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Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie / Frank Shipway, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra

Strauss / Sao Paolo Sym Orch / Shipway
Release Date: 10/30/2012 
Label:  Bis   Catalog #: 1950  
Composer:  Richard Strauss
Conductor:  Frank Shipway
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Multi 
Length: 1 Hours 17 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews

Called a ‘symphony’ by its composer, Richard Strauss’ Alpine Symphony is nevertheless a symphonic poem, and as such it is the last in a series of works that includes such masterpieces as Don Juan, Also sprach Zarathustra and Ein Heldenleben. In 1900, when Strauss first mentioned any plans for the work, he spoke of a symphonic poem in two parts that would begin with a sunrise in Switzerland. When he returned to the idea some ten years later, the work soon grew so vast that he decided to be content with one single movement, depicting the ‘worship of eternal glorious nature’. To regard the Alpensinfonie simply as an impression of landscape would be a mistake, however. It does make use of Strauss’ entire repertoire of orchestral pictorialism, Read more but behind it are ideas much less simple: nature is being worshipped in the intoxicated spirit of Nietzsche’s superman, the liberation of the soul is achieved through hard work – the climber’s struggle to gain the mountaintop.The work is divided into 22 sections that flow in an unbroken sequence, marking the ascent and descent of the mountain, from before sunrise to after sunset. It was scored for the largest orchestra ever used by Strauss for a purely orchestral piece, and he later said that it was in the Alpine Symphony that he had ‘finally learned how to orchestrate’. The experience must in any case have been useful when he composed his next work, the opera Die Frau ohne Schatten, with an even more opulent orchestration. The opera was premièred in 1919, but it wasn’t until 1946 that Strauss, in his 82nd year, returned to the score in order to make his Symphonic Fantasy, based on high points from the opera. These huge, and enormously colourful works are performed here by the eminent São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, whose highly praised recordings of the Choros by Villa-Lobos have been described as ‘an orgy of colours and rhythms’ (Diapason) and ‘an assured blend of lush colours, pulsating rhythms and supple phrasing’ (International Record Review). The orchestra is conducted by Frank Shipway, with fine credentials in late-Romantic Austro-German repertoire. Read less

Works on This Recording

1. Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64 by Richard Strauss
Conductor:  Frank Shipway
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1911-1915; Germany 
2. Die Frau ohne Schatten, Op. 65: Symphonic Fantasy by Richard Strauss
Conductor:  Frank Shipway
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1914-1918; Germany 

Featured Sound Samples

An Alpine Symphony: Sunrise
The Ascent
Préludes, Book 2: No 11: Les tierces alternées
La libertà contenta: "Notte amica al cieco Dio"
La libertà contenta: "Svenati, struggiti, combatti, suda"

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 Excellent recording November 20, 2012 By Jerry G. (Denver, CO) See All My Reviews "I decided on this new recording over ones that were recommended. I'm very pleased with the sound quality in SACD and CD. I love it!" Report Abuse
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