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Strictly Strauss

Ken Bruce turns genealogist as he presents a history of the amazing Strauss Family with the 成人快手 Concert Orchestra. Viennese whirl anyone?

Ken Bruce turns genealogist as he presents a history of the amazing Strauss Family - Johann I, Johann II, Josef and Eduard.

First came Johann Strauss the father and then Waltz King himself - Johann Strauss II and his brothers - Josef and Eduard. The Strauss Family - they remain unrivalled in the world of Viennese music. Mazurkas, polkas and, above all, the waltz. Johann Strauss II wrote over 500 dance pieces and his work was much admired by Brahms and Wagner.

When it first appeared in the late 18th Century, the waltz was considered scandalous. In a gavotte you stand side by side, but in a waltz couples are in close hold - their bodies touching. Goodness Gracious! The best selling pamphlet of the time was by German critic Salomon Jakob Wolf whose "Proof that Waltzing is the Main Source of Weakness of the Body and Mind of our Generation" sold out twice. The waltz was first seen in Britain at the Prince Regent's Grand Ball of 1816. The Times reported on "the indecent foreign dance called the waltz" and "the voluptuous intertwining of the limbs". Even Lord Byron (not known for his defence of high morals) criticised the dance.

Tonight's concert will include many Strauss family favourites performed by the 成人快手 Concert Orchestra conducted by Stephen Bell - The Blue Danube; Tales from the Vienna Woods; Bahn Frei!; Die Libelle and the Radetsky March. Our guest coloratura soprano is Rebecca Bottone - who will perform Village Swallows and When the Lemon Trees Bloom.

During the interval - writer Peter Kemp looks at the life of the forgotten Johann Strauss - Johann Strauss III.

Time to roll back the carpet and brush up on your fleckerls, your canter pivots, hesitations and left whisks.

Viennese whirl anyone?

First broadcast in 2018.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sun 17 Apr 2022 19:00

Music Played

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Radetsky March

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Overture: Die Fledermaus

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Frauenherz

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra, Benjamin Hughes(cello) & Rachel Masters(harp)

    Romance No 1 In D Minor

  • Rebecca Bottone & 成人快手 Concert Orchestra

    Audition Aria - Die Fledermaus

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Bahn Frei!

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Feuerfest Polka

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra, Stephen Bell & Rebecca Bottone

    Wo Die Citronen Bluh'n

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    The Blue Danube

  • Die flotten Geister & Christian Pollack

    Dragoner Marsch

  • London Symphony Orchestra & John Georgiadis

    Kronungs-Walzer

  • Johann Strauss III & Johann Strauss Orchestra

    Mit Vereinten Kraften Marsch

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Ausser Rand Und Band

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Die Libelle

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Neue Pizzicato Polka

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Rebecca Bottone

    Dorfschwalben Aus Osterreich

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Im Krapfenwald'l

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra, Stephen Bell & Rebecca Bottone

    Spharen-Klange

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra & Stephen Bell

    Tales From The Vienna Wood

  • 成人快手 Concert Orchestra

    High Adventure (Friday Night Is Music Night Sig Tune)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 18 May 2018 20:00
  • Fri 4 Jan 2019 20:00
  • Sun 17 Apr 2022 19:00