From the Prater Picnic to the anniversaries of Johann Strauss and the Wiener Symphoniker

On 25 October, the time has finally come: we are celebrating Johann Strauss' 200th birthday - and how! Violin virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter, together with the Wiener Symphoniker and conductor Manfred Honeck, will perform the great classics from the Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka to Wiener Blut at the Musikverein. As a highlight of the celebrations, the composer Max Richter will light a very special musical candle on the birthday cake with a specially composed fantasy for violin.

In the same month, the programme continues with a major concert to mark the 125th birthday of the Wiener Symphoniker: Petr Popelka and his orchestra celebrate themselves and their tradition with works that were important to the symphony orchestra: Maurice Ravel's Konzert für die linke Hand and Alban Berg's Sieben frühe Lieder were premiered by the orchestra. The programme is completed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Jupiter Symphony.

Of course, the Wiener Symphoniker will once again celebrate the contemplative Viennese Advent - in the traditional St Stephen's Cathedral concert, which will be broadcast by ORF. This time with a Bohemian Christmas with works by Dvořák, Smetana, Zelenka and Suk. This year's Christmas Oratorio will be conducted by Fabio Biondi at the Wiener Konzerthaus.

The end of the season has also long since become a Viennese tradition, which ORF broadcasts to living rooms across the country: The free Prater Picnic attracts families and friends to the Giant Ferris Wheel to ring into the summer holidays with lively tunes and a cosy get-together.