20TH ANNIVERSERY Collection, The - Vienna Art Orchestra

Advantages: Some less often heard pieces by Robert Stolz
Disadvantages: Insensitive conducting which swamps singers

...Having lived and worked in Vienna for several years, I\'ve always had a big soft spot for operetta, waltzes and Viennese music in general. Done well it can be as satisfyingly enjoyable to listen to as drinking a mug of my favourite Austrian Kaffeehaus speciality - \"heisse Schokolade\" (hot chocolate) topped with a big dollop of perfectly whipped cream... Unfortunately, listening to this CD - which is with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Iain Sutherland and the two vocal soloists Julia Migenes and Sebastian Reinthaller - is like forcing yourself to drink thin watery cheap cocoa with nasty sludgey powdery lumpy bits lurking in the bottom. It isn\'t good at all, I\'m afraid. Robert Stolz lived from 1880 to 1975 and really continued the Viennese style of operetta and light orchestral music that had been so successfully developed... Read review

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Advantages: Great sampler, excellent recording.
Disadvantages: Not quite as memorable as being there in person.

...conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and 2001 marked Mikolaus Harnoncourt's début at the conductors podium, although he has previously played the 'Cello in the VPO in previous New Year's Concerts. Whilst the Radetzkymarsch is always played, and indeed a New Year's Concert without the Radetzkymarsch would be like leaving "Jerusalem" or "Land of Hope and Glory" out of the running order of the Last Night of the Proms, this CD features a lot of slightly less known music. There is as ever a large proportion of Strauß in the performance, with Johann Strauß I's Radetzkymarsch opening the CD, and a different arrangement of it on a Bonus CD. To celebrate the bicentenary of Joseph Lanner, the programme also contains his "Die Schönbrunner", "Jägers Lust" and "Steyrische Tänze", which are typical of the Waltzing tradition that Lanner and Johann... Read review

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Advantages: Witty lyrics, sparkling music
Disadvantages: None

...Die Fledermaus: The Bat Composer: Johann Strauss ll Lyrics: Carl Haffner and Richard Genee Conductor: John Owen Edwards Orchestra: D'Oyly Carte Opera Orchestra Performer: D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus Label: Sony Classics Released: October 1, 1995 Number of Discs: 2 Cost: £27.99 The Composer Johann Strauss ll was born in Vienna on 25th October 1825 the eldest son of Johann Strauss a renowned violinist and composer. Johann Strauss junior was also a violinist. In 1844, he gathered together his own orchestra with himself as conductor and composer. Working in opposition to his father who disapproved. In 1849 on the death of his father, the two Strauss orchestras were combined. Strauss is best known for his Waltzes including The Beautiful Blue Danube. He also composed 17 operettas including Die Fledermaus in 1874. The Opera: A Musical... Read review

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