2013 Vienna New Year's Concert set to feature premiere pieces

File photo of the Vienna Musikverein, where the traditional Vienna New Year's Concert is held.

The 73rd traditional Vienna New Year's Concert is set for Jan. 1 and will be shown in a record 81 countries and regions, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra announced Thursday.

Philharmonica Chairman Clemens Hellsberg said during the preview of the event the number of countries it will be broadcast in has doubled from 10 years ago and now includes nations such as Cuba and India.

Though traditionally dominated by the works of the Strauss family, the 2013 program will feature 11 works not played at the event before, including pieces from Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi.

"It's not a constructed thing, the mutual admiration was great," Hellsberg said of the decision to include the new pieces, adding the Strauss-dominance in the performances would remain.

Conductor for the evening Franz Welser-Moest was also enthusiastic about the broader selection of pieces, which will include the Strauss-waltz "Aus den Bergen" (From the Mountains) and "Hesperus-Bahnen," saying they piqued his curiosity.