Comedian Danny Kaye leads the Philharmonic in a loving send-up of orchestral performance practice by conducting with his back to the Orchestra.
VERDI (1813–1901)
Triumphal March (and Ballet), from Aida (1871)
Kathleen Battle, one of the great sopranos of her time, sings a popular aria from Mozart’s Il ré pastore (The Shepherd King). Shlomo Mintz plays the solo violin part, representing the title character’s thoughts of his absent beloved.
MOZART (1756–91)
Aria, L’amerò sarò costante,
Nothing evokes a Viennese New Year’s ball quite like Strauss waltzes. Hear the famous Blue Danube and other Strauss family pieces in this effervescent performance from New Year’s Eve 1984.
J. STRAUSS II (1825–99)
Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltzes), Op. 437 (1889)
Tritsch-T...