Search - Strauss Family, Kempe, Boskovsky :: Waltzes, Polkas & Marches

Great Collection!

kv581 | Durham, NC United States | 01/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Do not judge this collection by its price nor by its label. Granted, Seraphim is the "low budget" division of EMI, but that does not mean that Seraphim carries no great recordings. A brief glance at this CD will reveal its values. First of all, the performances were conducted by two of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, Boskovsky and Kempe. Also, the CDs were recorded by two great ensembles (the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic). The selections included are excellent, very much comparable to more pricey compilations. Lastly, the performances are elegant, exciting, and precise. Definitely a must-buy for waltz lovers. For the hardcore waltz lovers who just cannot get enough of J. Strauss's music, I recommend the budget-value CD set from Naxos. Top quality performances too, like many Naxos recordings."

Listen especially to the Vienna Philharmonic's strings!

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 02/16/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I hope the bargain price and the slim packaging for this double CD will induce many shoppers to buy and discover some of the delights provided by the Strauss Family of Vienna, especially when played by Viennese orchestras. Of the two conductors, Willi Boskovsky conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for more than twenty years at their New Year Concerts. Thereafter he made a series of recordings with a smaller group of Viennese players. The first CD here contains a collection of Strauss waltzes from this series. There are some disappointments here. Programming a long chain of waltzes is too much of a good thing. The playing and the acoustic are also not of the front rank. Nothing disappoints in the second CD, however. Indeed, Rudolf Kempe was one conductor who seemed invariably to get everything right. With the Vienna Philharmonic itself, he made a series of recordings of music by the Strauss Family most of which are reissued on the second CD. Nothing will disappoint here. Waltzes are interposed with polkas, marches, etc. Notice especially the magical introductions to the two waltzes by Josef Strauss. Then there is the wonderful Intermezzo to "A Thousand and One Nights" (incorrectly listed as the waltz of the same name on the CD). Those familiar with the music of Johann Strauss Jnr might notice that this piece is rather more extended and repetitive than his usual compositions. It was in fact compiled by somebody else from themes from an early Johann Strauss Jnr operetta, for performance at a 1920 revival of that operetta. It receives virtuoso treatment from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring some especially beautiful playing from the string section."

Not bad...

John Austin | 11/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Do not be fooled by the price of these two CDs. Just becausethey are super-budgeted doesn't mean that these are inferior performances. As a matter of fact, the quality of music on these two CDs are excellent. The caliber of the two orchestras involved is very high. The entire second CD, especially, is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Rudolf Kempe (widely known for his recording of the complete Wagner Ring Cycle). The only problem I find with these two CDs is a rather personal one. The two CDs present exactly the content that they promise they would: more than two hours of waltz music. Personally, I find listening to more than two hours' worth of mindless, shallow waltz music unbearable. However, if you are a fan of waltz (or polka) music, or if you need some appropriate music for a formal ball, these two CDs will suit you perfectly..."