(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 29 - "We cannot abolish culture, music, theater. Even in an extreme situation like this.
We will play not only to give beautiful notes, but to give a message of hope and peace to everyone".
Thus maestro Riccardo Muti returns to the podium of the Vienna Philharmonic, an orchestra to which he has been linked for over half a century and of which he has been an honorary member since 2011, to conduct the New Year's Concert for the sixth time.
For the first time in history, the 2021 edition of the traditional event will be held without the audience seated in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, but will be followed in over 100 countries, filmed worldwide by Orf, the Austrian national radio and television.
In honor of the 80 springs that Muti will perform on July 28th, the program will be full of Italian suggestions, themes and atmospheres, with also some first performances for the Vienna Philharmonic, among authors such as Franz von Suppé, Johann Strauss II, Josef Strauss, Carl Zeller, Carl Millöcker, Karel Komzák II.
"The New Year's concert? The first time, in 1993, eroterrorized - says Muti -. We need to find a way to allow both tradition and a figure that is yours, otherwise the orchestra could even go alone. he smiles - experience has taught me that it's never a walk in the garden ".
(HANDLE).