Customer Reviews

Dance Music from Old Vienna

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very special recording. Many performances of Viennese dance music suffer from an excessive formality--particularly so when famous conductors get their hands on the scores--that results in a shortage of charm and sweetness. This record, made by a group of Vienna-based musicians including several who perform with the Vienna State Opera, gets the tone and mood of these delightful pieces exactly right. Their performances are relaxed yet polished, playful yet elegant, witty yet accessible--it's an an absolute delight to the ear. By the end of track one, a superb Ländler by Joseph Lanner, I was transported to Café Central on a weekday night, a Grosser Brauner and a Topfenkolatsche in front of me, and some good Viennese Schmäh hanging in the air. This group gets it exactly right.

Very, very warmly recommended, especially for foreigners longing for a taste of the Vienna they once knew. Ah, Sehnsucht.....

Just great! I had attended schule (school) in Wien (Vienna) and it reminded me of when we could sit in the Weinstube and listen to the local orchestra...and drink, of course! LOVE Lanner!

Unfortunately the Tanzquartett Wien chose to pursue the "interpretive" route in performance. The result is a sloppy, easy-listening style which exemplifies the Italian peculiarity of Tempo rubato (stolen time).

For elevator or cafe music, I suppose one could do worse. For actual ballroom music in true Vienna period style, to which one could actually dance waltzes, forget it.

Try instead the excellent performances by the late Willi Boskovsky and his ensemble. Sadly, many of these are not in current issue. The used/collector's aftermarket within this retailer are a good source from which I have obtained CDs of many of Boskovsky's works.

I purchased this title for an Oktoberfest I held in my home. It was the perfect backdrop for a theme party. I'm not really into that kind of music per se, but it fit the mood.