The Strauss Orchestra of Québec, directed by British conductor Alastair Willis, along with dancers from the Austrian Europaballett and international champion ballroom dancers, also featuring Hungarian soprano Anita Lukács and tenor Péter Laki, welcomed the New Year and celebrated Vienna’s Golden Age with Hommage à Vienne at the Grand Théâtre on Jan. 2. The concert featured grandiose arias, romantic duets and joyous overtures by Johann Strauss (1804-1849), who was known as the King of the Waltz, and several of his contemporaries, including Franz von Suppé, Emmerich Kálmán, Franz Lehár and his sons Joseph and Johann Strauss, Jr. The evening ended with Strauss Sr.’s famous “The Blue Danube” and his joyous “Radetzky March” with lots of rhythmic hand clapping from the audience, encouraged by Willis. (SN) (Photo by Shirley Nadeau)