Even with Marco Polo’s complete editions of orchestral works of various members of the Strauss family, the Viennese light music that exists on CD is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg. All credit, then, to the Johann Strauss Societies of Great Britain and the Czech Republic for this adventurous programme.

The content falls into two categories – music of the Strausses that is outside the coverage of those Marco Polo editions, and items by other Viennese composers. Two overtures from operettas arranged by other hands after the Waltz King’s death prove worthy of the master himself, and so do three dances on themes from an operetta by Johann III. Items by Paul Lincke and Richard Eilenberg prove agreeable enough, while the waltz selections from Viennese operettas by Edmund Eysler and Joseph Hellmesberger junior likewise have endearing themes to justify revival. On the other hand, the items by Siegfried Translateur and Alphons Czibulka hardly seem strong enough to survive one significant drawback of this collection: though the marches go with a real swing under Christian Pollack’s baton, his waltzes and mazurkas are disappointingly leaden-footed.

The collection may not make converts to the cause, then; but it provides welcome variety for the Viennese dance enthusiast.