How comes that Ein Heldenleben is the greatest work ever written?

[Carlos von Kleiber]

Please explain.

[AnthonyAthletic]

Er, it isn't

It's not even Strauss' Best Work 

[Carlos von Kleiber]

So, this recording will change your mind:

[AnthonyAthletic]

Your original statement of Heldenleben being the greatest piece of music ever written has nothing to do with a Karajan BPO performance making it so.

I will admit that the Karajan recording is my favourite, but Heledenlaben as a work would probably squeeze into mine and many others 'Top 100'

[MN Dave]

Congratulations! Best joke thread of the day! 

[The new erato]

Er, it isn't

It's not even Strauss' Best Work 

Quite right

[Superhorn]

  No, it's not the greatest work ever written. I don't think any one
work is THE greatest . But on its own terms, it's a wonderful piece,
vigorous,life-affirming and joyous .
  And many fail to realize that it's also a humorous work, filled with in jokes .  Those who call  it pompous, turgid , bombastic and  egotistical miss the whole point of the piece.

[Brahmsian]

It's a wonderful piece, and it was my introduction to Richard Strauss (I attended a live concert of the piece), and was blown away.

Having said that, it is not even Strauss' best piece, IMO (not my favorite, but one of my many favorites).

Eine Alpensinfonie has that honour. 

[Gurn Blanston]

How come there is no banana?

I mean, I do rather like Ein Heldenleben, but that doesn't let me vote, since to vote for any choice at all automatically conceded the major premise...

[MishaK]

  And many fail to realize that it's also a humorous work, filled with in jokes .  Those who call  it pompous, turgid , bombastic and  egotistical miss the whole point of the piece.

Very, very true. And for that reason it is worth hearing in the original version, sans bombastic closing chords:

[vandermolen]

I have never liked the music of Richard Strauss but recently bought some CDs of his music to have another go. I have always found Ein Heldenleben to be an especially overblown, turgid and pretentious work - but I respect the views of thos who think differently.

[PerfectWagnerite]

I have never liked the music of Richard Strauss but recently bought some CDs of his music to have another go. I have always found Ein Heldenleben to be an especially overblown, turgid and pretentious work - but I respect the views of thos who think differently.

I like Strauss' music, but do not like Eine Heldenleben as much as I like works such as Death and Transfiguration and Metamorphosen which just struck me as more genuine. I don't know about overblown and turgid (you can argue that Alpine Symphony) is even more overblown but I love that work.

[greg]

Please explain.

If this really is your favorite work, you might be one out of 3 or 4 in the world! 

[MN Dave]

I have never liked the music of Richard Strauss but recently bought some CDs of his music to have another go. I have always found Ein Heldenleben to be an especially overblown, turgid and pretentious work - but I respect the views of thos who think differently.

I'm not quite sure if you enjoy chamber music but if you check out the 2009 recordings thread, I posted a disc which includes a piece of Strauss chamber music you might try.

Or not.

[vandermolen]

I'm not quite sure if you enjoy chamber music but if you check out the 2009 recordings thread, I posted a disc which includes a piece of Strauss chamber music you might try.

Or not.

OK thanks - I will try to listen to this. I do like some chamber music very much but do not have much chamber music in my collection.

[karlhenning]

Er, it isn't

It's not even Strauss' Best Work 

QFT ; )

[karlhenning]

How come there is no banana?

Hear, hear!

[MichaelRabin]

It is one of my favourite pieces as I 1st heard Karajan and the BPO play it in London. That concert is out on the Testament label.
I have other versions by Karajan, Reiner, Oue, etc.

[Joe Barron]

I like Heldenleben because it's sort of a compendium of Strauss' greatest hits. If you listen to that one tone poem, you don't need the rest. Which makes for efficient listening. And with Strauss, you want to get through it as quickly as you can.

[drogulus]

I have always found Ein Heldenleben to be an especially overblown, turgid and pretentious work - but I respect the views of thos who think differently.

       You must have left it as you found it.

       I respect all negative views of Ein Heldenleben no matter how much they differ from my own.