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Presto News - 22nd February 2010Strauss: Alpine Symphony |
 One of my favourite big orchestral works is the Alpine Symphony of Richard Strauss. It was his last symphonic poem, and written in 1915 was much later than the group that he had written in the late 1880s and 1890s with which he had established his reputation – including Don Juan (1888), Till Eulenspiegel (1895) and Also Sprach Zarathustra (1896). It is a massive work, about fifty minutes long and scored for about 125 musicians, and it is perhaps because of these proportions that it seems to be less frequently performed that it really deserves.  An Alpine summit Strauss’s Alpine Symphony consists of twenty-two continuous sections of music, during which time the music depicts an attempt to conquer the summit of an Alpine mountain. Each section has a title so you know throughout what the music is depicting. For example it starts in the night, but soon the sun rises and the climbers begin their ascent. As they ‘enter the woods’ the textures thicken and the upper woodwinds sing like birds. Cascading scale figures in the strings and winds represent ‘the waterfall’, and on ‘the alpine pasture’ you hear the cowbells and even the bleating of sheep (depicted through a technique called flutter tonguing in the oboe and E-flat clarinet). There is a glacier and dangerous moments before they finally arrive ‘on the summit’ as the four trombones present the ‘peak motive’. On the way down the mountain the mists gather before a storm erupts with flashes of lightning (in the piccolo) and the use of a wind machine. They finally arrive at the bottom and as night falls the music returns to the way the whole piece had begun. It is wonderfully evocative and Strauss apparently experienced an Alpine adventure similar to the one described in the music when he was a boy, when he and a group of climbers lost their way heading up a mountain and were caught in a storm and soaked on the way down. The Alpine Symphony has a famous discography with many great recordings already in the catalogue, and in 1983 Karajan’s recording with the Berlin Philharmonic became the first compact disc ever to be pressed. As you can imagine a successful performance depends upon an outstanding orchestra able to depict the atmosphere of the climb as well as master the technical challenges. The conductor has to pace the work, control the orchestral palette and keep his head – making sure that the real climaxes arrive only when they’re supposed to rather than peaking too soon. The LSO under Bernard Haitink have just released a new recording made live at the Barbican in June 2008 and they’re well up to the task. The sound is wonderfully clear and spacious and by the end you really feel that you have been on a journey up and down a mountain. I’ve given you the Thunderstorm to listen to which the climbers encounter on their descent. You sense more than anything the awe-inspiring force of nature and Strauss’s ability to depict that in his writing, as well as the LSO under Haitink on superb form, and an excellent recorded sound. Enjoy!
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 Strauss, R: Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
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Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
listen - Strauss - Eine Alpensinfonie: Gewitter und Sturm, Abstieg (Thunderstorm, descent)New Releases22nd February 2010 |
This is just the pick of the recent releases. The New Releases and Future Releases pages are always available for browsing all the new and forthcoming releases. |
 Climbing the SkiesAronowitz EnsembleThe Aronowitz Ensemble was formed in 2004 out of the desire of seven outstanding young international artists to explore and perform chamber music together in the highly adaptable combination of string sextet and piano. This is the Aronowitz Ensemble’s first CD release, featuring two key works of the British ensemble repertoire, coupled with a premiere recording of a new work from Huw Watkins written specially for the Aronowitz Ensemble, commissioned by the BBC and premiered at the BBC Proms in 2008. |
 Adès - Tevot, Violin Concerto & Couperin DancesAnthony Marwood (violin) |
 Elgar - Complete Songs for voice & piano Volume 2Amanda Roocroft (soprano), Konrad Jarnot (baritone), Reinild Mees (piano)"With this exemplary diction, unflustered poise and focused tone… Konrad Jarnot forges an instinctive alliance with the admirable Reinild Mees, who accompanies with stylish understanding. Amanda Roocroft... contributes very creditably…" Gramophone Magazine on Volume 1 |
 Bolivian Baroque Volume 3Florilegium & Arakaender Boliva Choir, Ashley SolomonThe third volume of Bolivian Baroque music which was, unusually, recorded in three different venues, in two different countries almost 6250 miles apart. Included are a number of solo organ pieces from the Bolivian archives which James Johnstone recorded on the restored anonymous 18th century Blockwerk organ in the Mission Church of Santa Ana de Chiquitos. This is the first European recording on this remarkable instrument, its raw sound recorded here for posterity. |
 Chopin - Journal IntimeAlexandre Tharaud (piano)Already established as one of today’s most individual and thoughtful pianists, Alexandre Tharaud makes his debut on Virgin Classics with this collection of pieces by Chopin, ‘Journal intime’ (Private diary). Each of the chosen pieces – mazurkas, nocturnes, ballades, the famous Fantaisie-impromptu and a number of other, lesser-known works – has a special importance or association for Tharaud, who cites the pianism of Vlado Perlemuter and Sergey Rachmaninov as a particular influence in the music of Chopin. |
 EMI Icons6 New Artist SetsSix new artist compilations in EMI's very popular series. This month sees sets celebrating Nicolai Gedda, Beniamino Gigli, Tito Gobbi, Samson François, Artur Rubinstein and Kirsten Flagstad. |
 Brilliant Classics Opera Collection8 New re-issuesAnother batch of opera re-issues at budget prices licensed from the major labels. Amongst others there is the Sinopoli Elektra with Deborah Voigt, Victoria De Los Angeles and Jussi Björling in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, and three Maria Callas discs. |
 Australian Eloquence6 new re-issuesSix more re-issues from Australian Eloquence. Five of which are continuing the Ansermet series with recordings of Respighi, Bizet, Albéniz, Falla, Lalo and Chabrier. The final release is an all Britten affair which includes amongst other things the much requested Passacaglia from Peter Grimes under Eduard van Beinum which receives its first ever release on CD. |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 20th February 2010 |
Building a Library - Debussy: Suite Bergamasque |
 First Choice(as part of 4 CDs - The Complete Solo Piano Works)Daniel Ericourt (piano) |
Disc of the Week |
 Stravinsky – Complete Music for Violin and PianoAnthony Marwood (violin) / Thomas Ades (piano) |
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