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Josef Krips, Wiener Philharmoniker - Memories Of Vienna (CD ALBUM (1 DISC)) Strauss waltzes and polkas in classic Decca 1950s recordings, led to the manner born by the Viennese conductor Josef Krips. Newly remastered from the original tapes and in the case of two works the shellac discs this compilation presents recordingsmade in London and Vienna by a conductor born and bred to the rhythms of the Strauss family. Josef Kripscut his teeth as a repetiteurat the Volksoper in Vienna, making his debut there in 1921, before graduating to the more prestigious Staatsoperin 1933. Mozart was forever Krips'smusical god: 'My maxim is that everything has to sound as though it were by Mozart, or it will be a bad performance. When youperform Mozart, everything has to be crystal clear, everything has to be in balance and everything has to have a relaxed sound.' These are the qualities that mark out his conducting of these waltzes and polkas, which he continued to conduct wherever his career took him: to London in the late 1940s, becoming principal conductor of the LSO for three years in the early 50s, and thence to the US, such as a late-in-life post as musical director of the Buffalo Philharmonic, returning often however, to his spiritual home of Vienna. The recordings here were made first of all with the 'New' Symphony Orchestra of London musicians in April 1948, then with theLSO in April 1949. The legendary Decca producer John Culshaw was behind the glass at the Sofiensaalfor Vienna Philharmonic sessions in October 1956 and September 1957 that yielded the 'Memories of Vienna' LP which gives this album its title. In both cities he was joined by the soprano Hilde Guedenfor the obbligato soprano parts in waltzes such as Voices of Spring; Guedenhad been one of the most prominent members of the Vienna State Opera immediately after the war while Kripsrebuilt and nurtured it from the ground up, and she too was blessed with an instinctive understanding of Viennese style as well as the kind of light lyric soprano voice that made her ideal for Josef Strauss's Village Swallowswaltz. 'Played with poetic feeling, affection and with meticulous attention to detail I was charmed and amused in the Perpetuum mobileby Krips'sspoken 'And so on!' Gramophone, January 1949 (New SO recordings) 'Here are four of the loveliest Strauss waltzes played with warm affection and lovely tone.' Gramophone, December 1959 ('Memories of Vienna') Tracklistings: JOHANN STRAUSS II (1825 1899) 1 Wiener Blut, Op. 354- JOHANN STRAUSS I (1804 1849) 2 Piefkeund Pufke Polka française, Op. 235- JOHANN STRAUSS II (1825 1899) 3 Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op. 214- 4 Wein, Weibund Gesang, Op. 333- JOHANN STRAUSS I (1804 1849) 5 BeliebteAnnen-Polka, Op. 137- JOHANN STRAUSS II (1825 1899) 6 Perpetuum mobile, Op. 257- New Symphony Orchestra JOHANN STRAUSS II (1825 1899) 7 An der schönenblauenDonau, Op. 314ð 8 Accelerationen, Op. 234 9 Kaiserwalzer, Op. 437 10 Rosen ausdem Süden, Op. 388 JOHANN STRAUSS II (1825 1899) & JOSEF STRAUSS (1827 1870) 11 Pizzicato-Polkað JOSEF STRAUSS (1827 1870) 12 DorfschwalbenausÓsterreich, Op. 164 13 Frühlingsstimmen, Op. 410 Hilde Gueden, soprano (12, 13) London Symphony Orchestra (1-4) New Symphony Orchestra(5-6) Wiener Philharmoniker(7-13) Josef Krips -FIRST CD RELEASE ON DECCA ðFIRST INTERNATIONAL CD RELEASE ON DECCA
