Search - Johann Strauss :: Valses, Polkas, Marches et Galops - Boskovsky

Viennese Waltzes at their Best

sul tasto | USA | 07/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Highly recommended. This 5-CD set is a real bargain. With over 5 hours of music, it contains 37 waltzes, polkas, and overtures (despite the album title) by Johann Strauss Jr. (the "Waltz King") and 22 by his two younger brothers.



The Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra (mostly members of the Vienna Philharmonic) and conductor Willi Boskovsky are steeped in the Strauss-family tradition and could be considered the definitive interpreters of this music. These are probably the most authentic performances to have been digitally recorded. I have several other Strauss-Waltz recordings and have heard many live and recorded performances. I've played many of the pieces in professional orchestras.



With only 42-45 musicians, the sound is somewhat leaner and has more bite than that of the Vienna Philharmonic or other major orchestras with twice as many players. They have the same number of winds but fewer strings, giving the winds more presence. The original Strauss-family orchestras varied widely by venue but were often around 40 players for a major ball or concert. The Andre Rieu orchestra, by comparison, is similar in size to the smallest Strauss-family orchestras, but with fewer winds.



These waltzes embody the famous Viennese lilt, which is not notated and is usually ignored or exaggerated by non-Austrian orchestras. Boskovsky conducts with his violin, in the Strauss-family tradition. The orchestra's intonation is far below the standards of American orchestras, but is usually accepted as part of the Viennese tradition.



"Tales of the Vienna Woods" includes the original delightful zither solos, which are played by the string section in most performances and recordings.



The liner notes are in French and consist of a history of the Viennese waltz, with no particular relevance to these recordings. The track listings are an inconsistent mixture of French and German. The rarely heard Gedankenflug Waltz (flights of fancy) is mistitled Gedankenpflug (plow of thoughts?).

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