Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Johann Strauss In Berlin (1999) (DVD-Audio ISO) [2000]

We may never associate Johann Strauss with Berlin (he's just so darn Vienna), but Nikolaus Harnoncourt does some ingenious programming on this disc to reveal one new facet of the composer's life: Strauss's numerous works tied to (or composed for) Berlin audiences. Thus, we finally get to hear the short but sweet Berlin version of the overture to A Night in Venice (performed here for the first time); Seid umschlungen, Millionen, the melancholy-tinged waltz that Strauss dedicated to Brahms; and the Simplicius Waltz that the composer himself conducted in Berlin in 1889. Throughout, Harnoncourt's tempos are accurate and never too fast. He lets this music slowly unfold; even the oom-pah-pahs sound studied. The Berlin Philharmonic performs these works gorgeously and the recorded sound is spectacular. –Jason Verlinde


Track list


1. "Kaiserwalzer", Op.437 12'16''
2. Ouvertüre - "Eine Nacht in Venedig" - (Berliner Urfassung) 7'36''
3. "Die Tauben von San Marco", Polka francaise, Op. 414 4'33''
4. "Frühlingsstimmenwalzer", Op. 410 7'11''
5. Ouvertüre - "Die Fledermaus" 8'56''
6. "Seid umschlungen, Millionen" Walzer, Op.443 10'00''
7. "Lob der Frauen" - Pölka Mazur, Op. 315 3'53''
8. Simplicius-Walzer ("Donauweibchen"), Op. 427 9'41''
9. "Tritsch-Tratsch" Schnellpolka, Op. 214 2'31''
10. "Kaiser Franz Josef I. Rettungs-Jubel Marsch", Op. 126 3'31''



Berliner Philharmoniker
Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Director