According to the Austrian National Radio and Television local time on December 29, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will continue its tradition for many years on January 1, 2021, holding a New Year’s concert in the Golden Hall as scheduled.
However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, there will be no live audience for the New Year’s concert.
Ricardo Muti, 79, will conduct the Vienna New Year’s Concert for the sixth time.
He said at a press conference on the 29th that there was a very heated discussion on whether to hold a concert, but there was a consensus that “music and art should not be discarded” even in the context of the epidemic.
The concert, broadcast in 90 countries and regions, will send a “Message of Hope” to the world. “I was asked how I could play without applause,” Muti said. “I told him that the music was composed without applause.”
It is reported that in addition to playing the traditional songs Blue Danube and Radecki March, this New Year’s Concert will also present music such as Spring Voice Waltz and Emperor Waltz.
According to Austria’s existing COVID-19 epidemic prevention regulations, the concert will be held without a live audience.
Austrian state television will broadcast the whole process live, and collect applause and photos from the public in advance, and insert programs during the concert broadcast.
At present, members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra strictly abide by epidemic prevention regulations during rehearsals, not only carry out daily COVID-19 tests, but also always wear FFP2-level masks on the stage.
