The New Year's Concert in Vienna has been a glorious annual highlight in the classical music calendar for over six decades. The concert has a truly unique global appeal and is broadcast on TV and radio to over 50 countries, and viewed by tens of millions of people all over the world.

The 2008 New Year's Day Concert will be conducted by the eminent conductor Georges Prêtre for the first time. Prêtre is the first French conductor to receive this honor. The concert programe for 1st January 2008 will be the customary collection of Strauss delights, but this time with a French theme.