Johann Strauss Gala DVD – Andrea Rost, Zubin Mehta

Zubin Mehta conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker in this open air concert to celebrate the music of Johann Strauss and his son Johann Strauss II. Recorded in Vienna in 1999, the performance features tenor José Carreras and soprano Andrea Rost and includes works such as ‘The Blue Danube’ and ‘Radetzky March’.

Not only did 1999 mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Johann Strauss Sr., but the centenary of the passing of his son, Johann Strauss, “The Waltz King”. To commemorate, on the evening of May 29, 1999 in Vienna’s grand Heldenplatz almost 8,000 people gathered for a gala concert. This Wiener Philharmoniker performance was conducted by Zubin Meta (who had previously conducted the The Three Tenors, one of whom, José Carreras is here joined by soprano Andrea Rost for two duets from Strauss operettas). At 103 minutes this DVD offers 19 selections, but either there was an interval after just six pieces, or considering how rapidly it gets dark between “Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka” and the “Overture” from Die Fledermaus, there has been some cutting. Given such a great orchestra and the wonderful setting, it would have been nice to see people dancing to what is after all, real dance music. Despite the static nature of the event, the music is still uplifting, moving even the staid Vienna audience to clap along by the finale of the rousing “Radetzky March”.On the DVD: Other than some useful booklet notes there are no special features, and unlike most other Arthaus titles the sound is offered only in stereo Dolby Digital and PCM stereo. This is presumably due to the difficulties associated with outdoor acoustics and live recording which nearly prevented the concert going ahead. The anamorphically enhanced picture generally makes the most of the spectacular location, having a clarity in the close-ups such that it is virtually possible to count the hairs on the musicians heads.–Gary S. Dalkin