[cougarjuno]

A continuation of the Saturday Symphonies Tradition:

Welcome to another weekend of symphonic listening!

For your listening pleasure this weekend:

Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Eine Alpensinfonie, op.64

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) Auf dem Gipfel (On the Summit)
13. Vision (Vision)
14. Nebel steigen auf (Mists Rise)
15. Die Sonne verdüstert sich allmählich (The Sun Gradually Becomes Obscured)
16. Elegie (Elegy)
17. Stille vor dem Sturm (Calm Before the Storm)
18. Gewitter und Sturm, Abstieg (Thunderstorm and Tempest, Descent)
19. Sonnenuntergang (Sunset)
20. Ausklang (Quiet Settles / Epilogue)
21. Nacht (Night)

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Post what recording you are going to listen to giving details of Orchestra / Conductor / Chorus / Soloists etc - Enjoy!

 

[cougarjuno]

This week we have Strauss enormous tone poem -- which he called a symphony, Eine Alpensinfonie. The piece was completed in 1915 with drafts of the work beginning in 1899. It is his largest non-vocal or operatic work and had its inspiration from everything including climbing the Alps in his youth to the death of Gustav Mahler and the writings of Nietzsche. Dozens of recordings but below is Karajan and Berlin. I also will listen to my one recording of the work with Blomstedt and San Francisco.

 

[Xenophiliu]

This work is always a pleasure to visit:

Vienna Philharmonic
André Previn

 

[leonsm]

One of my favourites tone poems of all. A truly brillant work of ingeniosity, mastery orchestration and colourfulness of music. If you close your eyes while listening, you can absolutely fell the cold wind of the Alps.

 

[mbhaub]

Previn for me, too. May not be "great" music, but it sure is fun and a nice way to spend an hour.

 

[Rogerx]

Tie between Shipway and

 

[leonsm]

Tie between Shipway and

Shipway with SPSO is my favourite.

 

[Mika]

From my collection

 

[Philidor]

To be listened to. Trust me, as I am biased ...

Ensemble Modern Orchestra
Markus Stenz

I remember that the renditions by Fabio Luisi and Frank Shipway also called for a relistenig.

 

[haziz]

Strauss, R: Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons
Recorded: 2017-12-02
Recording Venue: Symphony Hall, Boston

SS 21.5.22 - Strauss - Eine Alpensinfonie
I have never warmed up to Richard Strauss in the past. We'll see if this changes my mind.

 

[oldpete]

I have always enjoyed the Alpine Symphony, but I have never really had a favorite recording of the work.

 

[Enthusiast]

OMG! I have 9 accounts to choose between. I will probably go for this one (which may be my favourite - which is saying something):

Or I might choose this one (which is still quite new to me and one I like a lot):

Or then there is this one which is also wonderful:

Perhaps I will listen to more than one of these.

 

[erudite]

Call me old fashioned, but this is still my go-to recording.
Karajan, BPO, 1981

However, I will certainly be putting Dausgaard and F-X Roth on my playlist. 👍

 

[Enthusiast]

^ Yes, they are both as good as any but don't leave out the live Concertgebouw Jansons - it continues to amaze me!

 

[marlow]

Bought the Karajan cheap second hand then found to my dismay there were no tracks on it.

 

[maestro267]

Perfect opportunity for me to try the one from the Kempe box I got recently.

 

[Alfacharger]

I'll go with two

and oops!

 

[Heck148]

Strauss, R: Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons
Recorded: 2017-12-02
Recording Venue: Symphony Hall, Boston

SS 21.5.22 - Strauss - Eine Alpensinfonie
I have never warmed up to Richard Strauss in the past. We'll see if this changes my mind.

I'd like to hear this one - I just heard Nelsons/BSO perform all-Strauss program - Till, Ein Frau ohne.., Sym, Domestica...

I like Barenboim/CSO - beautifully played, and Kempe's Royal PO is good...I usually don't get too excited over Kempe with Strauss, but the Alpine is good...well done...

 

[RobertJTh]

This one for me.

It always baffles me how uninspired the thematic material of this work is. Specially coming from Strauss, who was a gifted tune smith, it's really surprising and disappointing. That main theme that's supposed to be hymn-like, mystical and grandiose comes off as the cheapest, cheesiest string of sequences you'll ever hear. No brilliant ochestration can change that.
It makes me think of Mahler's 8th, that other huge letdown by a major master-of-melody.

 

[Alfacharger]

double post, hate this new forum...