Willi Boskovsky

Willi Boskovsky was an Austrian violinist and conductor born in Vienna in 1909. He served as concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic from 1939 to 1971 and became widely known for leading the orchestra’s New Year’s Day concerts from 1955 to 1979. Boskovsky specialized in Viennese light music and Strauss family repertoire, conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, and various chamber ensembles. His recordings for Decca and EMI helped popularize Johann Strauss waltzes and polkas internationally. He also performed as a solo violinist and led the Boskovsky Ensemble in chamber music settings. Boskovsky died in 1991 in Visp, Switzerland.