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Strauss: Symphonic Poems Vol 1 / Neeme Järvi


Release Date: 04/27/2004 
Label:  Chandos   Catalog #: 10199   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Richard Strauss
Conductor:  Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Number of Discs: 2 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 2 Hours 18 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews

Also available in this series are Volume 2 and Volume 3.

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Chandos launches another reissue of Neeme Järvi's excellent Richard Strauss symphonic poem cycle, subjecting these performances from the late 1980s to 24-bit/96 kHz digital remastering. The new transfers boast slightly more presence and depth compared to the original releases, but not so much that you need to replace them. In any event, Chandos' bargain price and Järvi's terrific conducting make this initial volume worth your while. Granted, the Scottish National Orchestra strings don't Read more soar and sing out like their Viennese brethren for André Previn or their Los Angeles rivals under Zubin Mehta, nor do they pour on the schlag as their Dresden counterparts do for Rudolf Kempe. But if you envision Eine Alpensinfonie and Ein Heldenleben as pure orchestral drama on the high seas, with the brass section in your face, strutting their testosterone to high heaven, you've come to the right recordings.

While some listeners might prefer quicker basic tempos and sharper rhythmic delineation than Järvi's big-boned Don Juan delivers (i.e., Szell/Cleveland and Kempe/Dresden), Järvi turns in an unusually lithe and transparent Tod und Verklärung that contrasts to the more opulent textures you hear from Ormandy or Karajan. Concertmaster Edwin Paling's shapely, intelligent portrayal of the Hero's Wife adds further distinction to the Heldenleben. Strongly recommended.

--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording

1.
Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64 by Richard Strauss
Conductor:  Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1911-1915; Germany 
2.
Tod und Verklärung, Op. 24 by Richard Strauss
Conductor:  Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1888-1889; Germany 
3.
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 by Richard Strauss
Conductor:  Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1897-1898; Germany 
4.
Don Juan, Op. 20 by Richard Strauss
Conductor:  Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1888-1889; Germany 

Featured Sound Samples

Eine Alpensinfonie

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