As ever I like to ring in the New Year with a nod in the direction of a Viennese New Year’s Day Concert.

France’s Garde Républicaine returns with two pieces with a Danube theme.

Iosif Ivanovici – Flots du Danube (Valse)
Johann Strauss II – Le Beau Danube Bleu
Garde Républicaine

Ivanovici – Flots du Danube ( Donauwellen) – Valse – Garde Républicaine

Johann Strauss II – Le Beau Danube Bleu – Garde Républicaine

(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)

Odeon 3814/6483
Matrices 3814-4 x, 6483 x (P 2279)
Recorded January 1906
74.2rpm playing in F minor and E flat major at A435

The next two sides are classics of the gramophone, though my copies aren’t the best.
Johann II Strauss – Die Fledermaus – Mein Herr Marquis; Spiel’ ich die Unschuld vom Lande
Orchestra, Karl Alwin
Elisabeth Schumann, soprano

Johann Strauss II – Die Fledermaus – Mein Herr Marquis – Schumann

Johann Strauss II – Die Fledermaus – Spiel’ ich die Unschuld vom Lande – Schumann

(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)

HMV E 545
Matrices Bb 12008-I, BV 614-III (7-43097, 30-1473)
Recorded 11th November 1927, Studio C, Small Queen’s Hall, London; 6th September 1929, Mittlerer Konzerthaussaal, Vienna
76.3rpm, 76.5rpm

The final Strauss of the day celebrates his sesquicentennial anniversary this year, and is represented by his best known waltz.

Richard Strauss – Der Rosenkavalier – Waltz
Berlin State Opera Orchestra, Leo Blech

R Strauss – Der Rosenkavalier – Waltz – Blech

(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)

His Master’s Voice C 1819
Matrices CLR 4851-II, 4852-II (4-040730/1)
Recorded 12th December 1928, Berlin
74.2rpm