French-born conductor Georges Pretre and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra perform the New Year concert on January 1, 2008 in Vienna's "Goldener Musikvereinsaal". Following in the footsteps of legendary conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, who first invited him to work with the musical company in 1962, Pretre becomes the first Frenchman to direct the program. (Xinhua/AFP) |