Amazon.comYes, these are waltzes and they're by Strauss, but they're not by Johan, Johan Jr., or Josef Strauss. They're by Richard, the composer of some pretty un-waltzlike operas (Salome and Elektra) and one very waltzlike one, Der Rosenkavalier. This CD includes a couple of the waltz sequences from Rosenkavalier, as well as some real oddities, sure to please fans of almost any Strauss--or any waltz lover. It's light stuff, easy to listen to: Strauss composed Schlagobers to accompany a ballet sequence in which a chef was whipping cream with ballerinas arising from the bowl (shades of Busby Berkeley!), and the "Memory Waltz" is probably called that because it sticks in one's memory. Whatever--this is charming and worth hearing. One-two-three, one-two-three. --Robert Levine