The greatest conductors of orchestral music by the Strauss family, Lehar et al

[Barbirollians]

I listened to, and watched, the Boskovsky New Year concerts from 1972 and he was the very essence of Viennese gemütlichkeit and stands head and shoulders above all interpreters of this music, in my opinion. I bought his annual Decca recordings as they came out and love them still. If anyone wants to savour the exuberance of a Boskovsky New Year's concert there is a DVD available on DG. I saw Boskovsky twice, most memorably at the RFH in London when my parents took me as a 21st birthday present for a concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra on June 14 1975.

Karajan, like Boskovsky, had this music in his blood and as Slarty says, the 1987 New Year's concert was undoubtedly the finest of all. Moreover, he recorded Strauss throughout his career and in preparing for the 1987 concert Karajan went back to his VPO recordings for EMI from 1948/9 on which to model his interpretations.

By the way, Boskovsky was due to conduct a 1980 concert I attended but, alas he was ill by then and his place was taken by ... Henry Krips!

One shouldn't forget Clemens Krauss either, the first NYC conductor. Enthusiasts should check out a CD of the 1954 New Year's concert (complete with Austrian Radio announcements) which is a joy and in pretty decent sound too.

Of those since Karajan, only Carlos Kleiber has come anywhere near to achieving the magic of both Boskovsky and Karajan.

I had and liked the Karajan but the Kleiber was ahead for me - such grace and charm but also excitement .

[Petrushka]

And by the way, Barbirollians, not a frivolous topic at all. Many of the great conductors have said how difficult it is to perform this music.

Has anyone else tried to 'conduct' the Vienna Philharmonic in the VPO museum in the Haus der Musik in Vienna? The recording actually reacts to your movements and one piece you can choose, as I did, is the Annen Polka. You'd think it would be a doddle but it's damnably difficult! I was floundering after the first beat!

For all the many times Karajan conducted this music he actually had a very small repertoire while Boskovsky ranged far and wide, taking in many of the Strauss's successors and imitators such as Karel Komzak and Carl Ziehrer.

Those who truly love this music will agree with Johann when he said that Josef was the more gifted while he, Johann, was merely the more popular. I strongly prefer Josef's waltzes, minor key compositions full of wistful melancholy and wonderfully poetic.

[Ferretfancy]

I had and liked the Karajan but the Kleiber was ahead for me - such grace and charm but also excitement .

Clemens Krauss in a different Strauss, his old Decca recording with the VPO of Aus Italien takes some beating.

[cloughie]

Clemens Krauss in a different Strauss, his old Decca recording with the VPO of Aus Italien takes some beating.

Krauss's R Strauss was top class - I guess that Decca ffrr given him at the time was light years ahead of the shellac but what a a shame he wasn't that bit younger and could have had the Decca ffss sound that Maazel, Mehta and Karajan had for their VPO and LAPO R Strauss.

[Barbirollians]

Clemens Krauss in a different Strauss, his old Decca recording with the VPO of Aus Italien takes some beating.

Indubitably - as I know well as it was a cassette of him conducting Ein Heldenleben that opened my ears to a composer I thought I did not like but off topic !

[Roslynmuse]

My two favourite - though very different - recordings of Fledermaus are Krauss and Boskovsky. I particularly like the way the dialogue is performed on the Boskovsky - very intimate, almost whispered into the microphone in places, and Brigitte Fassbaender is a superb Orlofsky.

[silvestrione]

I love the Karajan 1987 New Year Concert...one of those 'live' recordings where the 'liveness' just seems to come out of the speakes into the room, as it were. Even the triangle in the first Overture!

But I also second the comment on Barbirolli's 'Gold and silver..' by Lehar.....just heaven.

[mikealdren]

My two favourite - though very different - recordings of Fledermaus are Krauss and Boskovsky. I particularly like the way the dialogue is performed on the Boskovsky - very intimate, almost whispered into the microphone in places, and Brigitte Fassbaender is a superb Orlofsky.

My favourite Fledermaus is Fricsay with Rita Streich a superb Adele. I find Karajan and others too mannered, Fledemaus flows so well with Fricsay.

[slarty]

My favourite Fledermaus is Fricsay with Rita Streich a superb Adele. I find Karajan and others too mannered, Fledemaus flows so well with Fricsay.

I would agree about the Karajan recording, but live, he was a different person, his live performance from the Vienna State Opera on 31 December 1960, which was issued by RCA in their VSO live series is great. It is now difficult to find.
Failing that, the DVD of Carlos Kleiber's live performance from Munich is tremendous fun, also with Fassbänder as Orlovsky.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I love the Karajan 1987 New Year Concert...one of those 'live' recordings where the 'liveness' just seems to come out of the speakes into the room, as it were. Even the triangle in the first Overture!

But I also second the comment on Barbirolli's 'Gold and silver..' by Lehar.....just heaven.

I can't say better than this - except to suggest that the ideal is to assemble the VPO ask them just to get on with it. The nearest to this is Boskovsky.

[Barbirollians]

Took delivery of the Teldec historical disc of Erich Kleiber conducting the BPO in Strauss and Lanner waltzes .

Am smitten albeit not sure I would say better than his son .

Edit Having lived with it the last two weeks however I have changed my mind Erich Kleiber was better than anybody - just wonderful smile inducing performances definitely musical vintage champagne .

[Barbirollians]

I would make the case for **Erich** Kleiber as an even greater Straussian than Carlos

Not currently readily available, but:

http://www.amazon.com/Erich-Kleiber-.../dp/B000009L18

Thanks to you both !

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Am smitten albeit not sure I would say better than his son .

Edit Having lived with it the last two weeks however I have changed my mind Erich Kleiber was better than anybody - just wonderful smile inducing performances definitely musical vintage champagne .

I've long thought of Erich Kleiber as one of the greatest conductors ever.

[Barbirollians]

The VPO/Kleiber Eroica is enough to justify that EA.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The VPO/Kleiber Eroica is enough to justify that EA.