The music of Vienna comes to Sarasota

Celebrating the new year doesn't have to involve raucous crowds and alcoholic beverages.

Every year, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota hosts "Salute to Vienna," an elegant tribute to the classic music that has come from the Austrian capital. The Strauss Symphony of America performs sweeping melodies from operettas and Strauss waltzes, including familiar arias from "Die Fledermaus" and "The Merry Widow," and, of course, "The Blue Danube" and other Stauss waltzes.

The symphony is conducted by Niels Muus, who hails from Vienna. Soloists include Viennese soprano Lilla Galambos and David Danholt, a tenor out of Vienna and Copenhagen.

Joining the musicians will be dancers from the Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine and international champion ballroom dancers.

This is the 20th annual "Salute to Vienna" at Van Wezel. It's always popular with local audiences, but the show is in demand elsewhere, too. So you'll have to wait until after New Year's to celebrate Vienna-style. The Sarasota concert is set for Sunday.

Details: 7 p.m. Jan. 3, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets: $37.10-$78.83. Information: 941-953-3368, vanwezel.org.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 5:23 PM with the headline "The music of Vienna comes to Sarasota ."