Austria designated 2009 as Haydn Year to commemorate the 200th anniversary
of the death of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn.
The 2009 Vienna New Year's Concert will perform the final movement of Haydn's
Symphony No.45 -- "Farewell Symphony."
Director of the Vienna Philharmonic Clemens Hellsberg told a press conference
on Monday that this is the first New Year's Concert featuring Haydn's work.
This New Year's Concert will be conducted by Daniel Barenboim, a Russian
Jewish immigrant who was born in Argentina's Buenos Aires in 1942. This will be
the first time for this famous pianist to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic New
Year's Concert.
Barenboim said at the press conference that he is "honored" to conduct the
Vienna New Year's Concert, and he knew that Vienna Philharmonic chose the
conductor of its new year's concert not only by his artistic attainments, but
also his suitability.
Barenboim noted that he has worked with Vienna Philharmonic for many times
performing the works of Strauss. He also praised musicians of the Vienna
Philharmonic for their perfect mastery of Strauss' works, and expressed full
confidence in another successful cooperation with Vienna Philharmonic.
Austrian Television ORF will insert a music video program introducing the
northern Austrian city of Linz during the half time break of this New Year's
concert, so as to promote Linz as 2009 "European Cultural City."