Richard Strauss's house

[Florestan]

One scathing Viennese critic commented on that piece: For Richard, I'd rather have Wagner, for Strauss rather Johann and for Schlagobers (= whipped cream) rather Demel's (a famous Viennese Café, or more precisely "k.u.k Hofzuckerbäcker") 

https://www.demel.com/

My own scathing comment: for Richard, I'd rather have Clayderman, for Strauss rather Oscar (minus one s) and for whipped cream rather Capșa (https://cofetaria.capsa.ro/).

[Symphonic Addict]

When a top-tier composer puts himself down in a third-tier category. The very meaning of ignominious bombast. Fortunately, something like that didn't repeat in his output.

[DaveF]

When a top-tier composer puts himself down in a third-tier category. The very meaning of ignominious bombast. Fortunately, something like that didn't repeat in his output.

I'm sure that, since he was practically ordered by Goebbels (in 1940) to compose the piece, Strauss might just have purposely overdone the bombast, much as he did in Friedenstag, another Nazi-approved piece.

Much more disturbing is the fact that Britten was also prepared to produce a piece (the Sinfonia da Requiem) for the same festive occasion.

[Symphonic Addict]

I'm sure that, since he was practically ordered by Goebbels (in 1940) to compose the piece, Strauss might just have purposely overdone the bombast, much as he did in Friedenstag, another Nazi-approved piece.

Much more disturbing is the fact that Britten was also prepared to produce a piece (the Sinfonia da Requiem) for the same festive occasion.

Friedenstag (!) and Sinfonia da Requiem have more substance to me at least, but the Japanische Festmusik is a piece of junk to put it mildly!

[Leo K.]

Wow I am FINALLY getting Strauss! Thanks to Fritz Reiner and Wilhelm Furtwangler as of late. It has took years now of patiently listening and now its like a light has flashed on.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Wow I am FINALLY getting Strauss! Thanks to Fritz Reiner and Wilhelm Furtwangler as of late. It has took years now of patiently listening and now its like a light has flashed on.

You have me curious: what was it about Strauss that was giving you such a tough time?

[Mandryka]

Wow I am FINALLY getting Strauss! Thanks to Fritz Reiner and Wilhelm Furtwangler as of late. It has took years now of patiently listening and now its like a light has flashed on.

Which Furtwangler?

[Cato]

Wow I am FINALLY getting Strauss! Thanks to Fritz Reiner and Wilhelm Furtwangler as of late. It has took years now of patiently listening and now its like a light has flashed on.

His short opera Elektra shows him on the cutting edge of German Expressionism with Schoenberg: if you can find the performance by the Metropolitan Opera with Hildegard Behrens, Deborah Voigt, and Brigitte Fassbänder from 1994, that is the one to experience.

https://www.amazon.com/Strauss-Elektra-Levine-Metropolitan-Exclusive/dp/B0064SBBA0


YouTube blocked the original link: here it is again in a different way!


Elektra on Magnetic Tape

[Mandryka]

A note on Metamorphosen. I have read that this music was originally written for six string instruments, and it was only after a commission that Strauss added an extra 17. The original version has been reconstructed and recorded by Hyperion Ensemble at least - I enjoy it more.

[Cato]

His short opera Elektra shows him on the cutting edge of German Expressionism with Schoenberg: if you can find the performance by the Metropolitan Opera with Hildegard Behrens, Deborah Voigt, and Brigitte Fassbänder from 1994, that is the one to experience.

https://www.amazon.com/Strauss-Elektra-Levine-Metropolitan-Exclusive/dp/B0064SBBA0


YouTube blocked the original link: here it is again in a different way!


Elektra on Magnetic Tape

My original link to the performance with Hildegarde Behrens was short-circuited.  The link above should work!

[Leo K.]

You have me curious: what was it about Strauss that was giving you such a tough time?

That's a good question. It is hard to describe. I am thinking about the tone poems. Before recently, the music felt too aimless - superficial. But now the tone poems (in particular) sound alive and exciting where the motives build and develop to a final catharsis (and more than ear-candy). I just wasn't listening deep enough. That is the gist of it I think. 

[Leo K.]

Which Furtwangler?

I am listening to Apple Music and there are two recordings so far - one on Warner with the Vienna Philharmonic: https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/strauss-tod-und-verklarung

And the other is - (Till Eulenspiege):
https://classical.music.apple.com/us/album/391578238

[Leo K.]

My original link to the performance with Hildegarde Behrens was short-circuited.  The link above should work!

Thanks!

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

That's a good question. It is hard to describe. I am thinking about the tone poems. Before recently, the music felt too aimless - superficial. But now the tone poems (in particular) sound alive and exciting where the motives build and develop to a final catharsis (and more than ear-candy). I just wasn't listening deep enough. That is the gist of it I think. 

Thanks for the explanation. Do give Herr Kempe and Karajan a listen in Strauss. You won't be sorry!

[Mandryka]

I am listening to Apple Music and there are two recordings so far - one on Warner with the Vienna Philharmonic: https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/strauss-tod-und-verklarung

And the other is - (Till Eulenspiege):
https://classical.music.apple.com/us/album/391578238

I just think it's astonishing that Furtwangler performed and indeed allowed to be recorded The Domestic Symphony. Furtwangler, king of romanticism, in an an almost modernist symphony with a scene representing bathing the baby. He also recorded Till Eulenspiegel, which has a musical fart as its high point.

[AnotherSpin]

His short opera Elektra shows him on the cutting edge of German Expressionism with Schoenberg: if you can find the performance by the Metropolitan Opera with Hildegard Behrens, Deborah Voigt, and Brigitte Fassbänder from 1994, that is the one to experience.

https://www.amazon.com/Strauss-Elektra-Levine-Metropolitan-Exclusive/dp/B0064SBBA0


YouTube blocked the original link: here it is again in a different way!


Elektra on Magnetic Tape

Just listened to it all the way through. Wow, that was brutal—in a good way, of course.

[Leo K.]

I just think it's astonishing that Furtwangler performed and indeed allowed to be recorded The Domestic Symphony. Furtwangler, king of romanticism, in an an almost modernist symphony with a scene representing bathing the baby. He also recorded Till Eulenspiegel, which has a musical fart as its high point.

Yeah it's incredible really, and I really like Furtwangler's Till Eulenspiegel too.

[Mandryka]

Thought I'd listen to Margaret Price sing some Strauss with Wolfgang Sawallisch this morning - very satisfying performances I think.