Customer Reviews

Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier Suite

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Most recordings by Jesus Lopez-Cobos and the Cincinnati Symphony are an audiophile's dream and this one is no different. Mating four Richard Strauss creations, Telarc has issued a first drawer extravaganza that is stylistically correct and exquisitely played in sparkling sound.

Lopez-Cobos has put together four disparate Strauss pieces -- Salome's Dance Of The Seven Veils, Suite From Der Rosenkavalier, Burlesque For Piano And Orchestra and Festival Prelude For Organ And Orchestra -- in 76 minutes of outstanding performances brilliantly recorded in clear, balanced sound with extraordinary depth.

The Cincinnati orchestra's playing is universally exemplary and is acutely vivid during the Rosenkavalier Suite, the music from the opera organized by someone other than the composer, but for which the composer took royalties. This meandering and wonderful music, which is by turns tempestuous and tender, is the greatest achievement on this recording. The Festival Prelude is equally well done.

No praise is too lofty for the recording technicians and the Cincinnati players, especially the brass players. Their distinguished musicianship and style is 100 percent straight on all through this magnificent CD. The single disappointment is Jeffrey Kahane's piano playing during the Burleske, which is far from a great work of art.

But this is small negative compensation and does not dim the very bright light shone on this prominent issue from this conductor and orchestra, which are unfortunately no longer together. Lopez-Cobos was not always beloved by Cincinnati critics during his tenure in the Queen City but it was not because of music-making like that produced on this CD!

Lopez-Cobos and the orchestra recorded several Mahler and Bruckner symphonies of varying quality during their years together. If they could pull off Strauss of this quality, they'd have been a natural pairing to make DDD recordings of his lengthier symphonic treatises "Also Sprach Zarathustra", "Ein Heldenleben" and the "Alpine" Symphony. Pity to say we will probably never get the chance to hear it.

It is true that there are those who did not appreciate Lopez-Cobos's tenure in Cincinnati, but this disc is definitely one that everyone will enjoy. Richard Strauss, a giant of the compositional world, brought to life here by the impressive gift of Lopez-Cobos and the Cincinnati Symphony. Starting with the much-loved "Dance of the Seven Veils" from the opera Salome, conductor and orchestra give expression and feeling to some amazing pieces by Strauss. The Suite from "Der Rosenkavalier" is well done as well, giving a nice lively feel to the Viennese-inspired waltzes. Next comes the Burleske, Strauss's piano concerto of sorts, which is well done by both Kahane and the orchestra. The timpanist is listed on the back cover, and with good reason, as his crashing drum beats provide a good pulse throughout the piece. Rounding out the program is Strauss's relatively obscure "Festive Prelude" for organ and orchestra. The program notes all but ignore it, possibly due to the unimportant origins of the work, but organ and orchestra are at full capacity in this marvelous overture of sorts. This disc is certainly not to be missed, even if (like me) you already have the Salome and Rosenkavalier on disc.