Unpopular Opinions

[Karl Henning]

Speaking of New Yrs Concert, how about this monstrosity here:

23 cds...

[asin]B00UOFCIKQ[/asin]

I imagine our Ilaria would be tempted thereby.

[ritter]

Speaking of New Yrs Concert, how about this monstrosity here:

23 cds...

[asin]B00UOFCIKQ[/asin]

What I can't understand is whose complete works are included in that box. Next up: "The Salzburg Festival: the Complete Works"?   

[Florestan]

Speaking of New Yrs Concert, how about this monstrosity here:

23 cds...

[asin]B00UOFCIKQ[/asin]

I imagine our Ilaria would be tempted thereby.

I am tempted, too*. The music is fabulous, it's the environment in which it is performed that I object to.

*Although, already having the complete orchestral works of Johann Strauss I, Johann Strauss II and Josef Strauss, I think I'll pass it eventually. 

[Florestan]

What I can't understand is whose complete works are included in that box. Next up: "The Salzburg Festival: the Complete Works"?   

Le Festival de Bayreuth: Ses enregistrements studio. 

[PerfectWagnerite]

What I can't understand is whose complete works are included in that box. Next up: "The Salzburg Festival: the Complete Works"?   

It says:

Contains all 319 works ever performed at the concert over its 75-year history

So every work that has ever been performed at the NY Concert since inception is here I suppose. 319 works in 75 yrs doesn't sound like a whole lot.

[Florestan]

It says:

Contains all 319 works ever performed at the concert over its 75-year history

So every work that has ever been performed at the NY Concert since inception is here I suppose. 319 works in 75 yrs doesn't sound like a whole lot.

319 is less than the complete opus-numbered works of Johann Strauss II. 

[PerfectWagnerite]

319 is less than the complete opus-numbered works of Johann Strauss II. 

The only thing you can infer is that from year to year they perform more or less the same repertoire.

I do rather enjoy Harnoncourt's Invitation to the Dance...The audience started clapping before the final cello solo. You would think the Viennese know this piece inside out. And Harnoncourt teases them with a big pause right before the cello solo.

[Karl Henning]

One of the downsides of ritual.

[Ken B]

it's the environment in which it is performed that I object to.

That is a fugly room.

[kishnevi]

It says:

Contains all 319 works ever performed at the concert over its 75-year history

So every work that has ever been performed at the NY Concert since inception is here I suppose. 319 works in 75 yrs doesn't sound like a whole lot.

Going by the yearly installments I have, the concert is heavy on works performed in the previous years.   I think it's only in the last few years that they've made an effort to include "new" stuff.  But also remember that a work performed once in a decade will be, if not the same as new, at least fresh sounding to the ears of most of the concertgoers.  So they can program the concert with few warhorses.  Of course, the two perennial warhorses are always performed at the end.

[Florestan]

Going by the yearly installments I have, the concert is heavy on works performed in the previous years.   I think it's only in the last few years that they've made an effort to include "new" stuff.  But also remember that a work performed once in a decade will be, if not the same as new, at least fresh sounding to the ears of most of the concertgoers.  So they can program the concert with few warhorses.  Of course, the two perennial warhorses are always performed at the end.

Music itself aside, I see the NYC as the epitome of snobbery and an abominable Brucknerization of what used to be popular, fun, unpretentious and unbuttoned musical entertainment. As I said, Andre Rieu has much more of the original Strauss spirit than the MYC has --- if only for conducting with the bow. 

[Karl Henning]

Music itself aside, I see the NYC as the epitome of snobbery and an abominable Brucknerization of what used to be popular, fun, unpretentious and unbuttoned musical entertainment.

I was about to contest that in a long, fact-heavy paragraph, but then I realized that by NYC you did not mean New York City.

[Florestan]

I was about to contest that in a long, fact-heavy paragraph, but then I realized that by NYC you did not mean New York City.

[Madiel]

Then you miss some of the catchiest tunes ever written, clothed in one of the brilliantest orchestration ever imagined.   

That's what Andre's marketing people say, I'm sure.

Seriously, I don't go to this style of music if I want "catchy".

[Brian]

UNPOPULAR OPINION

I really like Johann Strauss Jr.

[Florestan]

UNPOPULAR OPINION

I really like Johann Strauss Jr.

I, too, but I have an even more unpopular one: I like Johann Strauss Sr. better.

[Ken B]

UNPOPULAR OPINION

I really like Johann Strauss Jr.

That's not just unpopular. It's practically illegal.

[Jo498]

Some of Josef's (who actually was a civil engineer in his day job (and also invented a street-cleaning machine) before he was drafted into the family music business) are probably my favorites: Aquarellen, Dynamiden, Sphärenklänge, Dorfschwalben.
I certainly think that Johann junior and Josef are clearly superior to Johann senior and Lanner. These older composers don't deserve the obscurity they have been put into by the younger ones and they have written charming pieces but for the grand scale "symphonic" waltzes there is no contest, the youngsters are better.

I agree that the the New Year's concert is somewhat ridiculous but it has given us some brilliant interpretations of Strauss' music we might not have had otherwise.

As for the clapping into Weber's "Invitation": This shows that most of the audience are rich ignorants and also that that Weber waltz (basically the father of all concert waltzes) is not that well known in Austria (they are proud of their parochialism there sometimes, I believe).

[Sergeant Rock]

UNPOPULAR OPINION

I really like Johann Strauss Jr.

Not unpopular with me...or Lisztianwagner, sadly silent for over a year now.

Sarge

[ritter]

Not unpopular with me...or Lisztianwagner, sadly silent for over a year now.

Sarge

I've never cared for the Strauss family et al, or the New Year's Concert, but would wish to see Ilaria back here on GMG...