Richard Strauss – whose musical life spanned nine decades, two world wars, and the Third Reich – was one of Germany’s most gifted and controversial figures. We’ll explore his tone poems, operas, and both his public and private lives. We end this five-part biography with his Four Last Songs performed by Jessye Norman with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Kurt Masur.
Strauss, Richard (1864-1949)
The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in modern day
Playlist
Episode 1
Strauss, Richard: Bourgeois Gentilhomme (excerpts)
English Chamber Orchestra/Tate
Metamorphosen – Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
EMI 47992
2:03 (excerpt)
Wagner, Richard: The Ring of the Nibelung
MET/Levine
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen
DG 4716782
1:32 (excerpt)
Strauss, Richard: Intermezzo
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Reiner
Richard Strausss
RCA 68638
2:18
Strauss, Richard: Serenade in Eb, Op. 7
Netherlands Wind Ensemble/Waart
Favorite Serenades For Orchestra
Phil 438748
8:46
Strauss, Richard: Horn Concerto No. 1, I
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Barenboim; Clevenger, horn
Wind Concertos
Teldec 23913
7:18
Strauss, Richard: Sonata for Cello & Piano, I.
Steven Iserlis, violoncello; Stephen Hough, piano
Strauss, R: Romance for cello & orchestra in F major, AV 75
RCA 75398
8:42
Strauss, Richard: Burleske
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy; R. Serkin, piano
Piano Concerto No. 2 / Burlesque
Sony 53262
17:19
Strauss, Richard: Aus Italien IV. Neapolitanisches Volksleben (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Muti
Aus Italien: Don Juan
Phil 422399
4:08
Episode 2
Strauss, Richard: MacBeth (excerpt)
Vienna Philharmonic/ Maaze
Sinfonia Domestica – Macbeth
DG 413654
3:11
Strauss, Richard: Don Juan
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Reiner
Ein Heldenleben, Don Juan
RCA 5408
16:17
Strauss, Richard: Death and Transfiguration
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Karajan
Strauss Metamorphosen, 4 Last Songs
DG 447422
10:15
Monk, Thelonious: “Straight No Chaser”
Monk
Thelonious Monk
CBS 64886
0:14
Strauss, Richard: Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Solti
Sir George Solti Conducts The Richard Strauss Album
Lon 436623
14:59
Strauss, Richard: 4 Leider, No. 4 Op. 27, “Morgen”
Wolfgang Sawallisch; piano, Barbara Hendricks; soprano
Vier Letzte Lieder
EMI 55594
3:19
Episode 3
Strauss, Richard: Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Solti
Also Sprach Zarathustra / Don Juan / Till Eulenspiegel
Lon 436 623
3:11
Strauss, Richard: Ein Heldenleben
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Ozawa
Ein Heldenleben
Phil 442645
0:45
Strauss, Richard: Salome (excerpt)
Vienna Philharmonic/Solti; Nelson, soprano
Salome
Decca Met 228
2:18
Strauss, Richard: Ein Heldenleben (excerpt)
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Ozawa
Ein Heldenleben
Phil 442645
1:15
Episode 4
Strauss, Richard: Salome: Dance of the 7 veils (excerpt)
Richard Strauss, piano
Playing Their Own Works • Welte Mignon Piano 1905 – 1906
Teld 4509-95354
1:27
Strauss, Richard: Salome: Dance of the 7 veils (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Karajan
Also Sprach Zarathustra – Till Eulenspiegel
DG 447441
8:31
Strauss, Richard: Der Rosenkavalier (excerpt)
Staatskapelle Dresden/Haitink; Von Otter, Hendricks, soloists
Der Rosenkavalier
EMI 54259
11:40
Strauss, Richard: Der Rosenkavalier Final trio
Met/Levine; Fleming, Von Otter, Murphy, soloists
Metropolitan Opera Gala
DG 449177
5:35
Strauss, Richard: Bourgeois Gentilhomme (excerpts)
English Chamber Orchestra/Tate
Metamorphosen – Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
EMI 47992
19:57
Strauss, Richard: Bourgeois Gentilhomme intermezzo
English Chamber Orchestra/Tate
Metamorphosen – Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
EMI 47992
3:19
Episode 5
Strauss, Richard: Capriccio (excerpt)
Vienna Philharmonic/Previn
Strauss: Rosenkavalier Suite
DG 437790
4:07
Strauss, Richard: Horn Concerto No. 2, I.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Ashkenazy; Tuckwell, horn
Horn Concertos
Lon 430370
13:54
Strauss, Richard: Metamorphosen
Philharmonia Orchestra/Klemperer
Don Juan – Tod Und Verklärung – Metamorphosen – Tanz Der Sieben Schleier -Danse Des Sept Voiles
EMI 63350
27:58
Strauss, Richard: Four Last Songs, No. 4
Gewandhaus/Masur; Jessye Norman, soprano
Vier Letzte Lieder / 6 Orchesterlieder
Phil 411052
9:31
