In 2013, the Berlin Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle danced in the new year with a gala concert program highlighting symphonic dances by Dvořák, Hindemith, Khachaturian, and Brahms. Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances and two of Brahms’s most popular Hungarian Dances framed the program, orienting the evening toward the passionate melodies and irresistible rhythms of central Europe. In between the audience experienced four dances from Soviet Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian’s ballet Gayaneh (including the famous “Sword Dance”) and Paul Hindemith’s own uniquely contrapuntal Symphonic Dances.