A Salute To Vienna

Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. on KPBS 2 (Not in the PBS app)

"A Salute To Vienna" is one of the most lavish song and dance gala concert specials ever produced for public television featuring the superstars of Viennese operetta. The visually spectacular special is hosted by world-famous mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade and Academy Award-winning actor and Vienna native Maximilian Schell.

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Academy Award-winning actor and Vienna native Maximilian Schell and world-famous mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade host "A Salute To Vienna."

Courtesy of KPBS

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Soprano Daniela Fally and the Vienna Boys’ Choir perform “Little Brother and Sisters” from the operetta "Die Fledermaus."

Courtesy of KPBS

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Gergely Boncser, Karoly Peller, Daniel Serafin and Tilmann Unger perform “How to Handle a Woman?” from the operetta "The Merry Widow."

Courtesy of KPBS

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Dancers from the Association of Vienna State Opera Ballet perform in this lavish special.

Courtesy of KPBS

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The cast, including the world-famous Vienna Boys’ Choir, perform the grand finale, “Champagne Is King” from the operetta "Die Fledermaus" at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria.

Courtesy of KPBS

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This lavish gala concert was taped before an enthusiastic audience at the world-famous Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria.

Courtesy of KPBS

Special guests include The Vienna Boys’ Choir; Russell Watson, Great Britain’s largest-selling, classical-crossover tenor; dancers from the Association of the Vienna State Opera Ballet; the Symphony Orchestra of the Volksoper Vienna under the direction of internationally known Strauss conductor Peter Guth; an international cast of top singing stars including sopranos Daniela Fally, Iva Milhanovic and Alexandra Reinprecht; tenors Dmitry Korchak and Tilmann Unger; baritone Daniel Serafin, as well as many leading stars from the acclaimed Budapest Operetta Theater.

Viewers will fall in love with the music of “Waltz King” Johann Strauss Jr., as ballet dancers glide across the stage to the sounds of “The Blue Danube” performed by the Vienna State Opera Ballet and the Symphony Orchestra of the Volksoper, Vienna. This special concert features the beautiful compositions of Johann Strauss Jr., Franz Lehár, Imre Kálmán, Robert Stolz, Carl Zeller, Sigmund Romberg and Giuseppe Verdi.

"A Salute To Vienna" was taped live on April 25, 2013, at the glittering Wiener Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria and is filled with enchanting moments, including the wonderful performance by Frederica von Stade of “Vilja Song” from "The Merry Widow." Other highlights include the rousing Strauss “Thunder and Lightning Polka,” the delightful voices of The Vienna Boys’ Choir, and the entire cast performing the finale, “Champagne Is King” from "Die Fledermaus," topping off an enthralling evening.

Credits: A co-production of KPBS Public Broadcasting and Attila Glatz Concert Productions. Executive Producers: Attila Glatz and Marion Glatz of Attila Glatz Concert Productions, Inc. and Maura Daly Phinney.