Pleasant surprise

[Barbirollians]

I discovered that Andre Previn's outstanding recording of Metamorphosen was available on one of those Classic FM full works CDs as my cassette is getting a little thin .

It is coupled with a number of recordings but most notably the Kiri/VPO/Solti recording of the Four Last Songs . As I am not a fan of her Andrew Davis recording which struck me as syrupy this was a pleasant surprise much more idiomatic and far better accompanied Solti was one hell of a Richard Strauss conductor as his superb Rosenkavailer recording shows and Kiri really responds to his support . Highly recommended .

The VPO Previn Metamorphosen is just as fine as I remembered.

[Nick Armstrong]

Andre Previn's outstanding recording of Metamorphosen

Long been my favourite version - since getting the original CD issue shortly after its appearance, coupled with the late "Invalid's Workshop" Sonatina for 16 wind instruments, which I also love:

[Petrushka]

Previn's Richard Strauss recordings with the VPO came out on a variety of labels (EMI, Philip, DG and Telarc) which I suppose prevents a boxed set from ever appearing, but they are all very fine indeed. I'd single out his Alpensinfonie on Telarc as being of particular excellence. On the whole they have been generally under-rated and I'll be searching out those I don't have.

[makropulos]

Long been my favourite version - since getting the original CD issue shortly after its appearance, coupled with the late "Invalid's Workshop" Sonatina for 16 wind instruments, which I also love:

Totally agree - this is one the very best recordings of Metamorphosen that I know, and speaking for myself, I think it's one of Previn's finest records. It's always been a bit of a "sleeper" - deserves to be far better known - and I treasure it. For me, none of his other VPO Strauss quite reaches the expressive heights of this superb performance.

[AmpH]

Previn's Richard Strauss recordings with the VPO came out on a variety of labels (EMI, Philip, DG and Telarc) which I suppose prevents a boxed set from ever appearing, but they are all very fine indeed. I'd single out his Alpensinfonie on Telarc as being of particular excellence. On the whole they have been generally under-rated and I'll be searching out those I don't have.

There has been a box set on Telarc, which simply collects the 4 separate Telarc CD's into a cardboard sleeve.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Richard-Strauss-Philharmonic-Orchestra/dp/B000003D1V/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1476031157&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=previn+r+strauss+telarc

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There has been a box set on Telarc, which simply collects the 4 separate Telarc CD's into a cardboard sleeve.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-R...strauss+telarc

Disc 3 was at one time my preferred CD recording of Eine Alpensinfonie, but that was at a time when there were relatively few available. The recorded sound is spectacular, but has the irritating habit of zooming in on solo strings.

[AmpH]

Disc 3 was at one time my preferred CD recording of Eine Alpensinfonie, but that was at a time when there were relatively few available. The recorded sound is spectacular, but has the irritating habit of zooming in on solo strings.

Its the only recording of Eine Alpensinfonie that I possess !

[BBMmk2]

Generally, I think, critics and observers alike, thought that Andre Previn had "gone off the boil", after he left the LSO. But these Richard Strauss recordings certainly look interesting! :)

[Cockney Sparrow]

Just to say the Kiri Four Last Songs and the Previn Metamorphosen are available on Naxos Music Library - in my case, having tried - listened - I decided to buy. I tried to track down the Classic FM CD - took some finding - searches didn't show it initially. However it is at the river people - ASIN B0027CAQOO. I've ordered that CD. What a contribution Previn has made over such a wide repertory. Thanks for the recommendation

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0027CAQOO/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=

As to the Four Last Songs (Kiri/Solti) the Gramophone critic certainly agreed :
“This must be one of the most enjoyable of Dame Kiri’s discs. It deserves to be in the collection of every Straussian or indeed of any Lieder enthusiast. These two artists … seem to gain a new charge of enthusiasm from their work together. That is indubitably the case in their account of the Four Last Songs”
(Quote from the Presto page - http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Decca/4788911 - indicates it is available as a Decca CD in UK (Catalogue No:4788911 Decca Virtuoso (series)))

NML details - http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...895#post579895

[Barbirollians]

They are still available in HMV shops .