The New Year’s Eve and New Year’s program on ORF 1, ORF 2, ORF III and 3sat
Vienna (OTS) – Celebrate New Year’s Eve and welcome the New Year with the ORF programs: Traditionally, the start of the year on ORF 1 and ORF 2 is rung in at midnight with the “Danube Waltz”. This time a newly designed feed accompanies the people of Austria as they move into the new year with a swing. Previously, on New Year’s Eve, on Sunday, December 31, 2023, there will be, among other things, “Viktor Gernot and Michael Niavarani: Two Model Boys”, a “Best of Cabaret Summit”, “A real Viennese does not go under” and “Dinner for One” on ORF 1, “The Big New Year’s Eve Show” on ORF 2 and “Die Fledermaus” live time-shifted from the Vienna State Opera on ORF III through the last hours of the end of the year. On 3sat, New Year’s Eve is traditionally marked by the “Pop around the Clock” theme day, followed on January 1st by the “Non-stop Classical Music” theme day.
“At the turn of the year”, 0.00 a.m., ORF 1 and ORF 2
In the impressive, partly inaccessible interior of Melk Abbey, Ashley Page choreographed the elegant waltz interlude to Johann Strauss’ “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” with five dance couples from the Vienna State Ballet. In costumes by Emma Ryott, Davide Dato, Sonia Dvorák, Olga Esina, Calogero Failla, Lourenco Ferreira, Marian Furnica, Hyo-Jung Kang, Aleksandra Liashenko, Marcos Menha and Maria Yakovleva float through the baroque rooms, staged for television by director Michael Beyer .
Laughing into the new year – the ORF 1 program highlights:
Viktor Gernot and Michael Niavarani are “two model boys” in the prime of their middle age who gratefully enjoy the blessings of aging at 8:15 p.m. Having become mild and wise, they are loyal “sugar daddies” to their much younger wives. They comment on the turbulence of the global economic crisis, the continued manipulation of the media, the embarrassments of celebrities and the meaning of life with the experience and clarity of two old hands of showbiz.
In the “Best of Cabaret Summits” at 9:50 p.m., Alex Kristan presents the funniest excerpts from popular cabaret summits. And so you can laugh again at Thomas Stipsits and his musical variations on well-known songs, at Klaus Eckel’s word cascades or at Eva Maria Marold and Viktor Gernot singing a non-love song to each other.
For the Sackbauer family, the “turn of the year” is just around the corner! ORF 1 is presenting the episode of the same name of the Austrian cult series with Karl Merkatz, Ingrid Burkhard and Co. on December 31st at 10:40 p.m. for a reunion.
Traditionally, “Dinner for One – The Ninetieth Birthday” follows at 11:40 p.m. A birthday party without guests, a more or less hard-drinking butler and an unfortunately placed tiger skin – these are the ingredients for success in this television classic, because nothing works without the famous motto “The Same Procedure as Every Year”! By the way, the black and white production with the two actors Freddie Frinton and May Warden is celebrating its anniversary this year! It was first broadcast on German television on March 8, 1963 in the program “Guten Abend, Peter Frankenfeld”.
At 12:15 a.m. the dacapo “No more funny – the satirical annual review of 2023” is on the program. Gerald Fleischhacker confidently leads through the evening and looks back on the past year with Gery Seidl, Caroline Athanasiadis and Gudrun Nikodem-Eichenhardt, Klaus Eckel, Clemens Maria Schreiner, Gernot Kulis, Malarina, Alex Kristan and Kristina Sprenger.
Highlight on ORF 2: Hans Sigl and Francine Jordi present “The Big New Year’s Eve Show”
This year too, television viewers can look forward to “The Big New Year’s Eve Show”! The Eurovision broadcast guarantees the best entertainment and a lively atmosphere for New Year’s Eve on Sunday, December 31st, from 8:15 p.m. on ORF 2. Like last year, Hans Sigl and Francine Jordi lead through the program with party hits, pop songs and evergreens, atmospheric ballads and rock classics.
Audience favorites such as Christina Sturmer, DJ Ötzi, Stefanie Heinzmann, Claudia Jung, Mike Singer, Heinz Rudolf Kunze, Melissa Naschenweng and Sarah Engels are there. During the musical fireworks, international stars such as Right Said Fred, the cult band OMD, Loona, Vaya Con Dios and the Hermes House Band will perform their biggest hits. Also on stage: The Baseballs with hip swings and authentic rock ‘n’ roll, the Italian high-flyers The Kolors (“Italodisco”), music parodist and influencer Marti Fischer as well as the mood guarantees from Cologne, the Paveier, as well as actor and singer Mark Keller , who celebrates a reunion with his “Bergdoktor” colleague Hans Sigl. There will also be guitar comedy with the trio Olé and lots of exciting prospects when Mirja Boes presents the personal annual horoscopes for 2024 for the stars and the audience.
Live time-shifted from the Vienna State Opera: “Die Fledermaus” on ORF III
Traditionally live on New Year’s Eve with a time delay on ORF III: Johann Strauss’ operetta classic “Die Fledermaus” from the Vienna State Opera. The protagonists this evening are Johannes Martin Kränzle as Gabriel von Eisenstein, Camilla Nylund as his wife Rosalinde and the Swiss Regula Mühlemann as chambermaid Adele. Patricia Nolz takes on the role of Prince Orlofsky and actor Johannes Silberschneider takes on the role of prison guard Frosch. The Australian Simone Young is at the conductor’s podium. “Die Fledermaus” is considered the highlight of the Viennese operetta era and is closely linked to the city of Vienna from its creation to its premiere in 1874 to the present day. In addition to stirring and subtle compositions as well as texts bursting with irony and insight, the masterpiece inspires in its entirety and promises an entertaining and exhilarating evening of operetta. Just in time for the New Year, notary Dr. Falke wants revenge on his friend, Mr. von Eisenstein, because he put him in an embarrassing situation and he is now nicknamed “Dr. “Bat” can no longer be gotten rid of. As is well known, Prince Orlofsky’s lavish ball night ends in prison after turbulent complications and a drunken ball party. A reconciliation is inevitable – the blame is placed on the champagne.
The turn of the year on 3sat – with top concerts from rock, pop and classical history
At the end of the year, the 3sat theme day “Pop around the Clock” is on the program on December 31st from 6:05 a.m., with Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Herbert Grönemeyer, Pink and Tina Turner, among others. The new year begins on January 1st at 7:15 a.m. with the 3sat theme day “Classic non-stop” – the highlights include the “Summer Night Gala Grafenegg 2023” (9:20 a.m.), “Die Fledermaus, Mörbisch 2012” (4:05 p.m.) and “ The 3 Tenors – Their Lost Concerts” (7:05 p.m.).