THE annual New Year's Day Strauss Gala is one of the great highlights of the classical calendar across the world and for the BSO, it is no exception.

And there is no better conductor to take charge of this Viennese festival than the former young conductor in association, Frank Zielhorst.

Zielhorst's infectious personality, humour and sense of fun fits the occasion perfectly.

It's always impossible not to smile after this very special January 1st concert or indeed after a chat with the amiable Dutchman himself who remains a hugely popular figure with the BSO faithful.

His last appearance was the Friday night of the Proms in the Park.

He was delighted to be back, although as presenter of a major concert for the first time, as well as the conductor, he admitted beforehand to being a little nervous.

He need not have worried. His Christmas cracker joke about how festive lunch will be different after Brexit ('No Brussels') had an appreciative audience roaring with laughter and after some rather more serious and sober reflection on 2016, we were off.

The concert took us on a colourful journey from Imperial Vienna to Persia, Spain, France and Japan and then back to what was indisputably the capital of the world in the time of Johann Strauss.

It opened with the Gypsy Baron Overture and the delightful, swirling, Acceleration Waltz. The self-styled Lancashire diva, soprano Soraya Mafi was stunning and enchanting on The Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus and Voices of Spring.

Her own voice seems to do impossible things and plays off incredibly against the instruments.

The second half featured the epic Kaiser Waltzer, Strauss' rousing Persian March and Emile Waldteufel's joyful Spanish Waltz.

The charming Mafi returned for two more pieces, The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze from The Mikado and Air de Coraline from Le Toreador.

Then the finale, The Blue Danube. What else could it be? When one composer heard Strauss' masterpiece for the first time he wrote a note. 'Alas, not by Johannes Brahms.'

The Lighthouse audience was delighted and then joined in enthusiastically handclapping the rousing encore, the Radetsky March.

Another New Year's Day triumph. As good as being in Vienna.

Well almost.

*The concert also features at Weymouth Pavilion on Friday January 13.

* See The Guide in Friday's Echo for full interview with Frank Zielhorst on life after the BSO.