The Unknown Richard Strauss

[John Fowler]

DG will be reissuing "The Unknown Richard Strauss" (15 CDs), formerly on Koch-Schwann, on September 17:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8931641--the-unknown-richard-strauss

Here is a list of the earlier Koch-Schwann CDs:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=unknown+richard+strauss&i=popular&crid=36NAT1S70E24X&sprefix=the+unknown+strauss%2Caps%2C169&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_19

[Frank Berger]

Unknown because not worthy? Or some other reason? Or not really unknown? I see Hurwitz gave a tepid review to volume 3 of the original releases which were adolescent compositions, IIRC.

[Russ (not Martha)]

On Friday, August 27, 2021 at 2:30:06 PM UTC-5, Frank Berger wrote:

> Unknown because not worthy? Or some other reason? Or not really unknown? I see Hurwitz gave a tepid review to volume 3 of the original releases which were adolescent compositions, IIRC.

I love Strauss, but am not a completist, so don't have to have every note the guy wrote. But Vol. 4 (Symphonic Fragments from 'Die Frau ohne Schatten', 'Die Liebe der Danae' and 'Die Ägyptische Helena") is definitely worth having, just for the latter two items, not as frequently heard as the 'Frau'. Likewise, Vol, 12, a very nice collection of orchestral excerpts from various operas. Would have been nice if the series were reissued on separate CDs. Not everyone needs what someone composed at the age of 13. And not every composer is a Mendelssohn at 16, a Bizet at 17, or a Shostakovich at 19.

Russ (not Martha)

[MiNe109]

The Melodramas for reciter and piano aren't everyday listening but I am
intrigued by the list of actors who have recorded them, in this case,
Enoch Arden: Bruno Ganz, Claude Rains, Patrick Stewart, etc.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/23006--strauss-r-enoch-arden-op-38/browse

[HT]

Op zaterdag 28 augustus 2021 om 16:33:30 UTC+2 schreef MINe109:

Peter Ustinov is mentioned as a performer in one of Strauss's works. He was a great actor.

Henk

[Ricardo Jimenez]

On Sat, 28 Aug 2021 07:48:10 -0700 (PDT), HT <hvt...@xs4all.nl>
wrote:

He is the narrator and performer in volume 8 of the series: Moliére's
"Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" with music by Strauss. It is the only one
of the series "Der unbekannte Richard Strauss" that I have and I find
it delightful.

[Graham]

and raconteur!!!

[HT]

Op zaterdag 28 augustus 2021 om 18:04:10 UTC+2 schreef Ricardo Jimenez:

Thanks!

Henk

[Mr. Mike]

HMV Japan has the Strauss box set listed with a description of the
contents, below, translated badly as usual.

By the way, did anyone recently record Strauss's Japanese Festival
Music? There is a recording in a DGG box set of various Strauss pieces
conducted by the man himself. This piece is a major league turkey and
definitely "unknown."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Festival_Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiNZKxAW5CU

==========

Richard Strauss, described by Glenn Gould as "the greatest musician of
the century" (1962). The rare and treasure works are contained in a
15-CD box. Conducted by Karl Anton Rickenbacher, a devoted Strauss
music lover from Switzerland [1940-2014]. The orchestra was closely
associated with Strauss's performance, and the Wilde Goug'l orchestra
in Munich (R. Strauss was a member of this orchestra for several
years), the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, which faithfully built up the
original sound with its rich score. , Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. The
waltz of the famous play "Le Bourgeois Townsman" and the well-known
"Der Rosenkavalier", in which Sir Peter Ustinov acted as the narrator,
is also included.

