Richard Strauss was a hard man to pin down. As an artist, he was never tied to a single style. He embraced many musical forms during his lifetime. There was only one guiding principle: his belief that music is a holy art.
Strauss soprano Deborah Voigt hosts this program, presented by WQXR, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Richard Strauss's birth (June 11, 2014). We explore his dedication to his art, as reflected in his grand orchestral works and his unforgettable operas.
Guests include Strauss scholar Bryan Gilliam (Duke University), Michael Tilson Thomas (music director, San Francisco Symphony & New World Symphony), Alan Gilbert (music director, New York Philharmonic), James Conlon (music director, LA Opera), Leon Botstein (music director, American Symphony Orchestra & president, Bard College), Strauss expert Paul Thomason and literary excerpts read by James Lurie.
The program features more than 75 musical excerpts interwoven with the narrative, which includes an investigation of Strauss's most famous tone poems and operas, as well as a personal look at Strauss himself.
Playlist
"Im Abendrot"
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Kurt Masur
Philips, 000943302
Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
Berlin Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Deutsche Grammophon, B0018913-02
Four Last Songs
"Fruhling"
Jessye Norman, soprano
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Kurt Masur
Philips, 000943302
Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60
Anne Sofie von Otter - Composer
Staatskapelle Dresden, Guiseppe Sinopoli
Deutsche Grammophon, 289 471 323-2
Don Juan, Op. 20
Cleveland Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Decca, 448 714-2
Festival Prelude, Op. 61
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, David Zinman
Arte Nova Classics, 98495 2
Franz Strauss - Nocturno for Horn and Piano, Op. 7
Adam Friedrich, French Horn
Sandor Falvai, Piano
Hungaroton Classic, HCD 31585
Schneiderpolka, Op. 1
Orchesterverein Wilde Gung'l, Jaroslav Opela
Koch Schwann, 3-1533-2 H1
String Quartet in A major, Op. 2
First movement - Allegro
Sinnhoffer Quartet
Arts Music, 47264-2
Concert Overture in C Minor
Orchesterverein Wilde Gung'l, Jaroslav Opela
Koch Schwann, 3-1533-2 H1
Wind Serenade in E-flat Major, Op. 7
Andante
Blaser Ensemble Amade, Klaus Rainer Scholl
Arts Music, 47395-2
"Zueignung"
Op. 10, #1
Diana Damrau, soprano
Munich Philharmonic, Christian Thielemann
Virgin Classics, 628664 0 8
"Allerseelen"
Op. 10, #8
Diana Damrau, soprano
Munich Philharmonic, Christian Thielemann
Virgin Classics, 628664 0 8
Horn Concerto #1 in E-flat major, Op. 11
Third movement - Allegretto - Rondo: Allegro
Radovan Vlatkovic, Horn
English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate
EMI Classics, 7 64851 2
Isolde's "Liebstod" from Wagner's Tristan (arranged by Franz Liszt)
Leslie Howard, piano
Don Juan, Op. 20
Cleveland Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Decca, 448 714-2
Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24
The Met Orchestra, James Levine
Deutsche Grammophon, 447 762-2
Guntram, Op. 25
Ben Heppner - Guntram
Toronto Symphony, Andrew Davis
CBC SM 5000 Series, 5142
Guntram, Op. 25
Leontyne Price - Freihild
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf
BMG Classics, 60398-2
Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, Op. 28
Cleveland Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Decca, 448 224-2
Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
Berlin Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Deutsche Grammophon, B0018913-02
"Morgen"
Op. 27, #4
Diana Damrau, soprano
Munich Philharmonic, Christian Thielemann
Virgin Classics, 628664 0 8
Symphonic Interludes from Intermezzo
Reisefiber und Walzerszene & Traumerei am Kamin
Berlin Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta
Sony, 47197
Salome's Dance, Op. 54
Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi
Chandos, CHAN 8758
Salome, Op. 54
Cheryl Studer - Salome
Jochanaan - Bryn Terfel
Herodes - Horst Hiestermann
Deutsche Oper Berlin, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Deutsche Grammophon, 431 810-2
Salome, Op. 54
Final Scene
Leontyne Price - Salome
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf
BMG Classics, 60398-2
Elektra, Op. 58
Eva Marton - Elektra
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch
EMI Digital, 7 54067 2
Der Rosenkavalier Suite, Op. 59
Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi
Chandos, CHAN 8758
Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59
Kiri Te Kanawa - The Marschallin
Anne Sofie von Otter - Octavian
Babara Hendricks - Sophie
Kurt Rydl - Baron Ochs
Richard Leech - Italian Singer
Staatskapelle Dresden, Bernard Haitink
EMI Classics, 7 54259 2
Arabella, Op. 79
Lisa della Casa - Arabella
Hilde Gueden - Zdenka
George London - Mandryka
Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti
Decca, 475 7731
Die schweigsame Frau, Op. 80
Potpourri
Munich Radio Orchestra, Pinchas Steinberg
Koch Schwann, 3-6581-2
Die Liebe der Danae, Op. 83
Act 3 - Interlude
American Symphony Orchestra, Leon Botstein
Telarc Digital, 80570
Friedenstag, Op. 81
Bernd Weikl, Commandant
Sabine Hass, Maria
Bavarian State Opera, Wolfgang Sawallisch
Musical Heritage Society, 5159402
Horn Concerto #2 in E-flat major
Second movement - Andante con moto
Hermann Baumann, Horn
Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig, Kurt Masur
Philips, 412 237-2
Sonatine #1 in F Major for 16 winds
"From an Invalid's Workshop"
Third Movement - Finale: Molto allegro
Blaser Ensemble Amade, Klaus Rainer Scholl
Arts Music, 47395-2
Oboe Concerto in D major
Hansjorg Schellenberger, oboe
Berlin Philharmonic, James Levine
Deutsche Grammophon, 429 750-2
Metamorphosen, Study for 23 solo strings
Berlin Philharmonic, James Levine
Deutsche Grammophon, 435 883-2
Four Last Songs
"Im Abendrot"
Jessye Norman, soprano
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Kurt Masur
Philips, 000943302
Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24
The Met Orchestra, James Levine
Deutsche Grammophon, 447 762-2
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