At the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert, “The Blue Danube” is traditionally performed as an encore.
The piece's full German title is An der schönen blauen Donau, usually translated as “On the Beautiful Blue Danube.” Johann Strauss II composed it in 1866, and it became one of the best-known waltzes in the classical repertoire. At the concert, the audience often interrupts the opening with applause after the orchestra has wished everyone a happy new year.
The program normally concludes with the “Radetzky March” after “The Blue Danube.” The concert takes place in Vienna's Musikverein, especially its richly decorated Golden Hall, and is broadcast internationally. Although the concert features many works by the Strauss family, the encore pairing is a distinct New Year's tradition.