Salute to Vienna: Memories from Our Artists

Our Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert singers and conductors are like the family abroad we reunite with year after year. It turns out that, after 30 years of concerts, we have a lot to reminisce on! We asked eight of our artists to share a Salute to Vienna memory that sticks out to them. Some of these memories are moments, some are feelings, but all are dear to us as we celebrate this 30th Anniversary season.

Peggy Steiner (Soprano) & Michael Heim (Tenor): One of the most beautiful moments of our time with Salute to Vienna was a very quiet one. After a concert in Boston, a group of older, very elegantly dressed ladies approached us with tears in their eyes, shook our hands, and said, "Thank you so much for this gift! You know, we need you!" And, together, we shed tears of joy. We all need each other—we artists need our audience and vice versa.

Christoph Campestrini (Conductor): Salute to Vienna concerts are always a truly moving experience because they take place at a very special time of the year, when everybody feels connected by the beautiful music of the Strauss family. I particularly love the moment when the audience joins in to sing Auld Lang Syne at the end. We all feel like a big family then.

Brian Cheney (Tenor): I think my favorite memory is having my daughters with me on the New York tour and taking them on stage with me before we had rehearsal at Lincoln Center. Because the best seat in the house is the view from the stage! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to share that with them.

Katarzyna Dondalska (Soprano): I've been incredibly fortunate to be part of the Salute to Vienna family for a long time. I have many wonderful memories of meeting Attila and Marion Glatz. I still remember my first concert in Chicago. Wonderful venues in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, and Toronto. I love the atmosphere, the first glimpse of myself on the stage of the grand hall, the silence—everything still waiting to awaken. The audience slowly arrives. Everything comes alive. The overture, then the announcement, and my first appearance. A wonderful feeling. And this wonderful audience at our concerts.

Gregory Vajda (Conductor): It is always heartwarming to run into Hungarians. You can find them all over the world, and they definitely find you thanks to Salute to Vienna and its popularity. I have met former schoolfriends this way in Palm Beach and we had a great conversation and a couple of drinks after the show.

Gergely Boncsér (Tenor): When I was in Salute to Vienna the very first first time, it was amazing to me to be working with such high level artists, who are all currently in the first line in the world of opera.

Sera Goesch (Soprano): For me as a performer every show is very special. I am incredibly happy to give my full energy every evening with the same enthusiasm. Seeing the expression of happiness and blessings on the audience's faces after each performance is the magic of Salute to Vienna!

As for us at Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert, we feel as though we are built on memories. The concert's roots stem back to Marion Glatz's childhood memories of dancing around the table as a child in Vienna, listening to the Neujahrskonzert on the radio with her family. Now we are in the business of not only keeping those beloved childhood memories alive, but in helping to create new memories and new traditions, that will be passed on through generations of families, friends, and artists alike. May your New Year's celebrations be filled with happy memories of your own!