Richard Strauss: Orchestral music

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Does anybody here remember Kempe's famous performance of the Alpine Symphony at the RFH with the RPO? It caused quite a stir at the time. I have their studio recording from 1966, so the concert must have just preceded it. I wish I could have gone. The studio recording is exciting, but not as subtle or as well recorded as the Dresden version.

On the relative merits of the two Kempe EA recordings, my two pennyworth would be that the RPO version is much better recorded, but the Dresden orchestra's playing is more polished. I could post my rather long reviews on each of them, but that would be almost be like spamming.

[teamsaint]

EA, Is this worth a go, do you think?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strauss-Alpine-Symphony-Cleveland-Orch/dp/B000024WGU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1364571933&sr=1-1

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I clicked on your link and Amazon told me that I have already bought this recording on 5th April 2011. Talk about being spied on. I admit I haven't reviewed this one yet, having listened to it just once, but I'll get back to you in a day or two.

[teamsaint]

I clicked on your link and Amazon told me that I have already bought this recording on 5th April 2011. Talk about being spied on. I admit I haven't yet reviewed this one yet, having listened to it just once, but I'll get back to you in a day or two.

Thanks. I am just after a good value starter !!

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks. I am just after a good value starter !!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Strauss-Philharmoniker-Christian-Thielemann/dp/B00005AAFA/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1364572595&sr=1-1

I'd go for this - couple of good value used ones.

I never liked the Ashkenazy. The Thielemann/VPO is a great performance, stunningly-well recorded

[Petrushka]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Stra...4572595&sr=1-1


I'd go for this - couple of good value used ones.

I never liked the Ashkenazy. The Thielemann/VPO is a great performance, stunningly-well recorded

I'd strongly second this recommendation.

[Thropplenoggin]

Thanks. I am just after a good value starter !!

When I'm after an idea of what's available, I use prestoclassical. It gives you a feel for what's out there and how it's rated. Just click on the title of the work you're after e.g. Ein Alpensinfonie, will bring up this lot: http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/w/27265

I see there's a Naxos version with Wit conducting.

[Parry1912]

I see there's a Naxos version with Wit conducting.

Its not a patch on Thielemann, Haitink or Karajan.

Here's a couple of excellent bargain Strauss discs:

£3.99

£3.99

[Thropplenoggin]

Its not a patch on Thielemann, Haitink or Karajan.

It is a bargain, though, as requested by TS.

Which Haitink do you prefer - Concertgebouw or the recent LSO?

"Jeannie" on Amazon had this to say of the LSO Live one:

I bought this CD for my mother who is VERY fussy; she loves it. I'm still recovering from the shock.

[Parry1912]

Which Haitink do you prefer - Concertgebouw or the recent LSO?

I haven't heard the the LSO one yet.

[Nick Armstrong]

It is a bargain, though, as requested by TS.

Which Haitink do you prefer - Concertgebouw or the recent LSO?

"Jeannie" on Amazon had this to say of the LSO Live one:

But no contest: Concertgebouw v LSO Live in a shoebox recording...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thanks. I am just after a good value starter !!

Five star ones include RPO/Kempe, VPO/Thielemann, Bamberg/Stein (though I reckon his wind machine is a recording of real wind), São Paulo SO/Shipman and both Haitinks. Historical jewels include both Strauss recordings (though I prefer the Munich 1936 one), and the Schuricht.
Feel free to ignore me, but those to avoid might include the Andrew Davis, both the Bohms, the Karajan (even though it was the BaL choice twice; a much better Karajan Alpine was available on DVD but is nla). Mehta is below his best too.
As others have said, Wit is a good performance and very cheap.

[Thropplenoggin]

Five star ones include RPO/Kempe, VPO/Thielemann, Bamberg/Stein (though I reckon his wind machine is a recording of real wind), São Paulo SO/Shipman and both Haitinks.

Shipway, surely?

If you had to choose only one, which would it be?

[teamsaint]

Thanks for all the advice , everybody.
And just to be clear, my definition of "value" DOES include a quality component .
Obviously.

[Parry1912]

I'd say just get this set of Karajan's 80s recordings (plus one or two others) on 5CDs for £14.99 and have done with it.

But then I love Strauss' music!