 2025.
• The Neujahrskonzert, broadcast to over 90 countries, carried a message of harmony and peace as Muti concluded his seventh and final appearance as conductor.