Orf Radio-So Wien/Theis - Johann Strauss: Aschenbr�del - Complete Ballet

It is not surprising that a composer of dance music might eventually get around to writing a full-length dance composition. But the music for the full-length ballet Aschenbr�del (Cinderella) is the swan song of Johann Strauss. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to complete the work. Before his death he had orchestrated the first act and half of the third act. Ballet composer Josef Bayer was assigned the task of completing the work, and he used the extensive sketches to produce a performable version. Over the years a lot of new source material has surfaced. On the basis of these sources the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra of Vienna has made a new recording of this work. The result is also a sort of rediscovery of Aschenbr�del. The conductor is the Strauss specialist Ernst Theis.