Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegel / Mengelberg, et al.

On this CD:

1. Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche (Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks), tone poem for orchestra, Op. 28
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Clemens Krauss

2. Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life), tone poem for orchestra, Op. 40
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam with Ferdinand Helman
Conducted by Willem Mengelberg

3. Don Juan, tone poem for orchestra, Op. 20
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Willem Mengelberg

Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegel / Mengelberg, et al., Music, Richard Strauss, Clemens Krauss, Willem Mengelberg, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Wiener Philharmoniker, Ferdinand Helman, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Orchestral, Orchestral & Symphonic, Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra

Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegel / Mengelberg, et al.
Average customer rating:

Better-sounding on Naxos and Pearl

A leap in the past

Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegel / Mengelberg, et al.
Willem Mengelberg , Concertgebouw Orchestra , and Wiener Philharmoniker
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00002DE4Z
Release Date: 2000-01-18

Tracks:

Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche, Op.28 - Clemens Krauss
Tone Poem 'A Hero's Life,' Op. 40: The Hero
Tone Poem 'A Hero's Life,' Op. 40: The Hero's Adversaries
Tone Poem 'A Hero's Life,' Op. 40: The Hero's Companion
Tone Poem 'A Hero's Life,' Op. 40: Theme Of Victory's Certainty
Tone Poem 'A Hero's Life,' Op. 40: The Hero's Battlefield
Tone Poem 'A Hero's Life,' Op. 40: War Fanfares
Tone Poem 'A Hero's Life,' Op. 40: The Hero's Works Of Peace
Tone Poem 'A Hero's Life,' Op. 40: The Hero's Withdrawal From The World Of Fulfilment
Tone Poem 'A Hero's Life,' Op. 40: Resignation
Tone Poem, 'Don Juan Op. 20 - Willem Mengelberg

Customer Reviews:

Better-sounding on Naxos and Pearl.......2002-02-22

I don't understand why the companies who originally recorded such historic performances generally fail in maintaining high standards in reissuing them. The sound on this disc is rahter muffled and lacking presence. Naxos recently came out with a far superior sounding "Heldenleben" (coupled with the most harrowing "Tod und Verklaerung" imaginable), although there is some room for improvement here, too. Pearl has a superb transfer of "Don Juan", coupled with the Phiharmonic "Heldenleben." The performances on the present disc are great, but are sonically represented in much better condition elsewhere.

A leap in the past.......2000-08-24

Mengelberg is widely acknowledged as a major Strauss interpreter, and the recordings that are to be found here are also pretty well known : his 1938 'Don Juan' is certainly the most daring interpretation ever and it is all the more recommendable as it has been superbly transferred to CD. No tape hiss, no cracks : musical detail is not optimal but still very good for a 1938 recording. Curiously, his 1941 'Heldenleben' is not so well recorded, but also quite listenable. And Mengelberg's fiery interpretation largely makes up for a less precise sound.

However, what really makes this CD exceptional is the rare but compelling interpretation of 'Till Eulenspiegel' by another less known great Straussian (and also one of his friends) : Clemens Krauss. His 1938 recording is also pretty well recorded for its age, and the interpretation ranks among the best references such as Karajan, Reiner or Kempe.

I strongly recommend this CD, even for those of you who are not die-hard audiophiles : try it, you'll be surprised !

Music Track: