Search - Josef Strauss, Alfred Eschwe, Razumovsky Symphony Orchestra :: Josef Strauss Edition, Vol. 11

Some Lesser Josef Strauss.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 10/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having listened to all the volumes issued so far in this series, I am forming the opinion that Josef Strauss had his good days and his bad days as a composer. On a good day, he could produce better works than those of any other member of his family, but on other days inspiration seemed to lapse. The conductor of this CD, Volume 11 in the Josef Strauss Edition, when the conducting roster was being compiled, seems to have been allocated dances from the low inspiration days. Everything is worth hearing, but nothing would find a place with me on a desert island. Best here are the two polkas mazur - a dance form in which Josef Strauss rarely lapsed. If you are familiar with the ballet "Le Beau Danube", you'll recognise a sequence in the second item on this CD, the "Dioscuren Quadrille". Volume 11 is recommended for adding to your trolley, but not necessarily adding to your desert island kit."