Performing the music of Johann Strauss requires a knowledgeable conductor. You often hear it done in a heavy “Germanic” way with an elephant-like “Umpah” accompaniment. Yet the way to get it right is to learn that the Viennese orchestras had a historic connection to this music.
Conductor Carlos Kleiber first heard this music as a child. His father, Erich Kleiber, was well known in Europe, but he decided to move to South America when the Nazi’s stormed through Europe. Let’s not go further with this here. Instead let’s get back to the music.
Here is Carlos Kleiber leading an orchestra in Japan. Watch him, and you’ll see his entire body move/dance with these sounds:
