Vienna Philharmonic honored
December 12, 2014
The program at the gala in Baden-Baden's Festspielhaus included Joseph Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony and Richard Strauss' tone poem "An Alpine Symphony." The Vienna Philharmonic performed under the direction of Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons.
Founded by composer and conductor Otto Nicolai in 1841, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra has worked with many major figures in music history including Richard Strauss and Johannes Brahms, a self-identified "friend and admirer" of the orchestra. Its traditional New Year’s Concerts are one of the most widely viewed and heard classical music events worldwide.Honors and distinctions
The Vienna Philharmonic has been self-governed from its earliest days. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) named the orchestra its "Goodwill Ambassadors," and in early 2014 it won the Birgit Nilsson Prize, which carries a cash award of $1 million (800,000 euros).
The Culture Foundation of the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus has awarded the Herbert von Karajan Music Prize yearly since 2003. The 50,000 euro prize money is stipulated to benefit musical youth. Earlier winners include vocalists Edita Gruberova, Cecilia Bartoli and Thomas Quasthoff, conductors Daniel Barenboim and Helmuth Rilling, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and a further orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic.
rf/ld (Vienna Phiharmonic, dpa)