R. Strauss's work has a strong originality and personality. His work
is ironic from time to time (like the Waltz in Foaming Cream and the
Munich Waltz), and his talent for composition is his early work (F
minor symphony and opus number 1 celebration march). Etc.) already
appear.
The original release was recorded on the "Koch" label from 1994 to
1999, and the award-winning series "Der Unbekannte Strauss" will be
released in one for the first time. (Import source information)

[Recording information] Disc1: Early orchestral music I
R. Strauss:
1. Schneider Polka AV1
2. Serenade in G major AV32
3. Gavotte in D major AV59-5
4. Serenade in E flat major Op.7
5. Concert Overture in C minor AV80
6. Celebration March in C major AV87

Orchesterverein Wilde Goug’l
Yaroslav Opera (conductor)

Recording: March 1994, Munich / Disc2: Early Orchestral Song II
1. Celebration March in E flat major Op.1
2. Romance for clarinet and orchestra in E flat major AV61
3. Romance for cello and orchestra in F major AV75
4. Concert overture in C minor AV80
5. Incidental music "Romeo and Yuria" AV86
6. Lebende Bilder AV89

Karl-Heinz Stefence (clarinet: 2)
Sebastian Hess (cello: 3)
Bodir Arnesen (soprano: 5)
Jennifer Crohns (Mezzo-soprano: 5)
Crysta Meyer (Alto: 5)
Michael Zuttner (tenor: 5)
via-nova-Chor Munchen
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Munich Chamber Orchestra
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: 1999, Bamberg Disc3: Early Symphony
1. Symphony in D minor AV69
2. Symphony in F minor Op.12

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (2)
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: May 1986, Munich (1) June 1997, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (2)
Disc4: Piano Concerto for the Left Hand
1. Symphonia Domestica Op.73
2. Pan Athens Procession Op.74

Anna Gourari (piano)
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: September 1999, Bamberg Disc5: All piano pieces
1. Five piano works Op.3
2. Piano Sonata in B minor Op.5
3. Emotional landscape Op.9

Stefan Vladar (piano)

Recording: September 1998, Vienna Disc6: Fantasia and Fragment
1. Symphonic fantasy song "Die Frau ohne" AV146
2. Opera "Danae no Ai" Op.83-Symphonic Break
3. Opera "Helena of Egypt" Op.75-Symphonic Apocalypse

Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (Conductor)

Recording: May 1998, Bamberg Disc7: Prelude and Interlude
1. From the opera "Guntram" (Prelude to Act 1 / Prelude to Act 2)
2. From the opera "Feuersnot" Op.50 "Love Scene"
3. From Suite "Le Bourgeois Townsman" Op.60 (Overture / Prelude to Act
2 / Interlude / Prelude to Act 3)
4. An adaptation of Mozart's opera "Idomeneo" AV191
5. Prelude to Act 3 from the opera "Arabella" Op.79
6. From the opera "Capriccio" Op.85 (Introduction / Moonlight Music)
7. Potpourri from the opera "Silent Woman" Op.80

Bamberg Symphony Orchestra (1,2,4-7)
Munich Chamber Orchestra (3)
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: January 1991, Bamberg (1,2,4-7), June 1998, Munich (3)
Disc8: Ballet music
1. Symphonic chapter "Legend of Joseph" AV148
2. Ballet Suite "Foam Cream" Op.70

Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: December 1998, Bamberg Disc9: Ballet Suite by Couplin
1. Divertimento Op.86
2. Dance Suite AV107

Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: May 1998, Bamberg Disc10: King Waltz
1. Waltz Sequence No. 1 from "Der Rosenkavalier" Op.59
2. Waltz "Munich" AV125
3. "Waltz Scene" from "Intermezzo" Op.72
4. Suite "Le Bourgeois Townsman" Op.60 "Cooker's Dance" (Supper)
5. Waltz from Ballet Suite "Fubbling Cream" Op.70
6. Waltz "Munich" AV140
7. Waltz Sequence No. 2 from "Der Rosenkavalier" Op.59

Bamberg Symphony Orchestra (1-3,5-7)
Munich Chamber Orchestra (4)
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: September 1997, Bamberg (1-3,5-7), May 1998, Munich (4)
Disc 11-12
? Drama Incidental Music "Townsman Nobleman" Op.60

Sir Peter Ustinov (narrator)
Florian Czerny (baritone)
Bodir Arnesen (soprano)
Crysta Meyer (Mezzo-soprano)
via-nova-Chor Munchen
Munich Chamber Orchestra
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: 1999, Munich Disc13
? Operetta "Donkey's Shadow" AV300

