Celebrate New Year's Eve with the Colorado Symphony

Nov. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- This New Year's Eve, take a beautiful musical journey with the Colorado Symphony and "A Night in Vienna," Denver's iconic New Year's celebration that will transport you to the magical world of 19th century Europe. On Saturday, December 31 at 6:30 p.m., join resident conductorScott O'Neiland the Colorado Symphony for an evening of the music that madeVienna's ballrooms famous – music that continues to thrill audiences worldwide.

The centerpiece of this special celebration is the music of the "Waltz King," Johann Strauss Jr., and his legendary waltzes and polkas, such as the Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltzes) and Unter Donner und Blitz (Thunder and Lightning Polka). The evening would not be complete without concertgoer favorites such as On the Beautiful Blue Danube, plus new surprises that make this New Year's Eve concert a treasured ritual for many music lovers. Thanks to the concert's early start time of 6:30 p.m., concertgoers will have plenty of time later in the evening to stroll down the 16th Street Mall for fireworks and revelries. Tickets are on sale now and start at $37.

Strauss Jr. (1825-1899) composed more than 500 works in his lifetime, including many of the waltzes and polkas that dancers – and music lovers – still adore today. While he became known as a composer of "light music," his significant output of compositions also included operettas and ballets. Of course, Strauss Jr. earned the title "Waltz King" due to the sheer popularity of his waltzes. Once considered an "indecent" and shocking dance, the waltz grew to be wildly popular in his lifetime. Today, Strauss Jr.'s On the Beautiful Blue Danube holds the position of "unofficial Austrian anthem." It is broadcast by most radio and television stations across the country each year on New Year's Eve at midnight.

For centuries, the ballrooms ofViennahave been the centerpiece of New Year’s celebrations as dancers young-and-old sweep across the floor, reveling in polkas, waltzes, and the promise of new beginnings. From the cafés and concert halls to the Imperial Ball inHofburgPalace, these celebrations have branded the city ofViennaas the town of "bon vivants." The romantic, uplifting music ofVienna’s ballrooms has such universal appeal that music lovers now enjoy it on New Year’s Eve at concerts around the world. In fact, the Neujahrskonzert (New Year's Eve concert) by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is broadcast around the world to an estimated audience of 50 million people in more than 70 countries.

Tickets: Remaining tickets currently start at $37. Tickets are on sale now at www.coloradosymphony.org
http://www.coloradosymphony.org/
, the Colorado Symphony Box Office: (303) 623-7876 or (877) 292-7979 or in-person in the lobby of Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.


Artists:                
Colorado Symphony
Scott O’Neil, resident conductor

Performances:
New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31 at 6:30 p.m.

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The state’s only full-time professional orchestra, the Colorado Symphony embraces a tradition of musical excellence by presenting a diverse array of symphonic performances throughout the year. The Colorado Symphony performs in Boettcher Concert Hall and throughout the Front Range, presenting outstanding education and outreach programs, as well as Masterworks, Pops, Holiday, Family, and the exciting new Inside the Score and Symphony on the Rocks series that have attracted a historic level of first-time concertgoers. By presenting music that is both timeless and inspiring, the Colorado Symphony is attracting more diverse and younger audiences than ever before. The increasing popularity of Colorado Symphony concerts not only re-affirms the artistic excellence of the orchestra, but also reflects the Symphony’s relevance to its Colorado community and deep-rooted enthusiasm for symphonic music felt by so many individuals across the region.