It's impossible to start the year without thinking about the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert. An exclusive event where getting tickets is practically impossible, although everyone can follow it from home via RTVE's broadcast. Albert Galceran, journalist and music commentator, co-presenter of the daily programEls homes clàssicson Catalunya Música, recalls that the concert was revived in 1939 to raise funds during World War II and as a Nazi propaganda tool. Since then, a tradition established by Johann Strauss has endured: "When Johann's father, whom he hated intensely, died, the son seized the opportunity to launch his career. He created a kind of franchise, with orchestras that performed his waltzes, polkas, and galops." It was music conceived and composed. It became fashionable among the Viennese aristocracy of the time, in the second half of the 19th century. They began at aristocratic parties in Austria and spread throughout the rest of Europe, eventually reaching the United States. Today's New Year's Eve concerts remain faithful to the repertoire of Johann Strauss II, featuring festive music and few profound aspirations: "It's about entertaining and amusing," explains the journalist.
Galceran, who will present the Sant Esteve Christmas Carol Concert on TV3, the oldest Christmas concert in the world, has made a classical musical selection to accompany our Christmas meals and gatherings:
1. Duke Ellington's The Nutcracker Suite. Released in 1960, this is the album the jazz composer made with arrangements of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. A jazzy Nutcracker.
2.Jalousieby Yehudi Menuhin & Stéphane Grappelli. This is the first collaboration between classical violinist Menuhin and jazz violinist Grappelli. Some of their joint albums evoke classical music, while others feature Grappelli's own compositions.
3.The Three Tenors' Christmasby Josep Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, and Plácido Domingo. It remains one of the best-selling classical albums at Christmas. A true classic featuring three golden voices.
4. Beethoven's piano sonatasperformed by Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau. Nothing histrionic, pleasant, with subtle dynamics and a spiritual way of understanding music.
5. Manuel de Falla's El amor brujo, performed by the virtuoso Alicia de Larrocha. If you're interested, you can watch the musical documentary Las manos de Aliciaon Filmin, about the career of one of the most exceptional pianists of all time.
6.The Barber of Sevilleby Gioachino Rossini. A comic opera that will bring joy with one of the reference recordings, conducted by Claudio Abbado and performed by Teresa Berganza.
7. The Sant Esteve Concert at the Palau de la Música Catalana. December 26 at 7 p.m. An iconic concert, held uninterrupted since 1913 and broadcast on TV3, Catalunya Ràdio, and Catalunya Música. All the choirs of the Orfeó Català choral family perform traditional and contemporary Christmas carols.