The
pieces on this disc date from the elder
Johann Strauss's early-middle period
of composition, between 1828 and 1834,
a period when two operas by Auber and
Bellini were at the height of their
popularity.
Of
the Strauss family, Johann the elder,
always made an effort to maximise the
topical tunes of the day in his ballroom
dances. Judging from what I find on
this disc, there is no doubt that Strauss
was particularly skilful in this type
of arrangement and weaves the best pieces
into his music. The melodies flow seamlessly
from one to another and are not just
'selections' where a 'bolt-on' approach
is often applied.
Those
who know Auber's La Muette de Portici
(The Dumb Girl of Portici)
will enjoy the three tracks devoted
to it. The opera came to Vienna a year
after its première in Paris in
1828. In Muette, Auber introduces
a ballet in Act I which is nicely worked
in with arias and chorus numbers. Elsewhere,
the melodies are not so easily recognisable
because they provide thematic orchestral
accompaniment within the opera. Nevertheless,
they are a delight to hear [tr.1]
It
is likely that Strauss made arrangements
for a large number of the operas and
operettas so a CD might have been devoted
specifically to them. There are other
Strauss Marco Polo/Naxos CDs that contain
other opera melodies, which should be
well worth tracking down. Certainly
if they are written with the skill evident
here, they will be rewarding. The non-operatic
tracks on this disc are pleasant enough
but are in some ways similar to the
polkas and waltzes found elsewhere in
this series.
The
Slovak Symphony Orchestra give us a
bright performance, with engaging warmth
in a near-ideal ambience. The recording
nicely picks out the soaring, clear-cut
first strings and balanced woodwind
where the piccolo adds suitable brilliance
without being obtrusive.
Raymond
J. Walker
Slovak Sinfonietta of Zilina/Ernst Märzendorfer
Rec. Zilina, 1999. DDD 