Wiener Philharmoniker, Georges Prêtre - Neujahrskonzert 2008 (2008)

Beyond great playing and great conducting, there are two things the Wiener Philharmoniker's annual New Year's Concerts need to succeed: tradition and variation, the tradition of programming only works by the Strauss family plus a handful of other acceptable nineteenth century Viennese dance composers and the variation of programming familiar as well as unfamiliar works in new and interesting configurations. The 2008 New Year's Concert commemorated in this two-disc set certainly fulfills those two requirements. Along with Strauss favorites like the Tritsch-Trasch Polka, the Radetzky Marsch, and An der schönen, blauen Donau are six works that have never before been programmed for a New Year's Concert, among them the Napoleon Marsch, the Versailles Galop, and a lively little dance simply called the Parisienne.
The reason for this French fixation is simple: for the first time ever, a French conductor appeared on the podium of a New Year's Concert in 2008. Georges Prêtre, the conductor in question, has led the Wiener Philharmoniker off and on since the '60s, and on the basis of the performances here, they appear to have a relaxed, affectionate relationship that suits the spirit of the music. The Viennese musicians play with their customary opulent tone and elegant virtuosity, and, with their willing collaboration, Prêtre does amazing things with tempo rubato. He'll hold a beat to build suspense and combine ritardandos with crescendos to increase the pressure. To keep things moving. he'll push a phrase forward, pause for a moment at the top, then plunge on into the next phrase. Though not himself Viennese, Prêtre clearly knows and loves Viennese dance music, and with the Frenchmen at the helm, the rare repertoire sparkles while the favorite takes on an added luster. Recorded in clean, warm sound with plenty of applause between selections, the performances here are sure to delight fans of the symphonic waltz genre.