The music of the Strauss family is justifiably famous, but many other talented composers were producing popular music of comparable quality in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Drawn from a unique collection of original archive material compiled by The Johann Strauss Society of Great Britain, much of which has been reconstructed or orchestrated by John Georgiadis, this first volume of two presents world première recordings of works by many undeservedly forgotten central European light music composers.
Strauss II: Waldmeister / Salvi, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Naxos
CD
$29.99Sep 10, 2021
Johann Strauss II’s operetta Waldmeister(‘Woodruff’) was staged for the first time in December 1895.The plotline – a case of mistaken identity somewhat reminiscent of Die Fledermaus– is lively, but the libretto itself proved to be less than satisfying. However, the vivacious and immaculately orchestrated music featuring several pieces that would go on to become famous, including the waltz Trau, schau, wem and the polka Klipp-Klapp-Galopp, earned Strauss immense admiration. Attending the opening night with Johannes Brahms was Vienna’s leading critic Eduard Hanslick who hailed the new work by asserting that ‘Mozart’s golden sound reigns in [Strauss’s] orchestra’.
‘My Vienna’ is Jonas Kaufmann’s deeply personal tribute to the world-famous melodies from the birthplace of waltz and operetta and follows up the album release from Fall 2019. The 100-minute film consists of Jonas Kaufmann’s Wiener Konzerthaus concert interspersed with documentary-style segments where Jonas Kaufmann explores the city’s fascinating lighter musical heritage. His concert from the Wiener Konzerthaus includes well-known Viennese songs like “Wien, Wien nur du allein“, “Im Prater blühn wieder die Bäume”, “Sag beim Abschied leise “Servus““. He also sings scenes from famous operettas such as “The Merry Widow”, “Wiener Blut” and “Die Fledermaus” where soprano Rachel Willis-SØrensen joins him on the duets.
1992 New Year's Concert / Kleiber, Wiener Philharmoniker
Sony Masterworks
CD
$17.99Sep 16, 2010
In every respect, this is superb. Here is not merely a wonderful souvenir of a special event but a thing of joy forever.
In every respect, this is superb: a 'must'. I recently listened to DG's historic issue of VPO Johann Strauss ((D 435 335-2GWP2), reviewed enthusiastically in February by RO. Here the present needs fear nothing from the past. Indeed Carlos Kleiber combines in one baton, miraculously, every attribute of his predecessors—his father Erich's discipline and élan, Krauss's Schwung, Karajan's elegance, Boskovsky's lift and Krips's insinuating charm. Anyone who saw and heard the concert on television (the video incidentally will be released on Philips) will know just how delightfully Kleiber, with his unorthodox, seemingly effortless methods, achieves his aims and how willingly his complaisant orchestra responds to his peculiar gifts.
If I had to decide between so many winners, I might choose Eine Tausend und eine Nachi for the translucency of its introduction and the champagne elation of its main section, and Spharenklange for ethereal wonder. But then there is the irresistible verve of the Pizzicato Polka where the rubato is perfectly judged, and the tremendous panache of Unter Donner und Blitz. Is there a touch of the mannered just once or twice, as in the opening bars of The Blue Danube? If so, it is usually justified as a means to an entirely convincing end—in this case a familiar piece given with a swooning spontaneity that invites the body to sway with the music.
To crown one's pleasure, the recording is faultless: it has presence, warmth, depth, and captures ideally a sense of the occasion. Here is not merely a wonderful souvenir of a special event but a thing of joy forever. And now if you'll excuse me, I shall go and listen to it again.
Videoland, purveyor of the finest in middle-European operetta, offers up a performance of the finest operetta of them all, Die Feledermaus, by Johann Strauss II ("The Waltz King"), recorded in front of a most appreciative and receptive audience during the Seefestspiele Moerbisch Austria Festival in 2012. Manfred Mayrofer leads the festival's orchestra and a cast that includes Herbert Lippert as Von Eisenstein, Alexandra Reinprecht as Rosalinde, Harald Sarafin and Daniela Fally. Helmut Lohner directed this lavish and entertaining production.
