Album Notes
Andre Rieu is clearly the world's most noticeable Johann Strauss disciple. 100 YEARS OF STRAUSS displays him at his best, with a larger than usual orchestra (50 piece) captured in lush, resonant sound. The program is imaginative, nearly all of it by Johann Strauss Jr. with one item, 'On Holiday,' by Josef and the whirling Spain-inspired 'Cachucha Galopp' by Johann Sr. Other items of interest include the "Nun's Chorus" from 'Casanova' and two songs from 'The Gypsy Baron,' all heard in Rieu's arrangements. Then there are the items one simply cannot live without, such as 'Tales from the Vienna Woods' with its delightful zither solo, 'Vienna Blood,' and, of course, 'The Blue Danube.' No number of hearings can keep one from wanting to hear these memorable tunes again and again, especially when played with such devotion and infectiously high spirits.