Search - Johann II [Junior] Strauss, Johann I [Senior] Strauss, Eduard Strauss :: Best of New Year's Concert

Perhaps best compilation so far

Leonardo | Argentina | 06/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For many years I have rejected the "lesser" music of Strauss family. But since New Year's concert is an institution in Classical music I have to admit that sometime I was to buy something. And since tradition is what matters most, far more important than the particular conducting or programme of every year, why not having a look at a sample of this history line of performances? I usually hate samples of works or concerts, but in this case I make an exception: here the whole is far greater than its parts. Here you have many conductors from Krauss to Ozawa (lacking Mehta and the more recent Harnoncourt and Janssons)plus Knapperstbusch (?) who was closely associated with WP albeit without conducting a NY concert. In all of them the orchestra plays splendidly. If I have to single out a conductor, it is Karajan but I should listen to all his recording to make a judgement. What is important here is that you have a sample of what tradition truly is, far outweighting a particular programme or conductor. And the reperoire: almost all favourite pieces are here. Almost: I think it is a valse,very well known, I think, featuring in other CD under Maazel, that is absent here. But the vast majority of famous walzes and polkas are here, and adding track durations it makes clear that they need 2 cds. Given that it is very probable not to have all of them in a single concert, so I commend you not to let pass this oportunity and grab this compilation, unless you want a complete concert in particular. There is another more recent but less complete, I think. 4 of 27 tracks are not taken in a NY concert, but in Sofiensalle, in another time, but all are alive, with the WP. The local edition of the CD has a brief but appropiate history of the concert series by the President of WP, Clemens Hellsberg. Besides, the double CD ends with Radevsky(?) March, with public clapping, as it should. In summary, a must."

Actually comes close to being the best

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Over the years DG has recorded more of the traditional New Year's concerts from Vienna than any other company, and they've mined their stock fairly often. Here is one of the very best collections, not a haphazard potpourri but a select cross-section of the best conducting from 1957 (Josef Krips) to 2002 (Seiji Ozawa). As it happens those are two conductors I wouldn't necessarily turn to for Strauss waltzes, but their contributions are buoyant and lovely. The same is true for eveyr cut on both CDs--one really gets into the spirit of a live concert and a festive occasion. Very nice."

A joy to hear

P. J. Sawicz | Buffalo, NY United States | 02/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having seen the New Years Day concerts on PBS for the last twenty-five years I could never make up my mind as to which one to get on video or laser disc as they became available. So many great conducters with so many great performances how can you choose just one. When I discovered this compilation, I knew immediatly that this was the one for me. There are so many great conductors with so many great performances and the folks at Deutsche Grammophon have done a wonderful job at preserving them. It is impossible to choose just one of the waltzes as a favorite. They're all so beautifully done. If like me you could never make up your mine as to which recording to get, this compilation will be all that you need."