‘My Vienna’ is Jonas Kaufmann’s deeply personal tribute to the world-famous melodies from the birthplace of waltz and operetta and follows up the album release from Fall 2019. The 100-minute film consists of Jonas Kaufmann’s Wiener Konzerthaus concert interspersed with documentary-style segments where Jonas Kaufmann explores the city’s fascinating lighter musical heritage. His concert from the Wiener Konzerthaus includes well-known Viennese songs like “Wien, Wien nur du allein“, “Im Prater blühn wieder die Bäume”, “Sag beim Abschied leise “Servus““. He also sings scenes from famous operettas such as “The Merry Widow”, “Wiener Blut” and “Die Fledermaus” where soprano Rachel Willis-SØrensen joins him on the duets.
Strauss Family Waltzes / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
RCA
CD
$17.99Jun 29, 2012
The timeless romance and lilting melodies of Strauss waltzes and polkas are legendary; here, in classic performances by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, the charming music of Old Vienna comes joyously to life. This Living Stereo jewel will transport you to the innocence and grace of a bygone era.
Recordings made May 1956, May 1957, November 1958, August 1959, Septemeber 1959 in Symphony Hall, Boston.
Just in time for the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II on 25 October 2025, cpo is releasing the complete recording of a comedy that will itself celebrate it's 130th anniversary on 4 December. In Waldmeister, the undisputed king of the waltz once again pulls out all the stops and delivers a delightful comedy whose scandalous mix-ups ultimately dissolve in a high-proof punch. It's distinctive taste features a hero with a botanical title (Galium odoratum) and a series of evergreens - above all, the leitmotif and proverbial "Trau schau wem" ("Trust, but check"), which is enthusiastically taken up by friend and foe alike. This live recording was made during the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz's guest performance in Vienna and whose new production contributed to this year's Austrian Strauss celebrations.
Few concerts in the world are awaited with as much excitement as the New Year's Concert from Vienna. Under the direction of Riccardo Muti, the Vienna Philharmonic ushers in the New Year with a concert in the magnificent Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein. Marking his seventh time conducting this prestigious event, Riccardo Muti leads the orchestra in a program that celebrates the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II, exploring new perspectives on the musical world of the Strauss family. Riccardo Muti has played an exceptional role in the history of the Vienna Philharmonic for over 50 years. The artistic collaboration with Maestro Muti began in 1971. Since then, he has conducted over 500 concerts with the orchestra, including six New Year's concerts, Philharmonic subscription concerts, memorial concerts, annual orchestral concerts at the Salzburg Festival, guest performances and tours, and numerous opera productions. He has been an honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic since 2011. The annual New Year's Day Concert in Vienna has been a major event for more than eight decades, since 1939, being broadcasted on TV and radio, and reaching millions of viewers in over 90 countries across the globe. The concert has previously been conducted by world-famous maestros such as Herbert von Karajan, Lorin Maazel, Claudio Abbado, Carlos Kleiber, Zubin Mehta, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Seiji Ozawa, Mariss Jansons, Franz Welser-Most, Gustavo Dudamel and others. The Vienna Philharmonic, as musical ambassadors of Austria, send people all over the world a New Year's greeting in the spirit of hope, friendship and peace with the lively and light-hearted and at the same time nostalgic and profound music from the vast repertoire of the family of Johann Strauss and it's contemporaries.
The prestigious concert will be conducted by Austrian conductor Franz Welser-Most for the 3rd time (2011, 2013) The New Year's Concert live from Vienna is one of the world's most famous and spectacular classical music events. It will be broadcast on TV and radio and reaches over 90 countries around the world with more than 50 million viewers. The annual New Year's Day Concert in Vienna has been a major event for more than eight decades, since 1939. Conducted by world-famous maestros such as Herbert von Karajan, Lorin Maazel, Claudio Abbado, Carlos Kleiber, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Seiji Ozawa, Mariss Jansons, Gustavo Dudamel and Christian Thielemann. The Vienna Philharmonic, as musical ambassadors of Austria, send people all over the world a New Year's greeting in the spirit of hope, friendship and peace with the lively and light-hearted and at the same time nostalgic and profound music from the vast repertoire of the family of Johann Strauss and it's contemporaries.
