The Strauss Family [Box Set]

Artist: Willi Boskovsky
Total time: 416:28
Label: EMI Music Distributio
SPAR: ADD
Availability: In stock
Item #: 5684700

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Review

Willi Boskovsky, the former concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic turned conductor, made a good living performing and recording the music of the Strauss family. Indeed, he was so successful at it that not one but two companies have released six-disc sets of Boskovsky conducting music of the Strauss family. The older set, entitled The Strauss Family -- Waltzes, Polkas and Marches on Decca, had Boskovsky conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in recordings from the '60s. The newer set, entitled The Strauss Family -- Waltzes, Polkas and Overtures on EMI, had Boskovsky conducting the Vienna Johann-Strauss Orchestra, the Vienna Symphony, and the Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra in recordings from the '70s and '80s. Both sets feature the usual suspects, including On the Blue Danube, Tales From the Vienna Woods, Wein, Women and Song, and so on. Both sets have the usual gemutlich interpretations from Boskovsky featuring infectious rhythms and an instinctive sense of { empo rubato}. But while both sets have good sound, Decca's less recent stereo sound is warmer and rounder and more "real," while EMI's more recent stereo and digital sound is cleaner but harder and less vivid. And while both sets are well-played, Decca's has the unsurpassed Vienna Philharmonic, while the EMI set is the very fine but not quite in the same league as Vienna Symphony and Vienna Johann-Strauss Orchestra. For those who love the music of the Strauss family without reservation, either set will satisfy. But for those forced to choose, choose the Decca. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide

Read About This Recording

There are certain performances of specific repertoire that will always represent the gold standard. Willi Boskovsky conducting the lilting music of the Strauss family is one of those rare collections that set the bar for all subsequent performances. Now, for the first time, this wide-ranging six-CD collection brings together more than 60 different Viennese waltzes, polkas and overtures all performed by The Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra led by Willi Boskovsky.

The collection spans the compositions of four members of the Strauss clan, beginning with Johann Strauss I who is best known for his infectious "Radetzky March." What makes Boskovsky's performance so rich is the way he maintains the metronomic precision of a march without ever making the music sound militaristic.

The majority of the music in the collection is by the most famous Strauss, Johann II. Here are all the masterpieces, the favorite waltzes including "On the Beautiful Blue Danube," "Wine, Woman and Song!," the "Kaiser Waltz" and countless other masterpieces, the works that truly define the style.

Josef Strauss and Eduard Strauss fill out this remarkable collection with some of their equally lilting gems. But what makes this collection so necessary is Boskovsky and his orchestra. This is the way Viennese music of the period should sound. The music flows like the Danube itself and the performances will transport you to Vienna.

—Jacob Anthony

Quotes

"There have been no finer recordings of Johann Strauss than those by Willi Boskovsky." —Gramophone

Strauss Sr.: Radetzky-March, Op. 228; Sigh Galop, Op. 9 (Seufzer-Galopp); Strauss Jr.: On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314 (An der schönen, blauen Donau); Artist's Life, Op. 316 (Künstlerleben); Tales From the Vienna Woods, Op. 325 (G'schichten aus dem Wienerwald); Wine, Woman and Song, Op. 333 (Wein, Weib und Gesang); Vienna Blood, Op. 354 (Wiener Blut); Roses From the South, Op. 388 (Rosen aus dem Süden); Voices of Spring, Op. 410 (Frülingsstimmen); Emperor Waltz, Op. 437 (Kaiser-Walzer); Features Section Waltz, Op. 293 (Feuilleton-Walzer); Flight of Fancy, Op. 215 (Gedankenflug); Accelerations, Op. 234 (Accelerationen); Ever More Cheerful, Op. 235 (Immer heiterer); Carnival's Ambassador, Op. 270 (Carnevals-Botschafter); Leading Article, Op. 273 (Leitartikel); Morning Papers, Op. 279 (Morgenblätter); Pamphlets, Op. 300 (Flugschriften); New Vienna, Op. 342 (Neu-Wien); Carnival Pictures, Op. 357 (Carnevalsbilder); Where the Lemon Trees Blossom, Op. 364 (Wo die Zitronen blüh'n); Du und Du, Op. 367; Kiss Waltz, Op. 400 (Kuß-Walzer); Lagoon Waltz, Op. 411 (Lagunen-Walzer); Treasure Waltz, Op. 418 (Schatz-Walzer); Viennese Women, Op. 423 (Wiener Frauen); Danube Maidens, Op. 427 (Donauweibchen); Explosions-Polka, Op. 43; Champagner-Polka, Op. 211; Fancy-dress Parade, Op. 240 (Maskenzug); Episode, Op. 296; Pleased as Punch, Op. 301 (Kreuzfidel!); Express, Op. 311; Light as a Feather, Op. 319 (Leichtes Blut); Thunder and Lightning, Op. 324 (Unter Donner und Blitz); Long Live Hungary!, Op. 332 (Eljen a Magyar!); Im Krapfenwald'l, Op. 336; At the Double, Op. 348 (Im Sturmschritt); From the Banks of the Danube, Op. 356 (Vom Donaustrande); Greeting From Austria, Op. 359 (Grüß aus Österreich); At the Hunt, Op. 373 (Auf der Jagd); I-Tipferl, Op. 377; Bandits' Galop, Op. 378 (Banditen-Galopp); New Pizzicato Polka, Op. 449 (Neue Pizzicato-Polka); The Carnival in Rome (Der Carneval in Rom); The Bat (Die Fledermaus); Cagliostro in Vienna (Cagliostro in Wien); Blindman's Buff (Blindekuh); The Queen's Lace Handkerchief (Das Spitzentuch der Königin); A Night in Venice (Eine Nacht in Venedig); The Gypsy Baron (Der Zigeunerbaron); Josef Strauss: Pearls of Love, Op. 39 (Perlen der Liebe); Village Swallows From Austria, Op. 164 (Dorfschwalben aus Österreich); Secret Powers of Attraction, Op. 173 (Geheime Anziehungskräfte); Delirious, Op. 212 (Delirien); Watercolours, Op. 258 (Aquarellen); My Life's Course is Love and Joy, Op. 263 (Mein Lebenslauf ist Lieb' und Lust); Masks, Op. 33 (Masken); Forward!, Op. 127 (Vorwärts!); Off on Holiday, Op. 133 (Auf Ferienreisen); The Gossip, Op. 144 (Die Schwätzerin); Woman's Heart, Op. 166 (Frauenherz); Sport, Op. 170; All Sorts, Op. 219 (Allerlei); In Flight, Op. 230 (Im Fluge); Chatterboxes, Op. 245 (Plappermäulchen); Typographical Letters, Op. 252 (Buchstaben); Fireproof!, Op. 269 (Feuerfest!); Without a Care!, Op. 271 (Ohne Sorgen!); Artist's Greeting, Op. 274 (Künstler-Gruß); Jockey, Op. 278 (Jokey); Eduard Strauss: Line Clear!, Op. 45 (Bahn frei!); Where One Laughs and Lives, Op. 108 (Wo man lacht und lebt); Non-stop, Op. 112 (Ohne Aufenthalt); Below the Enns, Op. 121 (Unter der Enns); Alpine Rose, Op. 127 (Alpenrose); Delight in Travel, Op. 166 (Reiselust); Out of Hand, Op. 168 (Außer Rand und Band); Carnival Letter, Op. 203 (Faschingsbrief); With Pleasure, Op. 228 (Mit Vergnügen); With the Brakes Off, Op. 238 (Ohne Bremse).