29 December 2023

Preview of Susanne Bisovsky's costume design for the ORF New Year's Concert Ballet 2024, to be broadcast from Vienna to over 90 countries on January 1

The costumes for the ORF New Year's Concert Ballet are traditionally the first fashion highlight of the new year. The ballet is part of the live broadcast of the Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert from the Musikverein in Vienna to over 90 countries. Traditionally, the costumes are designed by renowned couturiers such as Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Arthur Arbesser or, for the upcoming live broadcast on January 1 at 11:15 a.m., by Susanne Bisovsky.

The designer's work, which focuses on traditional clothing, identity, the exploration of Viennese chic and the fact that Vienna doesn't have a typical 'tracht' (traditional costume), was presented last year by the MAK Museum of Applied Arts as part of the museum's Contemporary Fashion Showcase series (article). In February 2023, the Vienna State Ballet wore Bisovsky's creations for the opening ballet of the Vienna Opera Ball to Johann Strauss (son)'s waltz 'Wiener Blut Walzer op. 354'. Now the designer has created the costumes for two dance performances of the Vienna State Ballet, which will be shown as a film at the live concert of the 84th New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Christian Thielemann.

Davide Bombana choreographed two waltzes, the 'Ischler Waltz' - the Vienna Philharmonic's and the ORF's reference to the European Capital of Culture project 'Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024' - and the 'Wiener Bürger' (translated 'Viennese Citizens'), both filmed in the historically significant locations of Bad Ischl and the Rosenburg. The first waltz tells the dreamy story of a woman's longing for love and freedom, portrayed by soloist Ketevan Papava. The second waltz is a tribute with five dancing couples led by prima ballerina Olga Esina. Bisovsky's costumes, embellished with embroidery and Swarovski crystals, reflect her vision of 'Viennese Chic'. The New Year's Concert Ballet is a co-production of the ORF and the Vienna Philharmonic.

The program of the concert is published at https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/newyearsconcert/newyearsconcert2024. In Austria, the live broadcast will take place on ORF2; details on https://tv.orf.at/program/orf2/neujahrsko764.html.

Image: The picture shows the dancers of the Vienna State Ballet Eno Peci, Hyo-Jung Kang, Masayu Kimoto, Elena Bottaro, Ketevan Papava, Ioanna Avraam, Zsolt Török performing for the film of the ORF New Year's Concert Ballet 2024, which will premiere on January 1, 2024. Photo: © ORF/Thomas Jantzen.