Richard Strauss's house

[Mirror Image]

What are everyone's favorite performances of the tone poems?

I'll list them all and you can copy-and-paste my list and put your favorite performance next to the work:

1. Aus Italien

2. Don Juan

3. Macbeth

4. Death and Transfiguration

5. Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks

6. Also sprach Zarathustra

7. Don Quixote

8. Ein Heldenleben

9. Symphonia Domestica

10. An Alpine Symphony

[Lisztianwagner]

What are everyone's favorite performances of the tone poems?

An easy one for me:

1. Aus Italien  Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich
2. Don Juan  Karajan/Wiener Philharmoniker
3. Macbeth  Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich
4. Death and Transfiguration  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
5. Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks  Karajan/Wiener Philharmoniker
6. Also sprach Zarathustra  Karajan/Wiener Philharmoniker
7. Don Quixote  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
8. Ein Heldenleben  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
9. Symphonia Domestica  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
10. An Alpine Symphony  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker

[amw]

Don't really remember much about the Violin concerto and first horn concerto, I probably listened not more than once (Kempe Box). But the Violin sonata is a very remarkable and passionate piece and another favorite early work is the Burleske for piano with timpani and orchestra.

The Violin Sonata is my favourite Strauss work so far. I liked the Violin Concerto as well, but I'd rather listen to the Dvořák, which it very strongly resembles. I haven't really enjoyed most of his "mature" stuff from Don Juan onwards, though.

(I guess if I wanted to start exploring I should tear open the Kempe EMI box, right? That's easily accessible via library & seems to be consistently praised)

[Moonfish]

An easy one for me:

1. Aus Italien  Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich
2. Don Juan  Karajan/Wiener Philharmoniker
3. Macbeth  Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich
4. Death and Transfiguration  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
5. Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks  Karajan/Wiener Philharmoniker
6. Also sprach Zarathustra  Karajan/Wiener Philharmoniker
7. Don Quixote  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
8. Ein Heldenleben  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
9. Symphonia Domestica  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
10. An Alpine Symphony  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker

Not even one Kempe? !!       

[Lisztianwagner]

Not even one Kempe? !!       

I'm sorry, the only Kempe I've listened to so far is the Alpine Symphony, but Karajan's recording is unbeatable for me.

[TheGSMoeller]

What are everyone's favorite performances of the tone poems?

I'll list them all and you can copy-and-paste my list and put your favorite performance next to the work:

1. Aus Italien - Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich

2. Don Juan - Kempe/Dresden Staatskapelle: The opening bars are reason enough to pick Kempe over any one else here.

3. Macbeth - Jarvi/RSNO

4. Death and Transfiguration - Kempe/Dresden Staatskapelle: Nobody mastered the flow and pacing of Strauss like Kempe, and his Tod never drags, and is never overflowing with tragedy. Honeck/Pitts is a very close second with an unmatched orchestral sound.

5. Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks - Slatkin/Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra: This is more of nod to the recording quality and orchestral playing. It's so playful and never rushed, and the execution scene has never sounded more frightening. Poor Till.

6. Also sprach Zarathustra - Sinopoli/NYP: Huge sound, massive power.

7. Don Quixote - Markus Stenz/Cologne Gurzenich Orchestra/Alban Gerhardt (cello): Probably still the newest Quixote on record, but it's so precisely recorded and performed. Might not be the best solo cello performance available, although Gerhardt is great, but as a whole this is top notch.

8. Ein Heldenleben - Mehta/NYP: My personal favorite, but with many so closely behind.

9. Symphonia Domestica - Reiner/CSO: Tough piece to execute, but Reiner/CSO is solid. Edo de Waart/MINN SO is also very good.

10. An Alpine Symphony - Blomstedt/SFS:

[Mirror Image]

An easy one for me:

1. Aus Italien  Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich
2. Don Juan  Karajan/Wiener Philharmoniker
3. Macbeth  Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich
4. Death and Transfiguration  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
5. Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks  Karajan/Wiener Philharmoniker
6. Also sprach Zarathustra  Karajan/Wiener Philharmoniker
7. Don Quixote  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
8. Ein Heldenleben  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
9. Symphonia Domestica  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
10. An Alpine Symphony  Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker

A predictable one at that!

[Mirror Image]

1. Aus Italien - Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich

2. Don Juan - Kempe/Dresden Staatskapelle: The opening bars are reason enough to pick Kempe over any one else here.

3. Macbeth - Jarvi/RSNO

4. Death and Transfiguration - Kempe/Dresden Staatskapelle: Nobody mastered the flow and pacing of Strauss like Kempe, and his Tod never drags, and is never overflowing with tragedy. Honeck/Pitts is a very close second with an unmatched orchestral sound.

5. Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks - Slatkin/Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra: This is more of nod to the recording quality and orchestral playing. It's so playful and never rushed, and the execution scene has never sounded more frightening. Poor Till.

6. Also sprach Zarathustra - Sinopoli/NYP: Huge sound, massive power.

7. Don Quixote - Markus Stenz/Cologne Gurzenich Orchestra/Alban Gerhardt (cello): Probably still the newest Quixote on record, but it's so precisely recorded and performed. Might not be the best solo cello performance available, although Gerhardt is great, but as a whole this is top notch.

8. Ein Heldenleben - Mehta/NYP: My personal favorite, but with many so closely behind.

9. Symphonia Domestica - Reiner/CSO: Tough piece to execute, but Reiner/CSO is solid. Edo de Waart/MINN SO is also very good.

10. An Alpine Symphony - Blomstedt/SFS:

Nice list, Greg.

[TheGSMoeller]

Nice list, Greg.

Nice avatar, John. 

[Lisztianwagner]

A predictable one at that!

That assist was too perfect.

[Karl Henning]

Wait -- HvK didn't record Aus Italien?   

[Mirror Image]

Nice avatar, John. 

[Mirror Image]

Wait -- HvK didn't record Aus Italien?   

Or Macbeth so it seems.

[TheGSMoeller]

Wait -- HvK didn't record Aus Italien?   

He was smart, opted to re-record Strauss' stronger works.

[kishnevi]

He was smart, opted to re-record Strauss' stronger works.

Are you suggesting there's something wrong with Aus Italien?

[TheGSMoeller]

Are you suggesting there's something wrong with Aus Italien?

No, only that there are stronger works by Strauss. I actually really enjoy Aus Italian, and MacBeth.

[Karl Henning]

He was smart, opted to re-record Strauss' stronger works.

Only so much time;  true!

[Mirror Image]

What do my fellow Straussians make of the youthful Violin Concerto? I think it's a great work personally. That slow movement is just gorgeous while the last movement is a rip-roaring stream of violin pyrotechnics. Any favorite performances? It seems Boris Belkin (Ashkenazy - cond) will be on my to-listen-to list once I receive that Decca set.

[Florestan]

What do my fellow Straussians make of the youthful Violin Concerto? I think it's a great work personally. That slow movement is just gorgeous while the last movement is a rip-roaring stream of violin pyrotechnics. Any favorite performances? It seems Boris Belkin (Ashkenazy - cond) will be on my to-listen-to list once I receive that Decca set.

I like it a lot. Have heard only Hoelscher/Kempe/SK Dresden though.

[amw]

I liked the Violin Concerto as well, but I'd rather listen to the Dvořák, which it very strongly resembles.

This is still true. Last movement is certainly the most enjoyable, for me.

I've heard two performances, one by Sarah Chang and one by Thomas Irnberger. Don't remember who the orchestras were, sorry. I think I liked them both about equally, for different reasons.