My major professor in another discipline said, "Do not presuppose." He meant do not assume you know what you believe is true in general. I have made presuppositions about R. Strauss which were just busted. It amazes me how often what I think I know gets in the way, and something occurs to challenge my myths. So it is with this wonderful work. If I had listened to it without seeing the name of R. Strauss I would not have guessed who wrote it.
This was written just after Strauss had heard von Bulow rehearsing the premier of Brahms 3. It belongs to his "Brahms period": Brahms heard this symphony prior to writing his 4th. Interestingly, it was premiered in New York. Strauss conducted it a few times in later life, including a radio broadcast in 1935, which sadly is lost.
There a recording of this work by Neeme Järvi and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra that is so much better it isn't funny. Particularly the last two movements get a life that is sadly lacking in Halasz ponderous interpretation here.
I found I really liked this Symphny. It seems it's a hi-brid of a Memdelssohn's spiritful or ninphal sound world with a bit of heaviness and granduar and Shubertian Symphonic sound texture but through-out the piece, one may find the serine air of the Austrian Alps ・・・・・ I'm really grateful for the encounter with this lovable piece. The Master was just 19 year's old or so when he wrote this piece with that gentle or calm state of mind. I just wonder what has triggerd or caused rebellious surge of torrents in his mind later on.
Both of Strauss' symphonies are very early works and are more exercises for the greatness that was about to evolve. There's nothing wrong with them, but I can understand why they have been neglected. There are passages when you can hear the music just waiting to break through, and when it did................Wow!
The conductor is Michael Halasz. Here are the full movement titles/tempos I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso II. Scherzo: Presto III. Andante cantabile IV. Finale: Allegro assai, molto appassionato
Ammirevole sinfonia di uno Strauss 20ne ,che già dimostra di avere assimilato molto dai grandi Romantici , Mendelssohn e Tchaikowsky su tutti. Una composizione che a me piace moltissimo,che si allinea a un Raff ,un Rubinstein per fare un paragone con altri musicisti , già affermati,del suo tempo. Questo suo lavoro di 'scuola' ,marca l'inizio verso i suoi futuri capolavori.
Hardly ever played in regular concerts, this Symphony, composed at age 19, can match all the war-horses. It concludes with a magnificent hymn tune rather like the Mendelssohn Reformation. Why do conductors overlook this?
Played it last year in (amateur) orchestra. Such a beautiful peace. One of my all-time favorites. Very fun to play, especially in the viola section (second movement!). Not easy, but that's part of the fun.
Thanks. I always appreciate the opinions of those who have actually played the work they evaluated on RU-vid. Most of the comments (from those who have not performed the work) are not worth much, even though I'm interested to hear other classical music lovers' responses to a particular (especially live) performance.
Star Wars inspiration is also found in the first movement of Arnold Bax's symphony no. 1 as well as the main theme for Korngold's King's Row. Maybe also in the latter half of John Alden Carpenter's first symphony.
... bis zum Geniestreich des "Don Juan" (1888) - und der von ihm gefundenen eigenen beeindruckenden Tonsprache - dauert es noch ein paar Jahre; mit dem Violinkonzert, der "Burleske" , auch bereits mit "Macbeth", schält sich immer mehr der zunehmend bedeutender werdende Komponist des 20. Jahrhunderts heraus ... verdienstvolles musikhistorisches Dokument ...
It is a good performance and the opening theme of the first movement is a forerunner of the opening theme from Eine Alpensinfonie. Good work by Halasz and Slovak Philharmonic.
Because your ears not yet used to the early 20th century sound. It is a musical journey, and it takes time. The more you listen the more it will progress.
Strauss was not a violinist and had no appreciation for how difficult his string writing was, even in this early work. His horn concertos, his Burlesque (for piano), and his violin sonata are also works which are not easily identifiable as having flowed from his pen, to use a well-worn cliche. The Slovak Philharmonic plays this very, very well. Very enjoyable this is. Thank you!!!
Uh guys...there's a reason the Tone Poems (extended) set the world on fire and this ain't it. It's as good a foreshadow as Shostakovich's 1st, but a pale shadow at that. (I include the operatic suites in that summary. I personally can't stand Strauss' vocal writing, including the Four Last Songs, but the orchestral suites make up for it).
