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Richard Strauss Recordings
Strauss is one of a very few Composers who had equal success in both Opera and Symphonic realm. For the purpose of this discussion I am confining my discussion to non Opera, so essentially: Zarathustra, Till, Don Juan, Heldenleben, Eine Alpinesymphony, Death and Transfiguration, Rosenkavalier and Capriccio extracts, Metamophasen, the early works (Macbeth, Aus Italian) and the one that I really dislike—Symphonica Domestica.
Sine these are such great Orchestral showcases they have oft been recorded and many as large collections.
I’ve been listening through the Kempe set with the Dresden Staatkapelle recently (the latest reissue on Warner) from the early seventies and primarily comparing it with two sets -the Reiner/Chicago set, dating from the dawn of the stereo era (Zarathustra recorded-in stereo-in to 1954!) from it’s last Sony reissue, and the Karajan/Berlin Phil set from the early digital era.
The first observation here, this being an Audiophile Site, is the incredible quality of the first two sets. At no point, even with the Reiner recordings made before I was born, did I feel that I was listening to anything less than superb reproduction. It’s amazing how much digital replay has advanced, and how much information is in these old tapes. By contrast, the worse recording was the Karajan, as DG hadn’t figured out the new technology, and Von K. no doubt had a hand in twiddling the knobs at the mix. It’s over bright and pace any DG recording of the last third of the last century, lacking in bass and presence.
The Reiner and Kempe are superb collections. It’s a pity that Reiner never recorded the Alpine Symphony, and occasionally with Kempe one gets the feeling of being hemmed in by the bar lines, but those are relatively rare instances and the DSK of that vintage probably still had players who had been conducted by the Composer, who favored that Orchestra in his later years.
I have several other later Strauss recordings but probably it will be just Kempe and Reiner for me going forward
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@magister Thanks for the good words. And yeah, I totally love logic. It will always be an essential, wonderful tool. But still a tool. |
Strauss' Four Last Songs are very near the top of "My Last Evening" listening selections - my elite selections that I'd want to hear the last night before I would pass from this world. It's like a R2D4 list, but more like beautifully composed, performed, recorded and reproduced music that stirs the heart, mind and soul - records to die with! Being from Cleveland, I am a big fan of the perfectionist conductor George Szell, as he conducted my first concert performance at Severance Hall - Mozart's Symphony No. 40. The Szell/Schwartzkopf 4 Last Songs is great, but my favorite has been mentioned by others above - Lucia Popp! The performance is stunning and emotionally engaging, well balanced, perfectly paced - it flows dynamically without ever being overbearing. The 3rd song contains a violin solo that is gorgeous, but when Lucia joins the violin and orchestra the expressiveness, build-up of tension and resolution are second to none, judging from the tears that well up every time! And the conclusion of the 4th song finishes with such melancholy and gentle resolve that one must ponder it's concluding lyrics - "Could this, perhaps, be death?" What will that moment be like for any of us? Peaceful, sharing the moment with loved ones, yet passing on alone? A call to let go of this world and be welcomed by our Savior. Lucia inspires this hope of a transition to a new, eternal life filled with the promise of Love. Most highly recommended!! |
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