The DVD of the Month for January, 2015 is music composed by:
- Four Last Songs and ‘An Alpine Symphony’.
Many of Richard Strauss´ compositions had their world premiere in Dresden, Germany; and the composer dedicated ‘An Alpine Symphony’ to the Dresden orchestra.
The program on this DVD includes ‘Four Last Songs’, as well as ‘Ernster Gesang’ by Wolfgang Rihm, and the German premiere of the last completed Strauss song “Mallows” in an orchestral version, arranged specifically for Dresden by Wolfgang Rihm.
The selections on this recording are:
Rihm:
- Ernster Gesang (Serious Song) for orchestra.
Strauss, R:
- Vier letzte Lieder, with Anja Harteros, soprano.
- Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64
- Malven, AV 304, the orchestral version, arranged specifically for Dresden by Wolfgang Rihm.
All performed by the Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann conducting.
I found that Soprano Anja Harteros has a warm, full-bodied, lyrical and well-trained voice. She brings a fine interpretation to these amazing songs.
Here is Anja Harteros singing “Vier letzte Lieder” by Richard Strauss. The composer died in 1949 at age 85. These songs are sad, and in a way they declare a summary of Strauss’ life in music:
1. Frühling (Spring)
2. September
3. Beim Schlafengehen (Going to sleep)
4. Im Abendrot (At twilight)
Supporting Ms. Harteros is the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, conducted by Myung Whun Chung.
And next, here is ‘Eine Alpensinfonie’ by Richard Strauss, as performed by the Staatskapelle Dresden, conducted by Fabio Luisi:
Tags: Richard Strauss, ‘Four Last Songs’, Anja Harteros, ‘Eine Alpensinfonie’, Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann, DVD of the Month