Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2025 Shines at Schönbrunn Palace
VIENNA, Austria — The Vienna Philharmonic’s Summer Night Concert 2025 returned to the spectacular gardens of Schönbrunn Palace, drawing a global audience with its blend of world-class music, dazzling staging, and cultural grandeur. The beloved annual event, broadcast in over 80 countries, premiered in the U.S. on PBS’s Great Performances on Friday, August 29 at 9 p.m. ET.
A First for Maestro Tugan Sokhiev
This year’s concert was conducted for the first time by Maestro Tugan Sokhiev, who led the orchestra through a richly varied program that showcased both classical staples and operatic favorites. His debut at the event added fresh energy to one of the world’s most recognizable open-air concerts.
Star Soloist and Vienna Boys Choir Debut
Renowned tenor Piotr Beczała joined as the evening’s vocal soloist, delivering emotional performances of three beloved arias:
- “The Flower That You Threw To Me” from Bizet’s Carmen
- “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot
- “When Evening Comes (Greet Me, My Vienna)” from Kálmán’s operetta Countess Mariza
For the first time in the event’s history, the Vienna Boys Choir performed alongside the Philharmonic, adding a new dimension to the storied tradition.
Highlights From the 2025 Program
The evening’s repertoire celebrated European masters across centuries and styles, including:
- J.S. Bach — “Air” from Orchestral Suite No. 3
- Jacques Offenbach — The Rhine Nixies: The Elves’ Song
- Georges Bizet — Farandole from L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky — Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker
- Antonín Dvořák — Slavonic Dance No. 1 in C Major
- Pietro Mascagni — Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
- Camille Saint-Saëns — Bacchanal Dance from Samson et Delila
- Hector Berlioz — Hungarian March from La Damnation de Faust
- Otto Nicolai — Overture from The Merry Wives of Windsor
- Franz Léhar — Friends, Life Is Worth Living from Giuditta
- Johann Strauss — Vienna Blood Waltz
A Global Cultural Showcase
Past conductors of the Summer Night Concert have included legends such as Zubin Mehta, Gustavo Dudamel, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Daniel Harding, and Andris Nelsons, reinforcing the event’s stature as one of classical music’s most prestigious traditions.
The 2025 edition not only preserved the magic of the annual concert but expanded its reach with new collaborations and interpretations that celebrated Vienna’s cultural identity on the global stage.
The Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2025 was more than a concert — it was a celebration of art, history, and unity, reminding audiences worldwide why this open-air tradition continues to captivate year after year.
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