Search - Johann II [Junior] Strauss, Johann I [Senior] Strauss, Alfred Walter :: Johann Strauss Jr.: 100 Most Famous Waltzes, Overtures, Polka and Marches, Vol. 10

Interesting collection

Pietro Zanette | 04/23/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Interesting collection to approach Strauss Jr. and eventually the whole Strauss family. This 10cds collection is drawn from the monumental (and boring at times) 51 cds collection allegedly covering all the orchestral works of the young Johann. It is a welcome development both in terms of money and interest. Some few pieces cannot be found anywhere else, so it has a document value too. Orchestras mostly from East Europe and a bunch of conductors perform the task. I did the mistake to listen to this Vol.10 of the collection just arrived, immediately after listening to the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Claudio Abbado. The contrast could not be more strident. Crisp, light sound and a great conductor there, heavy muffled sound here with sometimes uninterested or outright boring conductors here. Tempi are often slow (Alfred Walter in particular)and the(at times)heavy handed conducting does not lend freshness to the whole thing, but again my mistake to listen to the extremes at the same time. Avoiding my mistake, this collection has points of interest and it is worth buying, as I happily did."