Julie Andrews Returns as Host of From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2013, This Year Conducted by Franz Welser-Most, On THIRTEEN's Great Performances Tuesday, January 1 at 2:30 and 8 p.m. ET on PBS
The Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Ballet return for the beloved annual tradition against the joyful backdrop of the picturesque city
NEW YORK, Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stage and screen legend Julie Andrews returns for the fourth time to host the festive annual New Year's celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic, under the direction of Franz Welser-Most from Vienna's Musikverein. This is Welser-Most's second time at the podium of this much cherished event; the last was 2011.
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From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2013, featuring the infectious melodies of the Strauss Family and contemporaries, will air live on Great Performances, Tuesday, January 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings) with an encore performance that evening at 8 p.m.
Great Performances is a production of THIRTEEN for WNET, one of America's most prolific and respected public media providers. For 50 years, THIRTEEN has been making the most of the rich resources and passionate people of New York and the world, reaching millions of people with on-air and online programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites students of all ages to have fun while learning.
The venerable concert is the largest worldwide event in classical music reaching over a billion people annually through radio and television in 72 countries. The Vienna Philharmonic's traditional New Year's program has showcased Viennese musical culture at the highest level, and since the first television broadcast in 1959, sent the world a New Year's greeting in the spirit of hope, friendship and peace. (The telecast has been a public television tradition on PBS since 1985.)
The opportunity of Andrews celebrating New Years in Vienna has become a most pleasurable tradition. "I'm so delighted to return to Vienna at this magical time of year. This enchanting city never ceases to take my breath away with its fairytale beauty and grace and history. The Strauss waltzes provide a most delectable soundtrack to the visual delights that surround me there."
She has been a frequent and luminous presence on Great Performances, starting with "An Evening with Alan Jay Lerner" (1989); "Julie Andrews in Concert" (1990); "Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II" (1995); "Back on Broadway" which spotlighted her return to the Great White Way in "Victor/Victoria" (1995); "Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh" (1998); "My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies" (1999); its follow-up "My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs" (2001); and the restoration of the classic 1957 "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" (2004). She also hosted the Emmy Award-winning series Broadway: The American Musical in 2004. Andrews will soon be featured in the celebration of Great Performances' 40th anniversary, currently planned to air in spring/summer 2013.
At press time, the musical program was scheduled to run as follows:
Josef Strauss
Music of Spheres, Waltz, op. 235
Richard Wagner
Prelude to Act III of "Lohengrin"
Josef Hellmesberger
In Confidence, Polka mazur, op.15
Josef Strauss
Hesperus' Paths, Waltz, op. 279
Josef Strauss
Runners Quick Polka, op.237
Joseph Lanner
Styrian Dances op. 165
Johann Strauss
Melodies Quadrille
Johann Strauss
Where the Lemon Trees Bloom, Waltz, op. 364
Johann Strauss Sr.
Memories of Ernst or The Carnival of Venice, Fantasy, op. 126
Josef Strauss
Chatterbox, Quick Polka, op. 245
Johann Strauss
The Blue Danube Waltz, op. 314
Johann Strauss Sr.
Radetzky March, op. 228
As is customary with these broadcasts, Ms. Andrews will travel from her home base in the Musikverein hall itself to visit multiple picturesque Vienna landmarks: a typical Syrian inn (telling of the rural traditions of the heartland of Austria); The State Hall, the magnificent 18th century central rotunda of the old imperial library, now known as the National Library; and Prince Eugene's beautiful Baroque rural palace, Schloss Hof (where the two ballets in the program take place).
She also interviews Maestro Welser-Most on the celebrations for the milestone anniversaries of the two musical giants of the 19th century – Richard Wagner (1813-1883) and Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) – and the pieces chosen to honor them during the evening. It happens that Johann Strauss was a champion of both, and actually played their music before it was heard in the opera house.
Since September 1st 2010, Franz Welser-Most has been the Musical Director of the Vienna State Opera having made his debut at the opera house in 1987.
Franz Welser-Most has been music director at The Cleveland Orchestra since 2002. His contract will take him up to the orchestra's centenary in 2018. Franz Welser-Most and the orchestra work closely together with Carnegie Hall in New York, the Musikverein in Vienna and the Lucerne Festival.
Between 1995 and 2002 Franz Welser-Most was the chief conductor at the Zurich Opera House, becoming the general music director in 2008. It was here where he conducted more than 40 premieres, many of which have been released on DVD.
He regularly appears as a guest conductor for the Berlin Philharmonic, Bayerischen Rundfunk's Symphony Orchestra, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and has also conducted the most prominent orchestras in the USA. Franz Welser-Most has close ties with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra having led the Summer Night's Concert in 2010 (broadcast on Great Performances).
The Vienna State Ballet is the new name for the Vienna State Opera Ballet and since the name change on September 1st, the company has been directed by Manuel Legris. It provides the ensembles at both the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Volksoper.
For the first time a British choreographer, Ashley Page, has assumed that role at the New Year's celebration. Page, who was a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London, has been the Scottish Ballet's artistic director for the last ten years.
On January 4th, Sony Classical will release the live recording exclusively through Arkiv Music and via Amazon.com's CreateSpace's Disc on Demand service as well download through all major digital service providers, followed by a nationwide CD release on January 22nd, and DVD and Blu-ray on February 5th.
Great Performances is funded by the Irene Diamond Fund, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, Vivian Milstein, Vera von Kuffner Eberstadt, The Starr Foundation, The Agnes Varis Trust, and the Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, public television viewers, and PBS. Exclusive corporate support for the concert is provided by Rolex.
From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2013 is produced by Heidelinde Rudy, and directed by Karina Fibich, with John Walker as producer/writer. For Great Performances, John Walker and Richard R. Schilling are producers; Bill O'Donnell is series producer; David Horn is executive producer.
Visit Great Performances Online at www.pbs.org/gperf for additional information about this and other programs.
About WNET
In 2012, WNET is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THIRTEEN, New York's flagship public media provider. As the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to over 5 million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Need to Know, Charlie Rose and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Oh Noah! and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJ Today and MetroFocus, the multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region.
SOURCE THIRTEEN/WNET
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