08 Mar 2006
Karajan Performs Strauss Waltzes and Polkas
Everyone is familiar with the waltzes and polkas of the “Waltz King,” Johan Strauss II, along with his father Johann I and his brother Josef.
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Recordings
The Vienna Philharmonic has been one of the greatest promoters of the music of this talented family, going back all the way to 1924. Conductor Clemens Krauss continued the tradition through the New Year’s Eve concerts which he initiated in 1939, and for many people, ushering in the New Year just wouldn’t be the same without the Vienna Philharmonic concert of Strauss music. Herbert von Karajan continued this tradition, and the fifteen recordings of Strauss polkas and waltzes on this recording date from 1946-49.
Sprinkled among the ten Johann II compositions and the three Josef pieces are familiar favorites such as An der schonen, blauen Donau op. 314, the Kaiser-Walzer op. 437, and the Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka op. 214, to name a few. Although these recordings were done over fifty years ago, they represent part of the oeuvre of Karajan early in his career, and hence bring back the era when the conductor ruled over the orchestra. Karajan’s legacy as a conductor and interpreter of classical music is well represented by this series from EMI, and this particular recording illustrates his wealth of talent at the beginning of his career.
Dr. Brad Eden
University of Nevada, Las Vegas