Album

This double-disc set is a collection of Strauss family works from some of Chandos' earlier releases. Although most of these are well-known and oft-recorded works, quite often recordings of those same works made by the world's top orchestras and conductors, perhaps with the exception of the Viennese ones, just don't make the cut. Those artists tend to forget that the Strauss family conducted dance orchestras and that the music is meant to be danced to. They give more refined, stylized performances of what should be whirling waltzes, springy polkas, and festive marches. Specialized orchestras, such as the one here, not only know the music close enough to offer you the lesser-known selections, such as Eduard Strauss' Glow-worms Waltz, they are hired to re-create the grand balls of late-nineteenth, early-twentieth century Vienna. Jack Rothstein leads the Johann Strauss Orchestra in wholly idiomatic performances here. It falls short of sparkling brilliancy and crispness, but it is by no means dull and it does have a general clarity of sound that doesn't obscure the odd bell or rattle when those are thrown in. The animation and lightheartedness of these performances remind you why these works are often called "bon-bons."

© Patsy Morita, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Johann Strauss II Composer Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka (Chit-Chat Polka), Op.214 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
1	Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka (Chit-Chat Polka), Op.214	2:40			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Kaiser Franz Josef-Marsch, Op.67 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
2	Kaiser Franz Josef-Marsch, Op.67	2:55			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Wiener Bonbons (Viennese Bonbons) Op.307 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
3	Wiener Bonbons (Viennese Bonbons) Op.307	6:05			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Fata Morgana, polka-mazurka, Op.330 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
4	Fata Morgana, polka-mazurka, Op.330	3:43			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Morgenblätter (Morning Papers), Op.279 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
5	Morgenblätter (Morning Papers), Op.279	8:09			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Auf der Jagd (Off to the Hunt), polka schnell, Op.373 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
6	Auf der Jagd (Off to the Hunt), polka schnell, Op.373	2:23			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Rosen aus dem Süden (Roses from the South), Op.388 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
7	Rosen aus dem Süden (Roses from the South), Op.388	8:30			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Annen Polka, Op.117 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
8	Annen Polka, Op.117	3:51			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer An der schönen, blauen Donau (Blue Danube Waltz), Op.314 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
9	An der schönen, blauen Donau (Blue Danube Waltz), Op.314	8:10			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Éljen a Magyar (Hail to Hungary), polka schnell, Op.332 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
10	Éljen a Magyar (Hail to Hungary), polka schnell, Op.332	2:28			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Tausend und eine Nacht (A Thousand and One Nights), Op.346 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
11	Tausend und eine Nacht (A Thousand and One Nights), Op.346	6:07			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Furioso-Polka, polka quasi galop, Op.260 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
12	Furioso-Polka, polka quasi galop, Op.260	2:01			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Ägyptischer (Egyptian March), Op.335 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
13	Ägyptischer (Egyptian March), Op.335	4:12			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Unter Donner und Blitz (Thunder and Lightning), polka schnell, Op.324 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
14	Unter Donner und Blitz (Thunder and Lightning), polka schnell, Op.324	3:13			$0.99
CD 2 of 2
Johann Strauss II Composer Banditen-Galop (Bandits' Galop), Op.378 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
1	Banditen-Galop (Bandits' Galop), Op.378	2:23			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Wiener Blut (Vienna Blood), Op.354 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
2	Wiener Blut (Vienna Blood), Op.354	8:34			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Der lustige Krieg (The Merry War), Op.402 Work Recorded 1986 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
3	Der lustige Krieg (The Merry War), Op.402	5:01			$0.99
Johann Strauss I Composer Cachucha-Galopp, for orchestra, Op.97 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
4	Cachucha-Galopp, for orchestra, Op.97	2:17			$0.99
Josef Strauss Composer Ohne Sorgen (Without Sorrows), polka schnell, for orchestra, Op.271 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
5	Ohne Sorgen (Without Sorrows), polka schnell, for orchestra, Op.271	1:50			$0.99
Josef Strauss Composer Aquarellen Waltz for orchestra, Op.258 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
6	Aquarellen Waltz for orchestra, Op.258	6:08			$0.99
Josef Strauss Composer Moulinet Polka, for orchestra, Op.57 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
7	Moulinet Polka, for orchestra, Op.57	3:24			$0.99
Josef Strauss Composer Perlen der Liebe, waltz for orchestra, Op.39 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
8	Perlen der Liebe, waltz for orchestra, Op.39	7:18			$1.49
Josef Strauss Composer Die Libelle, polka mazurka for orchestra, Op.204 Work Recorded 1981 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
9	Die Libelle, polka mazurka for orchestra, Op.204	4:01			$0.99
Josef Strauss Composer Farewell, for orchestra, Op.211 Work Recorded 1986 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
10	Farewell, for orchestra, Op.211	1:42			$0.99
Eduard Strauss Composer Leuchtkaferin for orchestra, Op 161 Work Recorded 1983 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
11	Leuchtkaferin for orchestra, Op 161	9:46			$1.49
Eduard Strauss Composer Weyprecht-Payer March for orchestra, Op 120 Work Recorded 1986 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
12	Weyprecht-Payer March for orchestra, Op 120	2:51			$0.99
Eduard Strauss Composer Schleier und Krone, waltzes, Op 200 (Veil and Crown) Work Recorded 1992 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
13	Schleier und Krone, waltzes, Op 200 (Veil and Crown)	8:12			$1.49
Eduard Strauss Composer Saat und Ernte for orchestra, Op 159 Work Recorded 1986 Jack Rothstein Conductor, Strauss Orchestra Vienna Orchestra
14	Saat und Ernte for orchestra, Op 159	2:21			$0.99