The name Johann Strauss is synonymous with New Year celebrations. Through almost 140 years and three generations of the name, the combined work of Johann Strauss I, II and III has become the main feature at a New Year concert in Vienna, which is transmitted across the world each year.
The appeal of the concert is far reaching. So much, in fact, that a touring production which aims to capture the essence of the Vienna concert is a smash hit in itself – now reaching its 25th year.
And just as the name Johann Strauss was handed down the line of the musical family’s lineage, the touring gala – which will be Aberdeen’s Music Hall tomorrow night – has been passed to different creative teams throughout the years, each with their own vision.
Now is the age of conductor, host and funnyman Rainer Hersch. A hugely successful stand-up comedian who combines his love of – and aptitude for – classical music and comedy, Rainer has brought his own take on the traditional gala since he took the reins last year.
“In terms of scale, the gala is much grander than ever before. There’s so much for you to choose from. But what I have added are the funny bits that have never been there before,” said Rainer.
As host and conductor of the orchestra, the British-born performer leads proceedings on the night. From comedic flourishes with a baton, to hilarious observations about the world of music, he brings a wonderfully light touch to what some may find an otherwise dated and stuffy genre.
But that said, Rainer knows his part in the wider scheme of the show, as he happily shares the stage with not only the musicians, but six dancers and singer Kirsty Swift. Together, they invoke the sights and sounds of the 19th-century gala – from the grand waltzes to the opulent period costumes – while of course giving it a different edge, courtesy by and large of Rainer himself.
And although ardent traditionalists may need to approach the show with caution, Rainer’s comedic elements have been purposely added to make this a party for everyone, no matter what knowledge they have of the classical world.
“I only work with what regular people know about classical music,” Rainer said. “They are jokes that everybody would get, even if they have never been to a classical concert in their lives.”
And he’s well aware that he can’t please everyone with the new direction.
“The world is a big place, and there are people in it who will not like whatever you do,” he said.
“You can’t account for everybody. But the audience last year responded very well. And I say that as a ‘glass-half-empty’ kind of guy. They genuinely responded well to this slightly different approach.”
But Strauss fans throughout the north-east can rest assured, the staple elements of what make the Vienna concerts so deeply entrenched in people’s annual traditions are all there, from Blue Danube to the Radetsky March and Lucifer Polka.
This is partly because the comedian approaches the gig from a place of real fondness.
And after all, with a name like Rainer Hersch, you can easily understand that the comedian – whose father was German – has a love of classical music running through his veins.
“I’m a massive fan of the New Year concert,” he added. “Until last year when I started this, it was a tradition in my house to sit down and watch the whole thing. And so anybody who comes to our show recognises that I love it straight away.”
But with such a love of classical music, what makes him find such fertile ground for comedy in it?
“Everybody likes a laugh. And I think there’s this perception of classical musicians and audiences as stuck up.” he said.
“If you go to a concert, you would be amazed at what audiences find funny. Even a conductor dropping his baton is funny. But what makes music so good for comedy is that it’s a language we all understand. It has a grammar, syntax and famous pieces which you can quote from. So you are communicating with the audience in the language that they didn’t know could even be used in that comedic context.”
The Johann Strauss Gala will be performed at the Music Hall, Aberdeen, tomorrow, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from www.aberdeenperforming arts.com or by calling 01224 641122.