Search - Christian Pollack :: Strauss Ii, J.: On Stage With Johann Strauss, Vol. 2

Beautiful Melodies from forgotten Operettas

Glen M. Peters | La Grange,IL | 08/30/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When the operettas of Offenbach arrived in Vienna in the 1860's they were wildly successful and many pressed Vienna's favorite son to top them and preserve Austrian honor. Though he was more desposed toward the ballroom than the theater,Strauss knew a good chance to make a few extra marks when he saw it. Supported by his first wife,Jetty,and the theater owners dazzled by the name Strauss on their marques,Strauss wrote,between 1872 and 1898,15 Operettas.Strauss himself admited that he was a poor judge of librettos and set most of what he was given by the theater owners so only two ever survived their first runs into the 20th century.However Strauss being Strauss,much fine music exists in each one. To help promote their success,Strauss and his brothers performed these potpourris in their concerts. This second album of potpourris from the Operettas of Johann Strauss II proves that his music was always better than the stories he set them to. The selections in this second volume are from 5 works that are hardly performed today,even in Vienna. Included in these selections is music from "Ritter Pasman" the only work Strauss wrote for the Vienna Opera and produced by Gustaf Mahler in 1892. Though much of the music may be unknown to many,this album is well worth the money and is performed with their usual authentic style by the Slovak State Philharmonic."