The Waltzes of Johann Strauss are wonderful, they don't get the recognition in my Blog they deserve, this is only my second Strauss disc in my Blog, and this is good for me in that there are works that i haven't heard on this disc, and it's good to expand my reach with this Composer, though he composed over 500 works, it's not practical to listen to everything he created.
Lorin Maazel is American, he's now 82, he made this live recording [i guess from the New Years Concert] in 1980, the booklet front cover is a design by Artist Victor Vasarely entitled 'Tetcie ii', which permeate through this series of '3D Classics', this one has a green tinge to it.
Well for me it was obviously 'The Blue Danube' which is the most ingenious thing that Strauss ever wrote, it has a real swagger to it that's irresistible, there's a long introduction [0:00-1:47], shimmering strings and horns to start with, the 'real' Waltz doesn't start until [1:49+], there's serenading strings, piping flutes / piccolos, and gentle side drum to keep the beat, Maazel indulges in having a little fun, slowing things down and quieting things for effect, so that when the louder / faster music comes in it creates a greater extreme [5:04-5:33], i love the 'military band' oompah section [6:19-6:48], i like the way Maazel brings back the main theme at the end [8:08-8:46], it's a nice little roller coaster of a piece.
Here's Lorin Maazel conducting 'The Blue Danube' on YouTube.
Here's Lorin Maazel conducting 'The Blue Danube' on YouTube.
