Which classical waltz is traditionally performed at Vienna’s New Year’s Concert?

The Blue Danube is traditionally performed at Vienna’s New Year’s Concert.

The piece, formally titled An der schönen blauen Donau, was composed by Johann Strauss II and first performed in 1867. It became one of the best-known Viennese waltzes and is strongly associated with the Danube and Vienna’s musical identity.

The Vienna New Year’s Concert is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic in the Musikverein’s Golden Hall. The programme focuses mainly on music by the Strauss family and their contemporaries, and it is broadcast internationally to a large television audience.

The Blue Danube is usually played as an encore rather than as the concert’s opening number. Another traditional encore is the Radetzky March, during which audiences often clap along under the conductor’s direction. The concert is held on 1 January, although preview performances take place beforehand.