Search - Emile Waldteufel, Michel Swierczewski :: The Skaters' Waltz : Les Patineurs

An unexpected delight

franz kafka | 03/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Noel Coward once said, "How potent cheap music can be." There is nothing cheap about this music, but it is surprisingly potent. Though little known today, Alsatian-born Emile Waldteufel (the name means "forest devil" in German) was France's answer to Johann Strauss II. He was widely popular not only in Paris but in London, where he was a favorite of Queen Victoria's (the old lady always surprises me with her depth of perception). Today he is remembered (if at all) for "The Skaters' Waltz" ("Les patineurs"), but this CD from Nimbus Recordings features 12 other dances, each one more delightful than the last. Michel Swierczewski leads the Gulbenkian Orchestra in a spirited performance that highlights the grace and elegance associated with Waldteufel's music."

Waltzing Away

Sunbeam | SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US | 07/02/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like Waltz Music, this is one CD you might consider having. I was pleasantly suprised when I played it. Very sweeping and light hearted."