Dear New Year 2026, Be A Happy Island!

victorshramko
6 days ago
3 min read

NLWM No 36 02/01/2026

The New Year 2026 will begin as always in the Pacific Ocean, on the islands of Kiribati and Samoa (on Dec. 31^st at 1:00 p.m. Kuwait time). And the last to welcome it are the US residents in Hawaii, also in the Pacific islands (Jan 1^st, 1:00 p.m. in Kuwait). Is it like a symbol? Is each year an island in the archipelago of life? On the Ocean of Eternity or Universe?

In literature, there is a metaphor for an ideal place: The Happy Islands. In Greek mythology, it is a paradise land for the virtuous. For modern tourists, maybe it is Macaronesia, i.e., The Canary Islands. A place for carefree relaxation. There is also the poem 'Request for Happy Islands' as a symbol of dreams of love and peace.

No dreams, no love, no peace without music. The muses fall silent when the cannons play.

Lights & Music

Almost the entire world welcomes the New Year with festivals of lights. Cities, countries, almost continents (not forgetting islands) compete with each other with dazzling displays of lights. As if they wanted to anticipate the joys that await us this year.

Light and music go hand in hand. New Year's concerts literally explode with sounds in the open air, stadiums, parks, theatres, operas, and concert halls. All kinds of music, but only joyful ones. Every concert has to be different. It's a headache to think of anything new to come up with.

But there is one New Year Concert that has remained unchanged for almost eight decades. And that seems to be the biggest attraction. Same venue, music, orchestra, and – flowers. Great tradition and great class. Money too: tickets, priced from 35 to 1,200 Euros, are drawn one year ago and only the lucky ones get them. Except Guests of Honour, of course!

Vienna New Year Concert

The concert programme always includes pieces from the Viennese Dynasty of The Kings of Waltzes, i.e., the Strauss family – Johann, Father and Son, Joseph, and Eduard. Rarely interspersed with pieces by other composers such as Lanner, Mozart, Schubert, or Offenbach.

The concert contains approximately up to 20 pieces and 3 encores. They play waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, mazurkas, or marches. Of course, such eternal hits as The Blue Danube Waltz, Radetzky's March, or Pizzicato Polka are obligatory. Music is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic. (The British Gramophone Challenge recognized them as one of the five best orchestras in the world.)

They have existed since 1842, playing under the baton of the greatest conductors in history. Despite 'the entertaining program', those greatest ones also host the New Year Concerts. Starting from Johann Strauss III, Toscanini, Barbirolli, von Karajan, Bernstein, Ozawa, up to Dudamel among many others are on this list. Really a Hall of Fame.

Music as a Message of Hope and Peace

The concert is held in the impressive Golden Hall of the Musikverein (Music Society). The hall is always beautifully decorated with a sea of flowers. Between 1980 and 2013 they were sent as a gift from San Remo. Since 2014 they have come from the Vienna City Gardens. The event is enriched with performances by the Vienna State Opera Ballet.

The programme is performed three times: on Dec. 30^th as the 'Rehearsal', on Dec. 31^st as the 'New Year's Eve', and on Jan. 1^st - as the New Year's Gala.

The New Year Gala is broadcast to over 150 countries worldwide. The global transmission is watched by an estimated audience of 50 million viewers. This is the idea of wishing the world a Happy Year through music in a spirit of hope, friendship, and peace.

Every year in Vienna, the concert and broadcasting start on Jan. 1^st at 11:15 a.m. (i.e., in Kuwait at 1:15 p.m.) It is just there to be enjoyed!

I wish All of You a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026.

To be a Happy Island in the archipelago of life.

The Year making music, not war.

Harmony in hearts, minds, lives, and – music.

Bringing HOPE AND PEACE for my known and unknown friends.

Enough words.

Let us play:

J. Strauss I - Radetzky March, Op. 288 (from the 2017 Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert with Gustavo Dudamel)

🎵 https://youtu.be/xhEGMSOIptw?si=DXQZEBs5hDxn8-4g