Which concert, first held on New Year’s Day in 1941, is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic?

The Vienna New Year’s Concert is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic and was first held on New Year’s Day in 1941.

The concert takes place in Vienna’s Musikverein, most famously in its ornate Golden Hall. Its program centers on music by the Strauss family, especially Johann Strauss II, along with works by related composers and occasional pieces from other Viennese traditions.

The event became internationally famous through radio and television broadcasts. The final portion traditionally includes Johann Strauss II’s “The Blue Danube” and the “Radetzky March,” although the order and details can vary. The audience commonly applauds during the march.

Although it is now associated with a festive start to the year, the concert’s origins date to the Second World War. It should not be confused with every concert staged in Vienna on January 1; the named event is specifically the annual Vienna Philharmonic performance.