Concert review

Vienna New Year's Gala with the Bad Krozingen Spa Orchestra

A night in Ermatingen – a waltz dream, operetta artistry and timeless melodies.

Under the motto "A Night in Ermatingen," the Lilienberg Hotel hosted a glamorous New Year's gala with Viennese charm last Saturday. Around 80 guests accepted the invitation to an evening of music celebrating the great waltz tradition, sparkling operetta artistry, and timeless melodies.

The nine-member Johann Strauss Ensemble and Bad Krozingen Spa Orchestra provided a festive setting, captivating the audience with a colorful and demanding program. Precision, tremendous enthusiasm, and palpable passion characterized their performance – a combination that was rewarded with enthusiastic shouts of "Bravo!" and a standing ovation during the first half of the concert. Double bassist Markus Lechner charmingly and knowledgeably guided the audience through the evening, lending the concert an additional touch of elegance and a closer connection with the listeners.

Virtuoso ease and emotional climax

The first part of the concert was entirely dedicated to the works of Johann Strauss II. Opening with a lively performance of the overture to "A Night in Venice," it was followed by a selection of famous masterpieces – including the concert waltz "Roses from the South" and the fiery polka "Long Live the Hungarian," which was first performed in Budapest in 1869. The emotional highlight was the world-famous waltz "Wiener Blut," which filled the concert hall with pure Viennese spirit.

“A Night in Ermatingen” – an evening full of elegance, emotions and musical excellence that is likely to resonate for a long time to come.

Mood of the evening

Stylistic diversity

The second part broadened the musical horizons. With the overture to "Orpheus in the Underworld" and the heartfelt Barcarolle from "The Tales of Hoffmann," the ensemble demonstrated its stylistic versatility. The soloists Oliver Shermacher (clarinet), Laura Tavernier (cello), and Matias Perez-Turchetti (violin) shone with finely crafted cadenzas. The audience enthusiastically joined in the famous can-can – still one of the Moulin Rouge's greatest attractions.

A special moment was Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" from the ballet "The Nutcracker"—dedicated to Susanne Grüner, the long-time manager of the Lilienberg Center. For 25 years, she has played a crucial role in shaping the center's operations. Foundation President Andreas Reist and Artistic Director Martin Luca Staub acknowledged her dedication and presented her with a gift.

The musical program continued with a selection from "My Fair Lady," before the grand finale belonged to Strauss: "The Blue Danube" and the "Radetzky March" elicited enthusiastic applause, before the ensemble bid farewell with the "Tritsch-Tratsch Polka" and another Cancan theme.

A heartfelt thank you goes to the Johann Strauss Ensemble and Bad Krozingen Spa Orchestra for this splendid evening – and to all the guests who brought the concert hall to life with their enthusiasm.