Fritz Reiner – Vienna (APE)

Composer: Johann II Strauss, Carl Maria von Weber, Josef Strauss, Richard Strauss
Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Fritz Reiner
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: RCA
Size: 379 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Morgenblätter (Morning Papers), waltz for orchestra, Op. 279 (RV 279)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz), for orchestra, Op. 437 (RV 437)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

An der schönen, blauen Donau (On the Beautiful, Blue Danube), waltz for orchestra (with chorus ad lib), Op. 314 (RV 314)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

Invitation to the Dance (Aufforderung zum Tanze), for orchestra and various arrangements (orchestrated by Berlioz)
Composed by Carl Maria von Weber
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

Austrian Village Swallows Waltz for orchestra, Op 164
Composed by Josef Strauss
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

Der Rosenkavalier, waltz sequence for orchestra No. 2 (from Act 3 of opera) (TrV 227a)
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

Wiener Blut (Vienna Blood), waltz for orchestra, Op. 354 (RV 354)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

Rosen aus dem Süden (Roses from the South), waltz for orchestra, Op. 388 (RV 388)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

Schatz-Walzer (Treasure Waltz), for orchestra, Op. 418
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

Unter Donner und Blitz (Thunder and Lightning), polka schnell for orchestra, Op. 324 (RV 324)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Fritz Reiner

classy

It seems that many folks in the classical music illuminati have a low opinion of Johann Strauss’ waltz “On the Beautiful Blue Danube,” which is the most famous work on this CD. I don’t know whether there’s anything to that opinion – is it insight, or just a reaction against lush popularity? – but it is a famous and classy piece of music, and it is performed and recorded that way here. (Someone complained that it is “cold.” I don’t hear that, but maybe what he means is something I’d call “classy?” I don’t know, and to be fair, he has probably heard more recordings of these works than I have….)

The others here are somewhat less famous than “The Blue Danube.” Johann Strauss’ “Morning Papers” is another sweet, enjoyable little waltz. Richard Strauss’s Rosenkavalier is almost but not quite popular enough to be known by ordinary people who aren’t opera or classical music fans. The other pieces here are less familiar, but they work quite well together as a program.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra has a fairly old tradition of giving a New Year’s Concert featuring the music of Johann Strauss – recordings of many of these are available on DVD, and you might want to check out, say: New Year’s Concert 2003. That’s what I usually think of when I hear his music, so to me the music on this CD is the accompaniment to an elegant New Year’s party, the kind where people drink champagne and sing “Auld Lang Syne.”