Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
First broadcast from 20060529 to 20060602.
11 episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20060529 | In a career which spanned nearly eight decades across some of the most turbulent years of European history, Richard Strauss gained a reputation as one of Germany's most important composers. But controversy has dogged the steps of this complex character, as a result of his anti-Semitic attitudes and association with the Nazis. Donald Macleod begins his exploration of Strauss' life and works with the first two of his characterful tone poems. Allerseelen : Barbara Bonney (soprano) : Geoffrey Parsons (piano) Don Juan : Vienna Philharmonic : Christoph von Dohnanyi (conductor) Serenade for Winds, Op 7 : Wind soloists of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe Til Eulenspiegel : Chicago Symphony Orchestra : Daniel Barenboim (conductor). |
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| 02 | 20060530 | By 1894, at the age of 30, Strauss was conducting his own works in concert halls all over Europe. That same year he got married to Pauline de Ahna, whose voice inspired some of his loveliest songs. Donald Macleod introduces a selection of those songs, presented to Pauline as a wedding present, and the tone poem inspired by Cervantes' famous novel, which rapidly became one of his most popular works. Ruhe, meine Seele!; Heimliche Aufforderung; Morgen! from Op 27 : Margaret Price (soprano) : Wolfgang Sawallisch (piano) Don Quixote : Symphonieochester des Bayerischen Rundfunks : Lorin Maazel (conductor). |
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| 03 | 20060531 | Strauss had a penchant for basing works on scenes and characters from his own life. Donald Macleod introduces highlights from an opera which laid bare the intimate details of a quarrel between Strauss and his wife, and the massive autobiographical tone poem with himself as hero. Intermezzo - extract : Christine Lucia Popp (soprano) : Robert Storch Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) : Sinfonie Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks : Wolfgang Sawallisch (conductor) Ein Heldenleben : Vienna Philharmonic : Georg Solti (conductor). |
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| 04 | 20060601 | Strauss caused a sensation when he decided to make Oscar Wilde's decadent play Salome into an opera. It turned him into the most successful opera composer of the day. Not long afterwards Strauss began work on the opera which remains his most popular work, and possibly the subtlest of all his scores, Der Rosenkavalier. Salome - extract : Herod....Kenneth Riegel (tenor) : Herodias....Hanna Schwarz (mezzo-soprano) : Salome....Catherine Malfitano (soprano) : Jochanaan....Bryn Terfel (baritone) : Jews....Uwe Peper, Robin Leggate, Uwe Schonbeck, Ferdinand Seiler (tenor), Andreas Kohn (bass) : Vienna Philharmonic : Christoph von Dohnanyi (conductor) Der Rosenkavalier - extracts : Marschallin....Elizabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) : Octavian....Christa Ludwig (mezzo-soprano) : Sophie....Teresa Stich-Randall (soprano) : Baron....Otto Edelmann (bass) : Faninal....Eberhard Wachter (baritone) : Annina....Kerstin Meyer (mezzo-soprano) : Philharmonia Orchestra : Herbert von Karajan (conductor). |
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| 05 LAST | 20060602 | Unlike many of his contemporaries, Strauss decided to remain in Germany when the Nazis came to power - and his associations with the Party have tainted his reputation. Donald Macleod introduces works from those last decades of Strauss' life, including the chamber piece which has been the subject of debate ever since. All'mein Gedanken : Elisabeth Schumann (soprano) : Karl Alwin (piano) Capriccio - extract : Countess....Gundula Janowitz (soprano) : Major Domo....Karl Christian Kohn (bass) : Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks : Karl Böhm (conductor) Metamorphosen : Vienna Philharmonic : Christoph von Dohnanyi (conductor) Im Abendrot - from Four Last Songs : Lucia Popp (soprano) : London Symphony Orchestra : Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor). |