The Other Richard Strauss:
- Symphonic, Vocal and Chamber Music.
The sounds that make Strauss’ operatic writing so memorable can still be heard in some of his lesser-known works. And these are fine companions for the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth.
In this collection, get to hear the following:
Strauss, R:
Taillefer, Op. 52
Wanderers Sturmlied, Op. 14
Die Tageszeiten, Op. 76
Deutsche Motette Op. 62
Festive Prelude for large orchestra and organ, Op. 61
Die Göttin im Putzzimmer, Op. 120
Der Abend Op. 34 No. 1
Guntram: Prelude
Die schweigsame Frau: Pot-Pourri
Symphonic Fantasy on Die Frau ohne Schatten, TrV234a
Violin Sonata in E flat major, Op. 18
Romance for cello & orchestra in F major, AV 75
Ein einsamer Quelle, Op. 9, No. 2
arr. for violin and piano
Der Rosenkavalier – Concert Waltz, arranged for violin and piano.
This music is performed by Boris Berezovsky, Renaud Capuçon, Jerôme Ducros, Eric Ericson, Michel Plasson and Vadim Repin; conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch and Jeffrey Tate.
We have here some of Strauss’ chamber music and other shorter compositions, but they are not all examples at the level of his astonishing operatic works.
On the other hand, the “Guntram Prelude”, “Festliches Preludium op 61” and the “Der Abend” for Chorus and Orchestra, are really great.
There are also very interesting choral works, where we get a sense of how Strauss, like Brahms, built his compositional skills for his later and larger works.
Here is Strauss’ Zwei Gesänge, op. 34: “Der Abend”, for 16 voices:
And next, here is Strauss’ Violin Sonata in E-flat major, Op 18:
Tags: Richard Strauss, 150th anniversary, Violin sonata “der Abend”, chorus, choir
