The orchestra has just renewed broadcast rights for the next seven years with the second German TV channel, ZDF.
That lines the players’ pockets and leaves the main channel ARD at a loss what to show on the first day of the year.
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Any worse than what the big orchestras generally earned in the recording age, with Karajan, Bernstein, Solti, and further back Szell, Toscanini (NBC Orch) and Philly with Stokie/Ormandy?…
Or do you perhaps expect a great historic orchestra to only play their 150-250 year old classics “for the love of it” only?
Start by checking what the Vienna State Opera orchestra makes, when playing 250 nights a year, and why the Vienna Phil (since 1842) is a private initiative from within the Opera, and where the orchestra itself chooses any deal, any package, besides any conductor for their handful of Abonnementkonzerte, tours, and once upon a time, their recordings for the Golden label.
(1) The broadcaster is called “ZDF”, not “DZF”.
(2) The deal is not between the orchestra and ZDF. The deal is between the orchestra and the European Broadcasting Union, of which ZDF is a member and through which ZDF obtains the German broadcast rights.
(3) The renewal is for five years (2023-2027), not seven.
(4) ZDF has had the German broadcast rights since 1983, so ARD is not now “at a loss what to show on the first day of the year”.
So, other than messing up every single detail, you’re spot on.
Let me add to this that ARD is by no means “the main channel”. ARD and ZDF are the two main public channels, friendly rivals with some significant differences in organization and program and outlook – but both are quality public TV channels
I’ve always argued that the arts are not elitist but this annual concert is everything I hate. Lots of foreign wealthy people and women in furs in the audience. Sounds the same each year too. When the conductor invites everyone to clap along ugh, oooo aren’t we clever. The best thing about it are the beautiful flowers donated annually by the Netherlands.
The flowers are not donated by the Netherlands, but by the Wiener Stadtgärten (Vienna City gardens/parks). However, they used to come from Sanremo, Italy.
Anyway, it’s good that classical music has at least some presence in the media and in the public consciousness here in Austria. The New Year’s concerts play a part in this.
You are correct. It is like an André Rieu show.
But without the grandchildren.
The flowers are actually an annual gift from the city of San Remo, Italy.
It’s not hard to argue that the Vienna New Year’s Day Concert is stale, but I still see some positives:
– Viennese waltzes and polkas deserve to be performed stylishly. Some years are better than others, but the overall performance quality still has few equals and no superiors, at least at present.
– just about any Vienna New Year’s Day Concert is a mix of staples and some rarities. We can take the Radetzky and the Blue Danube for granted, but the programs otherwise do have some variation. After all, there is plenty to choose from.
– Last time I was in Vienna, I saw plenty of women in furs, also at the Musikverein. That was about fifteen years ago, so I hope I am out of date. (Feedback will be appreciated.)
Simply, allow traditions to continue without the many suggested arguments and overly unnecessary concerned analyzations. In today’s overly sensitive society, often without reason or logic, each of us, if so desired, can surely find a reason to be offended at one time or another, unfortunately and selfishly so, for momentary illusional gains.
Mrs.Owen: I miss two things about the Neujahrskonzert: Willy Boskovsky and the flowers from Sanremo.
ZDF: Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
I suggest ARD put on something entertaining. Whatever it is it has to be better than the concert. On the other hand perhaps they could show a recording of a past New Years day concert – after all, it’s the same old stuff year after year.
Don’t the flowers come from San Remo ?