With Catherine once again celebrating New Year’s Eve in Europe, let’s follow another central European tradition for this day—like this week’s movie selection—as we invite you to “waltz” with us into the new year.

The “Blue Danube Waltz” by Johann Strauss II is widely regarded as the secret national anthem of Austria and is the single piece of music all Austrians and many Europeans use to celebrate the beginning of the new year. At midnight, on TV channels and radio stations, and in dance clubs and bars as well as private parties and family homes, all will put on this music of elegance, festivity, and culture and dance into the New Year.

With music like this, anyone can swing. Come on, and dance with us!

Related:

The recording and filming seen here was part of the 2017 New Year’s concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert, an annual highlight, is streamed to millions of viewers worldwide.

On January 1, 2023, you can follow the live stream on Austrian television ORF-2 starting at 11:15AM CET.

Coverage is also provided by the BBC live stream and in the U.S. by PBS as part of their Great Performances schedule.

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