Gardiner / Vpo ウィーンの夜会

The Strauss dynasty dominated the lighter side of Viennese music in the 19th century, but Johann Sr. and his sons were far from being the only noteworthy figures in the field. The music of their contemporaries--friends and rivals both--is sampled in this thoroughly enjoyable VIENNA SOIREE. The music is richly varied despite its propensity for lively rhythms and jovial moods. Joseph Lanner's 'Schonbrunner' Waltz and his swirling 'Tourbillon-Galopp' date from earlier in the century and are relatively simple divertissements. Carl Ziehrer's works reflect a background in military bands, while Franz von Suppe's overture is a miniature tone-poem full of striking contrasts representing the different times of day in Vienna. With Franz Lehar and Richard Heuberger we are in the sparkling world of operetta, these composers having thoroughly absorbed the innovations of Johann Strauss Jr.
It is only momentarily surprising to find John Eliot Gardiner, a specialist in historically informed performance, at the helm here. After all, the music featured comes very much from a specific performance tradition, and the scores only come alive when the period style is taken into account. Of course, the Vienna Philharmonic can boast direct continuity with this tradition, and the results under Gardiner's baton are not to be missed.