March 28

Events - Culture & Arts

1842day.year

First concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Otto Nicolai.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra gave its inaugural performance under conductor Otto Nicolai in 1842.
On March 28, 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra made its debut with Otto Nicolai at the helm in Vienna, Austria. The concert featured a program showcasing contemporary symphonic works and compositions by Nicolai himself. Founded by musicians from the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, the orchestra quickly gained acclaim for its rich sound and precision. This inaugural event laid the foundation for what would become one of the world’s premier symphony orchestras. Over time, the Vienna Philharmonic became renowned for its annual New Year’s Concert and its enduring contributions to the classical music heritage.
1842 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Otto Nicolai
1969day.year

Greek poet and Nobel Prize laureate Giorgos Seferis makes a famous statement on the BBC World Service opposing the junta in Greece.

In 1969, Greek Nobel laureate poet Giorgos Seferis publicly condemned the military junta in Greece during a broadcast on the BBC World Service.
On March 28, 1969, the celebrated poet and diplomat Giorgos Seferis used a BBC broadcast to protest the ruling Greek military junta. Seferis, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1963, quoted from his own poetry to subtly criticize the regime. His statement was the first public condemnation of the dictatorship by a figure of international stature. The broadcast energized the Greek opposition and resonated with audiences at home and abroad. Despite government censorship, tapes of the speech were circulated clandestinely within Greece. Seferis’s bold intervention underscored the power of art and letters as tools for political dissent.
1969 Nobel Prize Giorgos Seferis BBC World Service