Richard Strauss's house

[Franco_Manitobain]

Now listening to Disc 2 of this set:

Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
Don Juan, Op. 20
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40

[relm1]

Now listening to Disc 2 of this set:

Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
Don Juan, Op. 20
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40

How does it compare to von Karajan box?

[Franco_Manitobain]

How does it compare to von Karajan box?

These are the only recordings of Strauss' music that I have, so I cannot comment of speak to the Karajan performances.

However, the Karajan performances of Richard Strauss I believe are widely highly regarded and respected. It is probably a 1a and 1b between Karajan and Kempe. 

[vers la flamme]

Now listening to Disc 2 of this set:

Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
Don Juan, Op. 20
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40

Me too, last night. Very good stuff.

[Lisztianwagner]

How does it compare to von Karajan box?

They are both excellent boxes, performed by stunning orchestras like the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Staatskapelle Dresden; Kempe's recordings have very fast rhythms (considerably faster than Karajan's performances - for example, Karajan's Don Juan is two minutes longer), which maybe seem rather rushed at times, but with great energy and intensity anyway, creating so a compelling atmosphere; their sound can not result as beautiful and accurate as Karajan's, nonetheless they are incredibly colourful and expressive, the orchestral timbres and their balance are very well handled.

I wish Karajan had recorded all Strauss' symphonic poems, what a pity he never did that!

[LKB]

I must confess that l am not familiar with these recordings by Kempe, though I've been aware of his reputation for nearly fifty years. 

So I'm going to fix that over the next couple of days. I'll report back in this thread, once I've formed some impressions.  

[Franco_Manitobain]

I must confess that l am not familiar with these recordings by Kempe, though I've been aware of his reputation for nearly fifty years. 

So I'm going to fix that over the next couple of days. I'll report back in this thread, once I've formed some impressions.   

Terrific, look forward to your impressions!

[Albion]

Why on Dog's Earth does no pianist ever play the "Burleske"? This a sensational showcase for the keyboard with plenty of melodic appeal.

I must confess that l am not familiar with these recordings by Kempe, though I've been aware of his reputation for nearly fifty years. 

So I'm going to fix that over the next couple of days. I'll report back in this thread, once I've formed some impressions.   

Kempe is definitely the set to have, and then get Zinman on Arte Nova. Supplement these with as much Jarvi on Chandos as you can get your hands on (especially the orchestral songs with Felicity Lott and Eileen Hulse) together with Ivan Fischer's "Josephs Legende" and Wakasugi's "Schlagobers". If you win the lottery, also try to get the DG complete operas box...

[Albion]

Now listening to Disc 2 of this set:

Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
Don Juan, Op. 20
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40

It p*sses me off when companies describe their product as "Complete Orchestral Works" when they patently aren't, as was the case with the Brilliant Classics otherwise-excellent Respighi set. In this Warner reissue neither of the ballets is fully represented, just by fragments, or the Symphonic Fantasia on "Die Frau ohne Schatten". Nevertheless, it's great that Warner have seen fit to reissue these splendid recordings...

[vers la flamme]

It p*sses me off when companies describe their product as "Complete Orchestral Works" when they patently aren't, as was the case with the Brilliant Classics otherwise-excellent Respighi set. In this Warner reissue neither of the ballets is fully represented, just by fragments, or the Symphonic Fantasia on "Die Frau ohne Schatten". Nevertheless, it's great that Warner have seen fit to reissue these splendid recordings...

Nor are his two symphonies represented in this set. I remember being confused when I first got the box. Nevertheless, it is, or was, a steal for under $20 for something like nine discs of great Richard Strauss.

[Albion]

Nor are his two symphonies represented in this set. I remember being confused when I first got the box. Nevertheless, it is, or was, a steal for under $20 for something like nine discs of great Richard Strauss.

I WISH than Chandos would box their complete Neeme Jarvi Strauss recordings including the orchestral songs - it would fly off the shelves...

[Roasted Swan]

Why on Dog's Earth does no pianist ever play the "Burleske"? This a sensational showcase for the keyboard with plenty of melodic appeal.

Kempe is definitely the set to have, and then get Zinman on Arte Nova. Supplement these with as much Jarvi on Chandos as you can get your hands on (especially the orchestral songs with Felicity Lott and Eileen Hulse) together with Ivan Fischer's "Josephs Legende" and Wakasugi's "Schlagobers". If you win the lottery, also try to get the DG complete operas box...

If you are an insomniac definitely get Zinman - a guaranteed snooze-fest.  Did Strauss ever sound so unvirile and "nice"?

[Albion]

If you are an insomniac definitely get Zinman - a guaranteed snooze-fest.  Did Strauss ever sound so unvirile and "nice"?

 

It's good to compare and contrast. Certainly preferable to Karajan's schmulz. Plus Zinman gives you the audaciously vulgar "Festliches Praludium" which is a real cholesterol enhancer, a good complement to "Festmusik der Stadt Wien" if you want death by voluptuousness...

[Roasted Swan]

It's good to compare and contrast. Certainly preferable to Karajan's schmulz. Plus Zinman gives you the audaciously vulgar "Festliches Praludium" which is a real cholesterol enhancer, a good complement to "Festmusik der Stadt Wien" if you want death by voluptuousness...

But Karajan is not "just schmalz.  I'm no great fan but his Strauss is exciting and athletic - Zinman is not.  Zinman (who I quite like in lots of other repertoire) manages to make the Festliches Praeludium sound decorous.  For the Praeludium I like the old Bohm/BPO/DG recording and also Cincinnati on Telarc are pretty exciting. 



The festmusik is marvellous too!

[Franco_Manitobain]

Now listening to disc 4

Don Quixote, Op. 35

Paul Tortelier, cello
Max Rostal, viola

Dance Suite from harsichord pieces by Francois Couperin

[lordlance]

Macbeth doesn't get all that much attention but it's got a really good main tune. Hearing this interpretation and it's good stuff - 

[vers la flamme]

Macbeth doesn't get all that much attention but it's got a really good main tune. Hearing this interpretation and it's good stuff -

Both of those works—Aus Italien and Macbeth—are kind of underrated, but both good I think. I like the Kempe/Dresden recording of both.

[Lisztianwagner]

Macbeth doesn't get all that much attention but it's got a really good main tune. Hearing this interpretation and it's good stuff -

That recording is certainly remarkable and my favourite about that composition, Zinman is a very fine straussian interpreter in my opinion. Maybe Macbeth isn't as masterful as other Strauss' tone poems, but it is a quite beautiful and colourful work anyway; personally speaking, I like it very much too.

[lordlance]

I am not sure why Symphonia Domestica isn't played more often. It's noisy which might make it be considered as overblown but it's not as bad as Gaîté Parisienne. I heard Konwitschny's live performance on Orfeo and not a bad performance by any means:

[brewski]

I am not sure why Symphonia Domestica isn't played more often. It's noisy which might make it be considered as overblown but it's not as bad as Gaîté Parisienne.

Chuckling, since I might start using this reply to most anything that I don't particularly like. "Well, it's not as bad as Gaîté Parisienne."

-Bruce