Search - Johannes Wildner :: STRAUSS II, J.: Edition - Vol. 22

Four Strauss waltzes, no less, plus other delights.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 07/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Austrian conductor and the Czech orchestra provide a varied and interesting program for the 22nd volume of the Johann Strauss Jr Edition. One of Strauss's rare excursions into the minor mode can be heard in the polka franciase "L'Inconnue", Op 182. In a letter to his publisher, the modest composer expressed little confidence in its likely success, but it proved to be extremely popular in Russia, where Strauss was touring with his orchestra at the time of its composition and where it was performed no less than 75 times. The last four items on this CD derive from Strauss's later years when he directed his energies principally into operettas. Unlike dance music, operettas attracted royalties. His custom then was to fashion dance music from the theatre works. The quadrille from "Der Lustige Kreig" is a successful product of this method of composing, but the "`Ninetta Waltz" lacks the sense of entity that characterises the best Strauss waltzes. As always in this series, the recording quality is excellent and the program notes provide a wealth of information."