Johann Strauss Nikolaus Harnoncourt Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - New Years Concert 2003 (21 tracks) +Album Reviews

Harnoncourt never boring

J. Buxton | Waltham, MA United States | 03/20/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Another fine Vienna New Years concert with a few new twists. The Weber Invitation to the Dance was a welcome addition, although it almost sounded out of place. However, the Brahms Hungarian Dances sounded perfectly appropriate and it is amazing they have never been programmed for these concerts before now. As always, Harnoncourt provides an interesting point of view. I was excited to see the Emperor Waltz for the first time in several years, and of course the familiar Blue Danube and Radetzky. The other novelties are delightful. I was personally a bit disappointed with the recording from a sound quality perspective. I don't think the recording is up to par with Harnoncourt's other New Year's recording in 2001, or with Ozawa's recording in 2002. Both of those were afforded better sound in my opinion. The sound is not as immediate here, but it is a marginal complaint in any case. Of course, the VPO are unsurpassed in this music and they play beautifully. It is an excellent value too as there are two discs for the price of one."

Yet Another Splendid VPO New Year's Concert From Harnoncourt

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 02/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once more the Vienna Philharmonic has made an inspired choice as its conductor for its annual New Year's Concert by choosing Nikolaus Harnoncourt again. The splendid musicologist/conductor offers a rather engaging selection of obscure works by the Strauss family coupled with such standard fare as the Emperor Waltz and the Blue Danube waltz, a brilliant Hector Berlioz orchestration of Carl Maria von Weber's Invitation to the Dance, and two of Johannes Brahms's Hungarian Dances. Of historical note this is the first time that works composed by Johann Strauss Sr., Johann Strauss Jr. and Josef Strauss have been performed during the same New Year's Concert program. Needless to say, the Vienna Philharmonic plays with ample enthusiasm for him, yielding some of the best performances I've heard at a New Year's Day Concert. The liner notes are indeed a celebration of Harnoncourt's longstanding ties to the orchestra and are well worth reading. And of course, the sound quality is splendid, though perhaps not nearly as fine as Harnoncourt's previous New Year's Concert recording with Teldec. Still, this two CD set will be sought after by fans of Nikolaus Harnoncourt, the Strauss family, and the Vienna Philharmonic."

Perfect!

Sungu Okan | Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey | 01/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording of the Wiener Philharmoniker's 2003 Concert conducted by Harnoncourt is excellent. This is a traditional and historical occasion. Harnoncourt really knows all-traditional dances (waltz, polka, czardas...) and his orchestra plays with emotion, impressive.

The concert opens with a majestic march,"The Jubilee March for return of Emperor franz Joseph I". After this fast prelude, the famous "Schatzwalzer" (Treasure Waltz) begins. And then there are two intermezzo-polkas : Niko-Polka and Scherz-Polka (especially the last is very interesting). And there is a waltz by brothr Josef Strauss: Delirien-Waltz. Harnoncourt says about Josef: I think, he is may be more romantic than Johann's. Josef paints like Turner, Johann paints like Caspar David Friedrich. And there is a guest-composer in the program of New Year Concert: Carl Maria von Weber and his famous "Invitation to the Dance" (originally for piano) with the succesful orchestration of Berlioz. And there are polkas again: Seconds-Polka and Hellenen-Polka.

At CD 2, begins with the celebratde "Emperor Waltz". This majestic and lovely waltz is one of my favourites. And then, there is brilliant and wonderful polka: Peasants' Polka. I will not say about the surprise of this polka! (But when you listen this, you will just love it!). And there is a unknown but very interesting and amazing galopp by Father Johann: Chinese-Galop.

And then, there is another and more famous guest-composer and very close friend of the "Waltz King": Johannes Brahms and his Hungarian Dances Nos. 5 in G-minor and No. 6 in B-falt major, orchestrated not by Dvorak, but by Friedrich Reichert, who the first orchestrator of these wondreful dances. And these versions discovered new, beacuse these are unpublishe manuscripts. And again a waltz: Coronation Songs. And the last polkas: famous "Light of Heart" and very nervous "Furioso-Polka". And the traditional encores beging with the New Year's Address of Harnoncourt and then, beautifully played "An der schönen Blauen Donau" and Father Johann's "Radetzky March" accompanied by claps the hands of the people, as usual! OK, but why this father Johann's Radetzky March played last and why the last piece doesn't of "the only rival of father" Johann II? Because, THE "FATHER" SAYS THE "LAST WORDS" USUALLY!!

This concert recorded reaaly excellent. I don't think about the critic, "this is not so gripping, if you weren't there". It is really worth-listening, without hesitation at all.

Highly recommended."

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