Clemens Krauss

Posted by: Tam on 24 April 2006

I was rather interested recently to notice that Radio 3's CD Masters is featuring Krauss as their vintage artist this week. I only met Krauss last summer (well, I say met, clearly that would be impossible since he died many years before I was born, so what I really mean is, encountered through his recordings), through his wonderful '53 Bayreuth Ring cycle. Sadly, he died soon after, otherwise the emerging Testament Ring cycle might have been his. Ah well.....

Anyway, having been much impressed with his conducted I was very interested to see how he fared with other repertoire. It seems, from today's programme anyway, that he was something of a Straussian (indeed, he apparently initiated the New Year concerts in wartime Vienna). Today (Monday) they played the whole of Ein Heldenleben. Now, to some extent, this is a work I've always struggled with and neither of my two recordings (Jansons/Concertgebouw and Karajan/BPO have really done it for me - though I did rather enjoy the snipped on the Gramophone disc this month from Rattle's new effort). Anyway, the Kruass reading blew me away, and I suspect Testament will be taking some more of my money for it soon.

Anyway, I just thought I'd flag it up as based on the first programme they're well worth listening to (now, if only they went out at a slightly more sensible time than 10am.....). Coming up tomorrow is his Bayreuth Parsifal and then, I think on Wednesday, Brahms 3 (which, given how much I've been thinking about/listening to Brahms lately, will certainly be interesting). On Friday they're playing the finale to Gotterdammerung, so I'd urge any Wagnerians who haven't heard the set to try and tune in because it is rather special.

regards, Tam

[No affiliation to Radio 3]
Posted on: 24 April 2006 by u5227470736789439
It used to be said that Krauss rhymed with Strauss in more ways than one. Your discovery is something that indeed should be flagged up. He was the greatest interpreter of Richard Strauss's music of his generation, and really has not been equalled, even by Karajan or Boehm, let alone alone anyone since!

I am no great lover of R Strauss myself, but would never part with Krauss's recording of Metamorphosen, once available on Amadeo. I wonder if Decca have this out. They seem to have been re-issuing the Amadeo catalogue (eg Erich Kleiber in Schubert's Great C Major live in Koln).

Good find, dear Tam, from Fredrik
Posted on: 25 April 2006 by Todd A
I've heard little from Krauss, all of it superb. His Ring is probably my favorite (though I've heard only six up to this point), his Parsifal splendid, and his Salome (out on Decca Original Masters for a song) is so wonderful that all fans of the work should hear it as soon as possible. I hope that one day his commercial recordings flood the historical recordings market.

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Posted on: 26 April 2006 by Tam
Dear Todd,

The brief snippet of Parsifal they played yesterday didn't sound that promising. Then again, it's a poor work to judge from a chunk. Apparently, it's the quickest reading ever from Bayreuth so it would be interesting to compare it to my '51 Knappersbusch.

He has 4 discs available of Testament (three of which have various bits of Strauss - though not, Fredrik, Metamorphosen, by the looks of things - and the fourth contains, if memory serves, the second and third Beethoven piano concertos, but I cannot recall the pianist). Anyway, if you look at the R3 website, it has details of all the discs they've used (the link to Monday's programme is here).

I've just been listening to his 1930 Brahms 3 which was rather fine indeed (and in remarkable sound for the time).

I must say, I really didn't much care for Strauss previously, so these programmes have really been something of an eye-opener.

regards, Tam
Posted on: 26 April 2006 by Todd A
quote:
Originally posted by Tam:
Apparently, it's the quickest reading ever from Bayreuth



I believe Boulez's 1966 Bayreuth Parsifal is the quickest yet recorded. Boulez's 1970 Bayreuth set is likewise faster than Krauss'. (I've only heard the latter of the two - and I love it. A lot of people loathe it.)

If you are used to Kna, Krauss (let alone Boulez) can be a bit hard to get into. I tend to prefer swifter takes on the score - though there's nothing wrong with a long, slow, beautiful Act I - so keep that in mind.

And thanks for the heads-up on the Testament discs.
Posted on: 27 April 2006 by Tam
Todd,

Thanks for this, fascinating as ever. Personally I like both fast and slow Wagner. Indeed, my preference tends to be towards quicker readings (the Krauss Ring is one of my favourites) and that unless the conductor is very good slow tempos can be extremely problematic (take, for example Levine who tries to go slowly but, in my view, simply ends up being dull).

Out of interest, which do you prefer out of Boulez and Krauss?

The Testament catalogue can be found here.

regards, Tam
Posted on: 27 April 2006 by Todd A
quote:
Originally posted by Tam:
Out of interest, which do you prefer out of Boulez and Krauss?



Krauss, though only marginally. Boulez's 1970 recording is searing at times, and Donald McIntyre is probably my favorite Klingsor. Overall, Krauss is more flowing and "natural", and his cast is better. Incidentally, another quick(ish) version I recently got was Kent Nagano's on DVD. The production is a bit odd, and Thomas Hampson isn't an ideal Amfortas, but Waltraud Meier is very good as Kundry, though not as good as for Barenboim.

I think you're far too nice to Levine. He's positively dreadful in this work.

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