[Nov. 12, 2010] Sunday Classics preview solution: Tonight's mystery music is Strauss opera openings
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by Ken
What we have here are the orchestral openings of the first two and last two operas of Richard Strauss (1864-1949). Strangely, only the first and last of the operas begin with complete, self-contained instrumental pieces: in the case of Guntram, a full-fledged overture; in the case of Capriccio, the Sextet "composed" by the composer in the opera, Flamand.
In the cases of Feuersnot and Die Liebe der Danae, I've simply lopped off the music at the point of the first vocal entrance.
[A] Guntram, Op. 25 (1894)
Overture
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Pritchard, cond. Gala, broadcast performance, 1985
[B] Feuersnot, Op. 50 (1901)
Orchestral opening
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf, cond. Ponto, recorded live, May 15, 1978
[C] Die Liebe der Danae (The Loves of Danae), Op. 83 (1940)
Orchestral opening
American Symphony Orchestra, Leon Botstein, cond. Telarc, live concert performance, Jan. 16, 2000
[D] Capriccio, Op. 85 (1941)
Introduction (Sextet)
SWR Radio Symphony Orchestra (Stuttgart), Georges Prêtre, cond. Forlane, recorded May 28-31, 1999
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Labels: Richard Strauss, Sunday Classics
posted by KenInNY @ 9:00 PM
3 comments
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3 Comments:
Well I'm in that same boat with you. Other than Capriccio not a clue, not an inkling it was by the same creator. B and C too short to get a handle on. My thoughts as I listened to A: Not Wagner but *very* overlapping Wagner's sound world. *Very* early Schönberg? Humperdinck? fwiw re sextet I don't know about swoon but *I* think it's lovely. Like good conversation it's ok with me if it meanders a bit. Cheers.
Francis sirfr AT earthlink ETC
Thanks for the comment, F.
We'll be hearing all four pieces again Sunday -- in different performances, even! And I have to say that the more I hear the Guntram Overture, the fonder I'm becoming of it. (Actually, Sunday's performance isn't as good as Sir John's. But it's the only other recording of it I've got.)
As for the Capriccio Sextet, well, I've been trying for more years now than I care to acknowledge, always hoping that one of these years it will suddenly "click" for me. Not yet.
Cheers,
Ken
Strauss seems to be a perfect example of mystery writings. I always thought I could spot Strauss in a heartbeat, but these examples along with any selection from his a cappella choral works (Chandos, Chan 9223) is enough to convince me that he possessed a pretty wide range of musical thinking, even if it isn't always memorable.
My guess for at least the nationality of the composer listening just to "A", was Russian!
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