The Radetzky March traditionally concludes the Vienna New Year's Concert as its final encore.
Composed by Johann Strauss I in 1848, the march honors Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz. Its energetic rhythm and repeated sections make it especially suited to audience participation, with listeners traditionally clapping along under the conductor's direction. The concert's other regular encore is Johann Strauss II's “The Blue Danube.”
The Vienna New Year's Concert is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic in the Musikverein's Golden Hall. It focuses mainly on music by the Strauss family and related composers, and it is broadcast internationally on New Year's Day rather than being a midnight countdown event.
A common mistake is to call “The Blue Danube” the final piece. It is usually played immediately before the Radetzky March, while the march serves as the customary closing encore. Conductors may vary the broader program, but this concluding sequence is a defining concert tradition.