Few concerts in the world are awaited with as much excitement as the New Year's Concert from Vienna. Under the direction of Riccardo Muti, the Vienna Philharmonic ushers in the New Year with a concert in the magnificent Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein. Marking his seventh time conducting this prestigious event, Riccardo Muti leads the orchestra in a program that celebrates the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II, exploring new perspectives on the musical world of the Strauss family. Riccardo Muti has played an exceptional role in the history of the Vienna Philharmonic for over 50 years. The artistic collaboration with Maestro Muti began in 1971. Since then, he has conducted over 500 concerts with the orchestra, including six New Year's concerts, Philharmonic subscription concerts, memorial concerts, annual orchestral concerts at the Salzburg Festival, guest performances and tours, and numerous opera productions. He has been an honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic since 2011. The annual New Year's Day Concert in Vienna has been a major event for more than eight decades, since 1939, being broadcasted on TV and radio, and reaching millions of viewers in over 90 countries across the globe. The concert has previously been conducted by world-famous maestros such as Herbert von Karajan, Lorin Maazel, Claudio Abbado, Carlos Kleiber, Zubin Mehta, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Seiji Ozawa, Mariss Jansons, Franz Welser-Most, Gustavo Dudamel and others. The Vienna Philharmonic, as musical ambassadors of Austria, send people all over the world a New Year's greeting in the spirit of hope, friendship and peace with the lively and light-hearted and at the same time nostalgic and profound music from the vast repertoire of the family of Johann Strauss and it's contemporaries.
Bavarian-born Adolf von Henselt was one of a galaxy of star pianist-composers of a similar age that included Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and Thalberg. A student o Hummel, Henselt developed a breathtaking, idiosyncratic virtuoso technique but stage fright drew him away from performance an more towards composition and then teaching. Sergio Gallo, a steinway artist, specializes in the repertoire of the Romantic period, especially Liszt and his contemporaries, including Schumann, Henselt, Brahms and Chopin. Gallo has made several acclaimed recordings for Eroica and a recent release with Naxos of Liszt's transcriptions of opera by Meyerbeer, which was critically acclaimed by BBC Magazine: "Gallo makes a goo case for Liszt's honoring of the operatic originals."
Although it plays second fiddle on the international stage to the universally popular operetta Die Fledermaus, the glorious musical score of Die Zigeunerbaron by Johann Strauss II (“The Waltz King”) is no less brilliant than his most famous work. Videoland, purveyor of the finest in filmed middle-European operetta, here offers up a performance of The Gypsy Baron staged during the 2011 Seefestspiele Moerbisch Austria Festival. Starring Daniel and Harald Serafin, Evelin Novak, Lucien Krasznec and Wolfgang Bankl, with legendary mezzo Brigitte Fassbaender in charge of production.
2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss Sohn. An occasion for the Duo Praxedis (harpist Praxedis Hug-Rutti and pianist Praxedis Genevieve Hug) to rearrange selected compositions by the composer for harp and piano. The Baba Bussi album also includes works by other composers who have a close connection to Vienna and are firmly rooted in it's musical tradition. It is a tribute to Johann Strauss and to Vienna as the 'world capital of music' - and is being performed for the first time with this delightful instrumentation.
New Year's Concert 1989 / Carlos Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic
Sony Masterworks
CD
$24.99Jul 08, 2013
One can share in a more carefree expression of joy here. Many fine conductors have presided over these traditional Strauss tributes, but none with such élan as the late Carlos Kleiber. The music swings and sways in terpsichorean ecstasy. Kleiber appears blissful as he inscribes elegant arcs with his baton, and the players beam.
Strauss: Aschenbrodel / Theis, Vienna Radio Symphony
CPO
CD
$36.99Oct 05, 2018
It is really not at all surprising that a composer of dance music might eventually get around to writing a full-length dance composition. But did you know this: that the music for the full-length ballet Aschenbrödel (Cinderella) amounts to the swan song of Johann Strauss? Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to complete the work. Before his death he had orchestrated the first act and half of the third act. The versed ballet composer Josef Bayer was assigned the task of completing the work, and he used the extensive sketches to produce a performable version. Over the years a lot of new source material has surfaced. On the basis of these sources the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra of Vienna has made a new recording of this work so very rich in melodies. The result is also a sort of rediscovery of Aschenbrödel. Our conductor is the Strauss specialist Ernst Theis.
![Mein Wien / Kaufmann, Willis-Sorensen, Rieder, Prague Philharmonic [Blu-ray]](http://arkivmusic.com/cdn/shop/files/3862731-2631617.jpg?v=1787846995&width=800)
![Mein Wien / Kaufmann, Willis-Sorensen, Rieder, Prague Philharmonic [Blu-ray]](http://arkivmusic.com/cdn/shop/files/3862731-2631617.jpg?v=1787846995&width=400)
