Album

The 2003 New Year's concert by the Vienna Philharmonic marked Nikolaus Harnoncourt's second outing as conductor of the traditional event. He was an able and appropriate choice as guest conductor, having expanded his repertoire to the operettas of Johann Strauss Jr. in the 1990s. In this concert, in addition to the annual favorites, he chose to add four pieces by Strauss family members that had never been performed at the New Year's concerts (although the notes do not say which tracks these are), Weber's Invitation to the Dance, and two of Brahms' Hungarian Dances. The Weber fits in nicely given its generally granted status as the first episodic waltz written and its rich orchestration by Berlioz, which is contemporary with the works of Johann Strauss Sr. The Brahms dances are also an appropriate sidelight given their gypsy themes and Brahms' friendship with Johann Jr. The concert begins with restraint, as the orchestra takes a few tracks to settle in. By track seven, the Weber, it has loosened up. On disc two, which contains slightly faster-paced works, the enthusiasm of Harnoncourt and the musicians is more evident, as is that of the audience, especially in the traditional close to the concert with the Radetzky March. If not a totally rousing performance, it is still a toe-tapping, worthwhile edition of the annual concert.

© Patsy Morita, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Johann Strauss II Composer Jubilee March for the Return of Emperor Franz Josef I, Op.126 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
1	Jubilee March for the Return of Emperor Franz Josef I, Op.126	3:26			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Schatz-Walzer (Treasure Waltz), Op.418 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
2	Schatz-Walzer (Treasure Waltz), Op.418	8:48			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Niko-Polka, Op.228 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
3	Niko-Polka, Op.228	3:52			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Scherz-Polka, Op.72 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
4	Scherz-Polka, Op.72	3:28			$0.99
Josef Strauss Composer Delirien Waltz for orchestra, Op.212 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
5	Delirien Waltz for orchestra, Op.212	10:04			$1.99
Josef Strauss Composer Pêle-mêle, polka schnell, Op.161 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
6	Pêle-mêle, polka schnell, Op.161	2:05			$0.99
Carl Maria von Weber Composer Invitation to the Dance, Op.65 (orch. by Berlioz) Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Franz Bartolomey Cello, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
7	Invitation to the Dance, Op.65 (orch. by Berlioz)	9:28			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Sekunden-Polka, polka française, Op.258 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
8	Sekunden-Polka, polka française, Op.258	3:17			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Hellenen-Polka, Op.203 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
9	Hellenen-Polka, Op.203	2:19			$0.99
CD 2 of 2
Johann Strauss II Composer Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz), Op.437 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
1	Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz), Op.437	11:45			$1.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Bauern, polka française, Op.276 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
2	Bauern, polka française, Op.276	2:53			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Lob der Frauen, polka-mazurka, Op.315 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
3	Lob der Frauen, polka-mazurka, Op.315	4:06			$0.99
Johann Strauss I Composer Chineser-Galopp, for orchestra, Op.20 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
4	Chineser-Galopp, for orchestra, Op.20	1:38			$0.49
Johannes Brahms Composer 21 Hungarian Dances, WoO1 (orch. by Brahms, Dvorak, etc) Work 6:10 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
5	5.Allegro in G-	2:44			$0.99
6	6.Vivace in D	3:26			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Krönungslieder, Op.184 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
7	Krönungslieder, Op.184	9:17			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Leichtes Blut (Light as a Feather), polka schnell, Op.319 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
8	Leichtes Blut (Light as a Feather), polka schnell, Op.319	2:23			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Furioso-Polka, polka quasi galop, Op.260 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
9	Furioso-Polka, polka quasi galop, Op.260	2:14			$0.99
Nikolaus Harnoncourt Composer New Year's Address at the 2003 Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert (Speech) Work Nikolaus Harnoncourt Spoken Word
10	New Year's Address at the 2003 Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert (Speech)	1:05			$0.49
Johann Strauss II Composer An der schönen, blauen Donau (Blue Danube Waltz), Op.314 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
11	An der schönen, blauen Donau (Blue Danube Waltz), Op.314	10:02			$1.99
Johann Strauss I Composer Radetzky-Marsch, for orchestra, Op.228 Work Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conductor
12	Radetzky-Marsch, for orchestra, Op.228	3:32			$0.99