New Year's Concert Vienna 2013
Part 1
Josef STRAUSS (1827-1870)
1. Die Soubrette, Op. 109* [2:41]
Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899)
2. Johann Strauss: Kuss-Walzer, Op. 400* [6:01]
Josef STRAUSS (1827-1870)
3. Theater-Quadrille, Op. 213* [5:02]
Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899)
4. Aus den Bergen, Op. 292* [12:58]
Franz von SUPPÉ (1819-1895)
5. Light Cavalry overture [7:06]
Part 2
Josef STRAUSS (1827-1870)
6. Spähren Klänge, Op. 235 [10:01]
7. Die Spinnerin, Op. 192* [3:43]
Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
8. Lohengrin - Vorspiel zum Dritten Aufzug* (1850) [3:22]
Joseph HELLMESBERGER II (1855-1907)
9. Unter vier Augen* [4:25]
Josef STRAUSS (1827-1870)
1. Hesperusbahnen, waltz, Op. 279* [9:06]
2. Galoppin, Op. 237* [2:15]
Joseph LANNER (1801-43)
3. Steyrische Tänze, Op. 165 [7:03]
Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899)
4. Melodien Quadrille, Op. 112* [4:24]
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Don Carlo (1867)
5. Don Carlo - Prestissimo: Ballettmusik Akt III* [3:17]
Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899)
6. Wo die Citronen blüh'n, Op. 364 [9:59]
Johann STRAUSS I (1804-1849)
7. Erinnerung an Ernst oder: Der Carneval in Venedig, Fantaisie Op. 126* [7:14]
Zugaben (Encores)
Josef STRAUSS (1827-1870)
8. Plappermäulchen, Op. 245 [3:14]
9. Neujahrsgruß (New Year’s Address) [0:35]
Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899)
10. An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 (1866) [9:43]
Johann STRAUSS I (1804-1849)
11. Radetzky March, Op. 228 (1848) [3:36]
Vienna Philharmonic/Franz Welser-Möst
rec. 1 January 2013, Goldener Saal des Wiener Musikvereins, Österreich
First performance at New Year’s Concert*
SONY CLASSICAL 88765411632 [55:23 + 60:29]
Once again the Vienna Philharmonic (Wiener Philharmoniker) has given its annual
New Year’s Concert from the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein (Goldener
Saal des Wiener Musikvereins). Steeped in musical tradition the annual event
goes from strength to strength. In 2013 the New Year's Concert was broadcast
on television and radio to 81 countries around the world which is double the
number receiving the broadcast a decade ago. For those watching on New Year’s
morning the cameraman enjoys looking at the audience for famous faces such
as Julie Andrews and various European aristocracy and politicians. I enjoyed
the concert conducted this year by Austrian Franz Welser-Möst who holds
prestigious positions as General Music Director of the Vienna State Opera
and Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra. He is no stranger to the annual
New Year’s concert having been the conductor as recently as 2011.
The traditional fare of waltzes, polkas and quadrilles derives primarily from
the Strauss dynasty. This year seven works by Josef Strauss were programmed
to mark the attendance in the Golden Hall of his nineteen year old great-grand
daughter Hedwig Aigner-Strauss as a guest of the Vienna Philharmonic. A number
of other works by contemporaries of the Strauss dynasty are notably from Josef
Hellmesberger II with his polka Unter vier Augen (Between the Two of
Us) and Joseph Lanner’s Steyrische Tänze (Styrian Dances).
As a ‘special’ another Strauss family contemporary Franz von Suppé
is represented by his perennially popular Light Cavalry Overture. The
programme includes eleven compositions receiving their first ever appearance
at a New Year's Concert. Suitably the ‘specials’ include a short
work each by Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi whose bicentennials are being
commemorated this year.
We also hear the ubiquitous encore pieces An der schönen blauen Donau
(By the Beautiful Blue Danube) and the Radetzky March. Among the eleven
works receiving their first performance at a New Year’s Concert I especially
enjoyed the romantic and rather sentimental polka Unter vier Augen
(Between the Two of Us) by Joseph Hellmesberger II and the memorably tuneful
Melodien Quadrille (Melodies Quadrille) from the pen of Johann Strauss
II. Light Cavalry is given a highly robust performance with the opening
brass fanfare sounding quite magnificent. Briskly played with real commitment
is Wagner’s Vorspiel zum Dritten Aufzug (Prelude to Act 3) from
Lohengrin. Also most welcome is the vibrant playing of Verdi’s
Prestissimo: Ballet Music from Act 3 of Don Carlo.This
year my favourite of all is another first-timer: Johann Strauss II’s
waltz Aus den Bergen (From the Mountains), such an attractive and memorable
work with a splendid array of melody and moods. Although not written by a
member of the Strauss dynasty I am sad that my favourite Viennese waltz Franz
Lehár’s Gold and Silver was not included.
On the television screen Welser-Möst doesn’t come across as the
most charismatic conductor around today. Clearly this doesn’t matter
at all when listening to the CD as he certainly has a predilection for Straussian
Viennese dance music. Under his charge the Vienna Philharmonic provide consistently
crisp rhythms playing with vibrancy and a real spirit. It’s all quite
magical at times. This is marvellous music-making that just overflows with
great appeal and sheer entertainment. It’s no wonder that these concerts
remain one of the world’s most difficult events to obtain tickets. One
day I might be lucky! The sound quality from the Golden Hall of the Vienna
Musikverein is most satisfying with excellent clarity and balance. Each year
the respective CD lacks individual timings of each work so I have taken the
timings from playing the disc; applause is included. I found the booklet essay
written by Prof. Dr. Clemens Hellsberg, Chairman of the Vienna
Philharmonic, interesting and highly informative. For those that don’t
know the news is that the Vienna Philharmonic has invited Daniel Barenboim
to conduct the New Year’s Concert in 2014.
Michael Cookson
Marvellous music-making that just overflows with great appeal and sheer entertainment.
Support
us financially by purchasing this disc from |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |