Richard Strauss: Orchestral music

[Barbirollians]

I absolutely agree about the Previn/VPO Metamorphosen. I came across it by chance years ago and was deeply moved: it's a really extraordinary performance. My other cherished Metamorphosen is Klemperer/Philharmonia which I don't think has been mentioned yet.

I don't know the Klemperer but the Previn was very strongly recommended in Gramophone - probably by Michael Kennedy - when it came out and I bought it back then on cassette ! I came across a second hand copy of the CD about two years ago and was very happy to find it was just as moving as I remembered .

It is available as a download

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Metamorphosen-Strauss/dp/B00000E3IJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364400583&sr=8-1

[Roehre]

Does another recording exist of the Japanische Festmusik opus 84 than Strauss' own 1941 (IIRC) one?
It's not included in any set, including Kempe's magnificent 4 multi-LP sets from the 1970s (now in one multi CD-set available), nor recorded by e.g. Chandos in their Strauss series/

[Nick Armstrong]

I don't know the Klemperer but the Previn was very strongly recommended in Gramophone - probably by Michael Kennedy - when it came out and I bought it back then on cassette ! I came across a second hand copy of the CD about two years ago and was very happy to find it was just as moving as I remembered .

It is available as a download

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Metamorphose...4400583&sr=8-1

Oh well done Barbs... I'd only found that it was deleted. I got the CD for a fiver years ago...

No fan of the piece should go without hearing this reading.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Those VPO/Previn performances are generally superb, though the artificial zooming in upon solo strings can be a bit of a shock to the system.

[salymap]

Possibly even Norman Del Mar, who was iIrc in the Horn section of the Philharmonia at the time, but already keen on a career as a conductor. He absolutely worshipped Strauss, producing a three-volume study of his life and work, and always commenting favourably on Strauss' orchestration in his two books on the subject - no other composer is so highly-praised in these excellent books!

1947 is a very long time ago but I'm sure I didn't know beforehand that Strauss would be there. Beecham would bw the most likely butit doesn't quite fit. No, toolong ago.

And years ago I remember reading in one of Sir Henry Wood's books about his time with Strauss in London, including some amusing stories of Strauss and Frau Strauss, a rather scary woman, being taken on a shopping trip for underwear A library book, can't remember the title

[BBMmk2]

Does another recording exist of the Japanische Festmusik opus 84 than Strauss' own 1941 (IIRC) one?
It's not included in any set, including Kempe's magnificent 4 multi-LP sets from the 1970s (now in one multi CD-set available), nor recorded by e.g. Chandos in their Strauss series/

Is Kempe's complete Richard Strauss set available in one box, then?

[Mr Pee]

At the risk of being accused of plugging Sky, Kent Nagano is conducting the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin in the Alpine Symphony tonight at 8pm on Sky Arts 2, preceded by a look at the work at 7pm.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Is Kempe's complete Richard Strauss set available in one box, then?

They're giving them away, Bbm: 9CDs for under £18 with a box thrown in!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Strauss-Staatskapelle-Dresden-Kempe/dp/B000BVXC7Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1364409192&sr=1-1

[BBMmk2]

They're giving them away, Bbm: 9CDs for under £18 with a box thrown in!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Stra...4409192&sr=1-1

Righty! And what Cali said about the Horn player! Be hard to resist at that price! Thanks Ferney!!

[Roehre]

At the risk of being accused of plugging Sky, Kent Nagano is conducting the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin in the Alpine Symphony tonight at 8pm on Sky Arts 2, preceded by a look at the work at 7pm.

Isn't that Strauss' symphony no.64??

[Hornspieler]

Possibly even Norman Del Mar, who was iIrc in the Horn section of the Philharmonia at the time, but already keen on a career as a conductor. He absolutely worshipped Strauss, producing a three-volume study of his life and work, and always commenting favourably on Strauss' orchestration in his two books on the subject - no other composer is so highly-praised in these excellent books!

No. Norman was second horn to Dennis Brain in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra but he quit the job in favour of Ian Beers and became an assistant to Sir Thomas Beecham.

If you want to know about Richard Strauss, read Norman del Mar's comprehensive books on the subject.

Hornspieler

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

No. Norman was second horn to Dennis Brain in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra but he quit the job in favour of Ian Beers and became an assistant to Sir Thomas Beecham.

Thanks, HS. Could NDM have acted as Beecham's assistant at the 1947 Strauss Festival, do you know? He might well have been the conductor sals saw discussing a score with the composer.

If you want to know about Richard Strauss, read Norman del Mar's comprehensive books on the subject.

[Hornspieler]

Thanks, HS. Could NDM have acted as Beecham's assistant at the 1947 Strauss Festival, do you know? He might well have been the conductor sals saw discussing a score with the composer.

I'm not sure. I was still at school in 1947, but I suppose it is quite possible but I don't believe that NDM was second horn in the RPO at that time.

Sorry!

HS

BTW The 1947 recording of Heldenleben not only featured Dennis Brain but also that fine violinist (and bit of a rogue) Oscar Lampe. The duet towards the end would take your breath away with its sheer beauty.

[johnb]

Talking of Previn with the VPO I am very fond of his recording of the wind concerti. Gorgeous music.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/R-Strauss-Wind-Concertos-Richard/dp/B0000060AG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1364417910&sr=8-5

[teamsaint]

At the risk of being accused of plugging Sky, Kent Nagano is conducting the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin in the Alpine Symphony tonight at 8pm on Sky Arts 2, preceded by a look at the work at 7pm.

thanks Mr P for flagging that up.
provided me with a good evenings entertainment. The documentary piece was less good than one might hope,(although worth seeing) but I enjoyed the performance a great deal.

Bruckner 8 tomorrow. Hurrah !!