- Orchestra: Johann Strauss Orchestra of Vienna, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor: Willi Boskovsky, Rudolf Kempe
- Composer: Johann II Strauss, Josef Strauss
- Audio CD (22 May 1995)
- Number of Discs: 2
- Label: Seraphim
- ASIN: B000000UVF
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 475,387 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
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.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
A lovely ocllection with quite a few high points
15 Dec 2005
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
As other reviewers have noted, the best material here is on CD 2, especially the rarely heard Intermezzo to "A Thousand and One Nights," which is quite haunting in Kempe's hands. This generally sober-sided conductor is so genial and loose in Strauss waltzes and polkas that he produces one of the most buoynat programs I've heard. Five stars for his contribution, and the Vienna Phil, recorded in the early to mid-Sixties, sounds wonderful, if not with the last touch of finesse.
We get pretty routine readings on CD 1 from Willi Boskovsky and the Vienna Strauss Orch., no doubt a studio band. As concertmaster of the Vienna Phil., Boskovsky had the champagne spirit of Strauss running through his veins, but he didn't manage to communicate it often as a conductor. These readings are stylish enough on a Boston Pops level, never touching the sublime expression that Viennese musicians are capable of. Three stars for Boskovsky's share.
Although out of print, this Seraphim two-fer from EMI remains an icredible bargain on the used market.
We get pretty routine readings on CD 1 from Willi Boskovsky and the Vienna Strauss Orch., no doubt a studio band. As concertmaster of the Vienna Phil., Boskovsky had the champagne spirit of Strauss running through his veins, but he didn't manage to communicate it often as a conductor. These readings are stylish enough on a Boston Pops level, never touching the sublime expression that Viennese musicians are capable of. Three stars for Boskovsky's share.
Although out of print, this Seraphim two-fer from EMI remains an icredible bargain on the used market.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Listen especially to the Vienna Philharmonic's strings!
16 Feb 2002
Format:Audio CD
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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Not bad...
27 Nov 1999
Format:Audio CD
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...
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