It has long been my opinion that Austrians are a smug bunch of burghers but they are entitled to be in one respect: Their music.

From the young Mozart and his father, through Haydn, Schubert and Bruckner and into the 20th century with Mahler, Austria has been the musical nation of Europe.

At the top of this tree must be the Strauss family who dominated Austrian musical society from the 1850s to the fall of Imperial Austria in 1918 with their polkas, galops, waltzes and can-cans.

Last week, Raymond Gubbay brought his Johann Strauss Gala concert to town. As well as a pretty good orchestra, led and directed by Christopher Warren-Green, it included soprano Charlotte Page and eight traditionally-dressed dancers.

The result was a feast of movement and music. Ms Page sang arias from the Great Waltz, the Opera Ball and Die Fledermaus, the dancers moved with ease and elegance and Warren-Green and his players cracked and quipped jokes.

If it wasn't as energetic or funny as the New Year's Eve Viennese bash with the Brighton Philharmonic, it was good stuff.

Champagne Polka, the Emperor Waltz, Radetsky March, Zampa Galop and the Pizzicato Polka; all were there with all the Strauss family well represented.

And, of course, there was the Blue Danube - probably the best waltz ever written. Vast, sweeping, haunting and moving, it is as inspiring today as when it was written in 1867.

No wonder the Austrians are so smug.