Oscar Winner Julie Andrews Will Host “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2013” for Great Performances
By Michael Gioia
27 Nov 2012

Julie Andrews

Stage and screen legend Julie Andrews will return for the fourth time as host of “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration,” the annual event featuring the Vienna Philharmonic, which will air live on PBS’ Great Performances Jan. 1, 2013.

The PBS broadcast will air at 2:30 PM ET with an encore showing at 8 PM (check local listings). The Vienna Philharmonic will be under the direction of Franz Welser-Möst from Vienna’s Musikverein, marking his second time at the podium.

“From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2013,” according to press notes, “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.

“I’m so delighted to return to Vienna at this magical time of year,” said Andrews in a statement. “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.”

The musical program will include Josef Strauß’s “Music of Spheres, Waltz, op. 235”; Richard Wagner’s “Prelude to Act III of ‘Lohengrin’; Josef Hellmesberger’s “In Confidence, Polka mazur, op.15”; Josef Strauß’s “Hesperus’ Paths, Waltz, op. 279”; Josef Strauß’s “Runners Quick Polka, op.237”; Joseph Lanner’s “Styrian Dances op. 165”; Johann Strauß’s “Melodies Quadrille”; Johann Strauß’s “Where the Lemon Trees Bloom, Waltz, op. 364”; Johann Strauß Sr.’s “Memories of Ernst or The Carnival of Venice, Fantasy, op. 126”; Josef Strauß’s “Chatterbox, Quick Polka, op. 245”; Johann Strauß’s “The Blue Danube Waltz, op. 314”; and Johann Strauß Sr.’s “Radetzky March, op. 228.”
Sony Classical will release the live recording through Arkiv Music and via Amazon.com’s CreateSpace’s Disc on Demand service as well download through all major digital service providers on Jan. 4; a nationwide CD release will follow Jan. 22, and DVD and Blu-ray will be released Feb. 5.

“From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2013” is produced by Heidelinde Rudy and directed by Karina Fibich with John Walker as producer-writer. The Vienna State Ballet will be directed by British choreographer Ashley Page.

For more information, visit PBS.com/GPerf.