Highs and Lows
Donald Macleod explores the final years of Strauss鈥 life when he was lauded as a celebrity figure wherever he went, but also endured personal losses and difficulties.
Donald Macleod explores the final years of Strauss鈥 life when he was lauded as a celebrity figure wherever he went, but also endured personal losses and difficulties.
In the composer鈥檚 200th anniversary year, Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Johann Strauss II, who became so popular for his operettas and Viennese waltzes that he would be dubbed 鈥淭he Waltz King鈥. In his time his huge popularity was akin to a pop star or Hollywood film icon today, and his music filled the ballrooms of Europe and America. Over the course of the week, we鈥檒l see how he made his name, and overcame setbacks to become one of the most famous figures in all of Europe.
In Friday鈥檚 programme, Donald explores the final years of Strauss鈥 life when he was lauded as a celebrity figure wherever he went 鈥 an 1890 poll to find the most popular European personalities saw him come 3rd! However, it was a period during which he also endured personal losses and difficulties. Donald finds him visiting America to conduct an extraordinary series of concerts, writing a full scale opera, and marrying for a second, and then a third time.
Thunder and Lightning Polka, Op 324
Vienna Volksoper Orchestra
Carl Michalski, conductor
The Blue Danube, Op 314
Andre Rieu, violin and director
Johann Strauss Orchestra
Blinde Kuh Overture
Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra
Willi Boskovsky, conductor
Kuss Waltzer, Op 400
Vienna Philharmonic
Franz Weilser-M枚st, conductor
Ritter Pasman, Op 441 (Czardas)
Vienna Philharmonic
Christian Thielemann, conductor
Jabuka (excerpt)
Veronika Groiss, soprano (Jelka)
Thomas Tischler, tenor (Mirko)
Elisabeth Wolfbauer, mezzo-soprano (Annita)
Wolfgang Veith, tenor (Vasil)
Brno Gaudeamus Choir
European Johann Strauss Orchestra
Christian Pollack, conductor
Roses from the South
Berlin Philharmonic
Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Produced by Sam Phillips for 91福利社 Audio Wales & West
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Music Played
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Johann Strauss II
Thunder and Lightning, Op 324
Orchestra: Orchester der Wiener Volksoper. Conductor: Carl Michalski.- DENON : 19849.
- DENON.
- 3.
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Johann Strauss II
Blue Danube, Op 314
Conductor: Andr茅 Rieu. Orchestra: Johann Strauss Orchestra Of Vienna.- POLYDOR : 4759622.
- POLYDOR :.
- 10.
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Johann Strauss II
Blind Man's Bluff Overture
Orchestra: Johann Strauss Orchestra Of Vienna. Conductor: Willi Boskovsky.- WARNER CLASSICS : 2435756765.
- WARNER CLASSICS.
- 4.
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Johann Strauss II
Kuss Waltz, Op 400
Conductor: Franz Welser鈥怣枚st. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic.- WARNER CLASSICS : 88765411632.
- WARNER CLASSICS.
- 2.
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Johann Strauss II
Ritter Pasman, Op 441 (Csardas)
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Christian Thielemann.- SONY : 19075902822.
- SONY.
- 13.
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Johann Strauss II
Jabuka (excerpt)
Singer: Veronika Groiss. Singer: Thomas Tischler. Singer: Elisabeth Wolfbauer. Singer: Wolfgang Veith. Choir: Brno Gaudeamus Choir. Orchestra: European Johann Strauss Orchestra.- NAXOS : 8.660216-17.
- NAXOS.
- 5.
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Johann Strauss II
Roses from the South, Op 388
Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 410-0222.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 3.
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- Fri 24 Oct 2025 16:0091福利社 Radio 3
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