New Year celebrations at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich

Two hours later I made my way to St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich for the Norwich Pops Orchestra's New Year's Day Concert which featured a programme of traditional Viennese favourites. Conductor for the afternoon was Geoff Davidson who insists that Andre Rieu is after his spot but while he can still raise his baton the Austrian Waltz King will not grace this stage.

The programme consisted of Estudiantina Waltz - Waldteufel, Overture Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna - Von Suppe, Egyptian March - Johann Strauss II, Waltz Wine, Women and song - Johann Strauss II, Annen Polka - Johann Strauss II, Ballsirenen Waltz from The Merry Widow - Johann Strauss II, Schnellpost Polka - Johann Strauss II, Polka from Schwanda the Bagpiper - Weinberger, Gold and Silver Waltz - Lehar, Scene and Waltz from Swan Lake - Tchaikovsky, Leichtes Blut Polka Schnell - Johann Strauss II, Quodlibet A Guid New Year - Arr Geoff Davidson, Waltz On the Beautiful Blue Danube - Johann Strauss II and (Encore) Radetsky March - Johann Strauss II.

This was the sixth time that the Orchestra have brought the flavour of a traditional Viennese concert to New Year's Day at St. Andrew's Hall which was packed and resulted in the venue selling out of programmes. The concert was full of fun and humour as Geoff Davidson entertained us between the music. We all left the Hall humming the tunes with smiles on our faces looking forward to the new year.