PRESENTATION OF THE GOLDEN JOHANN STRAUSS AWARD 2018
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Werner Resel
On 15th October 2018 the Golden Johann Strauss Award was given to Prof. Werner Resel, the former Chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. It was an accolade for his contribution to the maintainance of the works of Johann Strauss, which was more significant than that of any other of his predecessors.
As far as the New Year’s Concerts are concerned, Prof. Resel carried out two significant and groundbreaking reforms. First, he included in the programme pieces of music which had unjustly been forgotten and had consequently never been played at the concerts before. His efforts were supported by Prof. Franz Mailer, the former President of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna. Second, Werner Resel started to engage different conductors to direct the New Year’s Concerts so that the well-known pieces, which are an integral part of the programme, might be interpreted differently and thus arouse the interest and attention of the audience.
As usual, the ceremony was held in the Marchfelderhof Restaurant in Deutsch-Wagram. There were many representatives of the media and numerous friends and colleagues of Prof. Resel, first and foremost Maestro Riccardo Muti, who had specially come to congratulate his long-standing friend.
To honour Werner Resel’s achievements, Peter Platt had composed the „Wiener Philharmoniker Marsch“, which was played by the local band and conducted by none less than Riccardo Muti.
A quartet of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra played Prof. Resel’s favourite waltz,“ Die Schönbrunner“ by Joseph Lanner. Barbara Laister-Ebner, who had acquired worldwide reputation by playing the zither solo in „Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald“ in this year’s New Year’s Concert, played the complete waltz on her zither.
A new type of wine, specially created for this great event, was named „Amicizia“, to commemorate the frienship between Walter Resel and Riccardo Muti. It was ceremoniously tasted during this festive evening.
Kurt Rydl, Stefan Paryla-Raki and Birgit Sarata joined the celebration, which lasted until late into the night. The grand finale was reached with a choreographic performance of the „Kaiserwalzer“ presented by the ballet company of Milan Hatala.
