Richard Strauss:
In his ‘Eine Alpensinfonie’, Strauss describes musically the attempt to conquer the summit of an Alpine mountain. He infuses the score with numerous instrumental colors and rich combinations of sounds, painting the images and events that take place on the trip.
The work was composed in 1915 as Strauss’ final tone poem.
The year 2014 marks the 150th birthday of composer Richard Strauss, and this CD also includes the four symphonic interludes from the opera “Intermezzo“, first performed in Dresden in 1924.
Strauss, R:
- Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64
- Intermezzo, Op. 72: Four Symphonic Interludes
Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bernard Haitink.
The score includes the following section titles for the Alpensymphonie:
1. Nacht (Night)
2. Sonnenaufgang (Sunrise)
3. Der Anstieg (The Ascent)
4. Eintritt in den Wald (Entry into the Forest)
5. Wanderung neben dem Bache (Wandering by the Brook)
6. Am Wasserfall (At the Waterfall)
7. Erscheinung (Apparition)
8. Auf blumigen Wiesen (On Flowering Meadows)
9. Auf der Alm (On the Alpine Pasture)
10. Durch Dickicht und Gestrüpp auf Irrwegen (Through Thickets and Undergrowth on the Wrong Path)
11. Auf dem Gletscher (On the Glacier)
12. Gefahrvolle Augenblicke (Dangerous Moments)
13. Auf dem Gipfel (On the Summit)
14. Vision (Vision)
15. Nebel steigen auf (Mists Rise)
16. Die Sonne verdüstert sich allmählich (The Sun Gradually Becomes Obscured)
17. Elegie (Elegy)
18. Stille vor dem Sturm (Calm Before the Storm)
19. Gewitter und Sturm, Abstieg (Thunder and Tempest, Descent)
20. Sonnenuntergang (Sunset)
21. Ausklang (Quiet Settles)
22. Nacht (Night)
Here is Bernard Haitink conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in Strauss’ “An Alpine Symphony”:
And here’s another performance of the same work by the Staatskapelle Dresden,
Fabio Luisi conductor:
Tags: Richard Strauss, Alpensymphonie, Intermezzo, London Symphony, Bernard Haitink
