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Summary: Some first time inclusions
Comment: With a world-wide TV and radio audience guaranteed and a tradition going back nearly 80 years, the Vienna Philharmonic New Year concerts can now afford to present several first time inclusions selected from the works of the over-worked and over-stressed Strauss Family. Six items in the 2008 program make their first appearance. Two are by Strauss The Father including a waltz with a short introduction that becomes very loud. These two items acknowledge French inspiration, as does Johann The Son's "Orpheus Quadrille", entirely based (not merely providing "echoes" as the booklet writer asserts) on melodies from Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld".
Another first time inclusion is the veteran French conductor Georges Prêtre whose selection of tempi changes within the waltzes and polkas are nicely judged even if they remove the music far away from its dance origins.
Those who wish to have the concert in DVD format can access some ballet sequences - distinctly more modern in style than usually provided, but timed to fit the music perfectly.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Splendid New Year's Concert From Pretre & Vienna Philharmonic
Comment: Distinguished French operatic conductor Georges Pretre was definitely an odd choice to lead this year's concert at Vienna's venerable Musikverein, but he demonstrates a warm affinity for the Viennese waltz tradition in this rather well-played concert. With the possible exception of the Blue Danube Waltz, I thought Pretre was absolutely superb in conducting the Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra), though perhaps it was more the Wiener Philharmoniker, not Pretre himself, who understood quite well the rich musical textures of J. Strauss II's scores. Nonetheless, this has to rank among the better New Year's Concerts in recent memory, even though I regard as more memorable both of Harnoncourt's concerts conducted earlier in this decade, as well as Mehta's exceptional 2007 concert. And yet, as I have noted before, Pretre demonstrates that he is a fine interpreter of the Strauss family's music, which is represented here by works composed not only by Johann Strauss II, but also several pieces - including the traditional encore "Radetzky March" - by his father Johann Strauss I and by his brother Josef Strauss. This annual New Year's treat also features excellent dancing from members of the Vienna State Opera Ballet, culminating in a fine "duet" that concludes within the Musikverein. Fans of the annual New Year's Concert will surely appreciate this latest addition from the Wiener Philharmoniker.
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