Berlin 1950/1952

Ferenc Fricsay's love of the waltzes by Johann Strauss II exemplifies his opinion that there is no difference between ‘popular’ and ‘serious’ music but, if needs be, between good and bad music.Thanks to his own musical education and his first post as conductor of a military band in Szeged, he was very familiar with the repertoire and the musical world of 19th century Vienna.When the 34-year-old was called to post-war Berlin in order to help rebuild musical life in the western part of the destroyed city as director of the newly founded RIAS Symphony Orchestra, he passionately performed the music of Strauss from the outset.This is also documented by his ravishing recording of Die Fledermaus [see audite 23.411]. This CD presents a representative cross-section of the most beautiful and famous waltzes and polkas by Strauss recorded between 1950 and 1952, issued here for the first time. In these, not only do Fricsay's (in)famously precise rehearsal methods become perceptible but also his unique talent of improvisation, i.e. an art of interpretation where the highest degree of precision becomes completely natural, and spontaneous, music-making.