Seiji Ozawa conducts the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert. (AFP/Jiji) WALTZING MAESTRO: Ozawa Conducts Vienna New Year's Concert February 1, 2002 The sixty-first annual New Year's Day concert of the Vienna Philharmonic, considered the premier New Year's Day event in Europe, took place in Vienna's Musikverein hall on January 1, 2002, under the baton of the world-famous conductor, Japan's own Seiji Ozawa. The concert was hugely successful, bringing the 2,000-person audience to its feet with shouts of "Bravo!" and winning accolades in the local media. For Japan's classical music fans, it was a triumphant beginning for the New Year. A Spirited Evening A series of renowned conductors, such as Herbert von Karajan, have stood on the podium, but the 66-year-old Ozawa was the first Japanese to do so and only the second Asian after Zubin Mehta, a native of India. Coincidentally, the day of the concert, an event viewed throughout Europe, was also the day that the euro went into circulation. The euro symbol was raised to the ceiling of the concert hall, and President Romano Prodi of the European Commission was also seen attending the concert, as if hoping that the concert's success will ensure a smooth transition to the new currency. Standing on the stage, Ozawa led off the concert at 11:15 AM with the march "Zivio!" (Johann Strauss II) He charmed the audience with his fiery conducting style, seemingly dancing on the podium as he led the orchestra through close to 20 compositions, mostly waltzes and polkas, including "Danse Diabolique" (Joseph Hellmesberger II) and "Vienna Blood" (Johann Strauss II) (one of his own choices). New Year's greetings in 13 languages were incorporated into the first encore, "The Blue Danube," (Johann Strauss II) and each time the languages changed - from French to Russian, for instance - cheers arose from the audience. Ozawa, who was born in China, was met with enthusiastic applause when he greeted the audience in Chinese. During the traditional final encore, "The Radetzky March," (Johann Strauss I) he reflected the spirit of the music by seeming to march on the podium, prompting a standing ovation as shouts of "Bravo" rang through the hall.   Your Name What did you think of this article? It was interesting. It was boring. Send this article to a friend Trends in Japan Home The concert's success was first and foremost the product of smooth communication between conductor and orchestra. When asked after the concert what instructions he had issued to the musicians, he replied, "I tend to conduct visually, so there are some things that I can convey to them without words. Besides, I've been associated with the Vienna Philharmonic for a long time." He continued, "The orchestra gave me its full cooperation. Working with such a dedicated group of musicians is the most fulfilling experience that a conductor can have." Asked about his future plans, he stated that he aspired to conduct more concerts for children. Ticket Prices Soar When it was decided last year that Ozawa would conduct the New Year's Day concert, the demand for tickets - which are hard to come by in any case - soared, especially among Japanese fans. Tickets available to the general public are sold out years in advance, but a month before the concert there was a mad rush to try to buy the tickets that had been sold to travel agents and other commercial interests. In the midst of the uproar, the prices of seats that normally sell for about 5,000 Austrian schillings (¥43,000 at ¥8.6 to the schilling) shot up to 38,000 Austrian schillings (¥326,000), nearly eight times their face value. During an interview with a Japanese newspaper after the concert, Ozawa seemed relieved as he remarked, "Now I can feel as if the new year has really arrived!" The maestro is scheduled to assume the post of music director of the Vienna State Opera in September 2002, and the concert marked a most auspicious opening to the next phase of Ozawa's musical life. Copyright (c) 2002 Japan Information Network. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.