Richard Strauss

I think musical taste tends to "evolve" over time, and I have found that the musical novelties which give great pleasure tend to be fewer than the well known [if not actual favourite] music which sometimes fades from my affection.

I used to enjoy Bruckner's symphonies 7, 8, 9, and 4, and now, of his work's that I know at least, I only really adore the Ave Verum Corpus for small choir. I still have a curious love/hate relationship with Bruckner's Fifth!

I still like Metamorhosen, Don Juan, Till Eulenspeigel, and the First Horn Concerto from Richard Strauss though nothing else of his still apeals to me.

I used to enjoy "bleeding chunks" of Wagner, but never the complete operas. Now I only enjoy the Prelude to Parsifal.

So I would not worry about it. Quite a lot of music may leave your affections, but that which remains will mean more over time!

ATB from George

The one Richard Strauss I do still listen to once in a while is "Don Quixote" by Reiner/Chicago.

The melodies are whimsical, Janos Starker is fabulous, and the brass work is as good as you will ever hear.

In my opinion, his best music is to be found in his operas as from the beginning of the 20th century he was primarily an opera composer.

If you want something less " loud" try his later, more genial works such as the Duet-Concertino. No one can persuade you to like this music. If it doesn't appeal to you, then move on,

Sister XX

quote:

I used to enjoy "bleeding chunks" of Wagner, but never the complete operas. Now I only enjoy the Prelude to Parsifal.

In my only recording with Arturo Toscanini, from one his 1930s visits to London as a guest of the BBC SO. Very fine and surprisingly gentle performance! I suspect it may the performance that keeps my affection for it going ...

I used to have Beecham's estimable performance of Richard Strauss' Don Quixote with the very young Paul tortellier as soloist. Very graceful and fun ...

ATB from George

From the 40s and into the middle 70s, Richard Strauss' tone poems were major ticket works that got performed and recorded often.

Reiner and Chicago had a special relationship to this music.

I see a line that runs from Berlioz to Wagner to Richard Strauss. This is music in a common vein.

At least that's my history with Strauss.

I think he owes much to Berlioz, whom I think he most resembles.

But program music has always been difficult for me to follow to the end, unless it comes in the form of a ballet, mass, oratorio, passion, or an opera, with a few notable exceptions.

The sonata form, with all it's various extensions, seems to me better able to deliver a narrative that holds my attention. It is an abstract narrative, posed in purely music terms, that requires no other faculties.