Strauss Conducts An Alpine Symphony [Import]

Richard [1] Strauss (Composer), Richard Strauss (Conductor), Bavarian State Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), Berlin State Opera Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Bavarian State Opera Orchestra, Berlin State Opera Orchestra
• Conductor: Richard Strauss
• Composer: Richard [1] Strauss
• Audio CD (May 14, 2002)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Dutton Labs UK
• ASIN: B00005V324
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #320,834 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Nacht

2. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Sonnenaufgang

3. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Der Anstieg

4. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Eintritt in den Wald - Wanderung neben dem Bache

5. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Am Wasserfall

6. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Erscheinung

7. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Auf blumigen Wiesen

8. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Auf der Alm

9. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Durch Dickicht und Gestrüpp auf Irrwegen

10. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Auf dem Gletscher

11. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Gerfahrvolle Augenblicke

12. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Vision

13. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Nebel steigen auf

14. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Die Sonne verdüstert sich allmählich

15. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Elegie

16. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Stille vor dem Sturm

17. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Gewitter und Sturm, Absteig

18. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Sonnenuntergang

19. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Ausklang

20. Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) for orchestra, Op. 64 (TrV 233): Nacht

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An artifact of the best kind, October 25, 2002

By 

Bruce Hodges (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strauss Conducts An Alpine Symphony (Audio CD)

These performances have been around for awhile, but never sounding as sumptuous as they do here. The glorious "Alpine Symphony" was recorded in 1941 in Munich, and the "Don Juan" is from an astonishing 1929. (A performance of waltzes from "Rosenkavalier" is also included.) This disc shows that Strauss was not only a great composer but a superb conductor; his "Alpine Symphony" is as beautifully phrased as any I've ever heard (and there are many fine Strauss interpreters out there), and the Bavarian orchestra sounds lovely.

What struck me immediately about this disc is the brass timbre: much firmer, with almost no "wobble" than you typically hear in recordings of this era. There is a presence that one usually hears only in later, more modern efforts. And with the "Don Juan," recorded even earlier, it is quite amazing that this is listenable at all, but Dutton's engineers have managed to squeeze the most possible out of the tape.

However, it must be said that some listeners will still be impatient with the sound and require more contemporary recordings (such as those by von Karajan, Haitink or Blomstedt, for example), simply because with better sonics, the colossal orchestration of these pieces is shown to much better advantage.

This caveat is no reflection whatsoever on Dutton's magnificent work; the company has done the best job imaginable with the material. For many fans this will be an essential document, thanks to Dutton's amazing engineers who have given it seemingly magical new life.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A milestone musical document!, October 9, 2005

By 

Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strauss Conducts An Alpine Symphony (Audio CD)

Richard Strauss (1864-1949) was probably, the greatest composer-conductor of the century, rivaled perhaps by Gustav Mahler.

Strauss composed this work in the dawns of the WW1, 1914. Ten years had elapsed from the Domestic Symphony , fruitful period in which composed Electra, Salome, Das Rosenklavier and Ariadna in Naxos.

This work is to my taste together with Also Sprach Zaratustra and Death and transfiguration my favorite trilogy of him.

If you realize about the whole structure, which consists in just one movement, we can assume he was thinking in a very expansive tone-poem, his particular Pastoral dedicated to the impressive mountains and perpetual snows. He knew to extract the maximum possibilities of the orchestra, remarking the style of the symphonic ponderosity. A whole arsenal of the most unusual instruments: wind machine, thunder machine and cowbells, in addition to the usual percussion instruments, plus a specially organized brass group offstage consisting of twelve horns, two trumpets and two trombones. An ostentatious anachronism if you want, according the perspectives of that time.

The Bavarian State played this work with meticulous bravery, legitimate pride and profound conveyance. Apart the importance historic of this performance (Strauss in his 77), it remains in the surroundings a clear sensation of emotiveness and display of pronouncement respect these war years. You can feel it beneath the score.

There are in my opinion three legendary versions of the Alpine: a renown and admired performance of Zubin Meta with the Angeles Philharmonic from the seventies, a careful and elaborated performance of one of my favorite directors any time: I mean Rudolf Kempe and this one.

An invaluable performance that will endure securely the taste acid of the years, remaining such as a solid oak and also a historic legacy for the new generations who will survive us.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've found my desert island disc, February 11, 2007

By 

Adrian "Don Quixote" (Gold Coast, Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strauss Conducts An Alpine Symphony (Audio CD)

This legendary recording of the Alpine Symphony is the one to take to your desert island. It was made in 1941 but it sounds as though it was recorded yesterday. The original surface noise is filtered to near inaudibility - Dutton's restoration is a must-have. There's nothing like hearing Strauss conduct his own works during the wartime. Now that's history!