Nikolaus Harnoncourt has established himself as a noteworthy interpreter of Viennese light music through his previous recordings on Teldec, and while there’s little here that can’t be had on his previous recordings, anyone who enjoyed the 2003 New Year’s Concert on television will enjoy this two-disc memento. All of your favorites are here: The Blue Danube, The Emperor Waltz, Delirien, and of course the Radetzky March, played with typically Viennese verve and charm. Occasionally, as in the somewhat stiff Weber/Berlioz Invitation to the Dance, the aggressively clipped opening Jubilee March for the Return of Emperor Franz Joseph I, or the ponderous pair of Brahms Hungarian Dances, Harnoncourt’s eccentric side peeks out, but it wouldn’t do to make too much of this.
As always, there are rarities to savor, such as Strauss I’s Chinese Galop, Strauss II’s Niko-Polka and Coronation Songs, and Josef Strauss’ Pêle-mêle; and the recording, aside from the audience-participation factor that’s part and parcel of the occasion, sounds just fine. In short, this is a very classy souvenir that does exactly what it should: ring in the New Year with a smile.