Sir Peter Ustinov (narrator)
Bodir Arnesen (soprano)
Mette Ejsing
Eberhard Büchner, Clemens Bieber (tenor)
Jochen Schmekkenbecher, Oscar Hildebrandt (baritone)
Andreas Kohn, Ralph Lucas (Bass)
Berlin Radio Choir
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: May 1996, Berlin Disc14: Beethoven and R. Strauss
1. Beethoven: Ballet Music "The Creatures of Prometheus"
Op.43-Overture
2. Arrangement of Beethoven's "The Ruins of Athens" Op.113 AV190

Bodir Arnesen (soprano)
Yaron Vintmüller (baritone)
Franz-Josef Seerich (bus)
Bamberg Symphony Choir
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Karl Anton Rickenbacher (conductor)

Recording: January 1999, Bamberg Disc15: Chorus Collection
1. Two songs Op.34 (evening / hymn)
2. 7 songs AV67
3. Cantata "Happiness comes quickly to talented people" AV104
4. Swabian inheritance AV83
5. Utan svafvel och fostor AV88
6. Three choruses AV123
7. Passing loneliness AV124
8. 4 movements for Mass in D major AV31

Berlin Radio Choir
Robin Gritton (chorus conductor)

[gggg gggg]

Somewhere on the web , isn't there supposed to be a an audio clip of Strauss playing DAPHNE's last scene on the piano?

[John Fowler]

Wikipedia has an article on "Japanese Festival Music" :

The Japanese government commissioned music from composers of six nations to mark the 2600th anniversary of the Japanese Empire (although the historicity of the date of 11 February 660 B.C. given as the founding of the Emperor of Japan has been widely rejected by historians):
--- Richard Strauss’ Japanese Festival Music: Joseph Goebbels assigned the Japanese commission to Germany's most prominent composer, Richard Strauss. Strauss, age 75, put aside composition on his opera Die Liebe der Danae to work on Japanese Festival Music while staying in the Italian Tyrol. He completed the work on April 22, 1940 and received 10,000 Reichsmarks for his effort.
--- Hisato Ohzawa wrote his Symphony no. 3, "Symphony of the Founding of Japan"
--- Jacques Ibert wrote an Ouverture de fête "pour célébrer le 26e centenaire de la fondation de l'empire Nippon"
--- Ildebrando Pizzetti wrote a Symphony "In Celebrazione dell XXVIo Centenario della Fondazione dell'Impero Giapponese"
--- Sándor Veress wrote his first symphony, "Hungarian Greetings on the 2600th Anniversary of the Japanese Dynasty"
--- Benjamin Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem was also commissioned in this process, but was ultimately rejected by the Japanese foreign ministry as an insult.
--- Japan's request for a composition from an American composer was turned down due to the deterioration of relations between the countries.
Japanese Festival Music - Wikipedia

[Bob Harper]

Ironic that the only one of these compositions that is today at all well
known is Britten's, which the Japanese rejected, apparently due to the
Christian movement titles (or so I've read).

Bob Harper

[John Fowler]

----- The Pizzetti Symphony (now just called the Symphony in A) is on Naxos:
https://www.amazon.com/Ildebrando-Pizzetti-Symphony-Margherita-Bassani/dp/B06XWTF2HN/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=pizzetti&qid=1630231906&s=music&sr=1-1
----- The Ibert Ouverture de fête has been recorded multiple times:
https://www.amazon.com/Ibert-Ouverture-Escales-Tropismes-imaginaires/dp/B000EX295M/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=ibert+ouverture+de+fete&qid=1630232148&s=music&sr=1-2
https://www.amazon.com/Ibert-Divertissement-Symphonie-Bacchanale-Ouverture/dp/B00004U2KJ/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=ibert+ouverture+de+fete&qid=1630232025&s=music&sr=1-4
----- Ohzawa Symphony No.3 is on Naxos:
https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Concerto-Symphony-Ohzawa-2005-03-22/dp/B01KARYN96/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=ohzawa&qid=1630232459&s=music&sr=1-3
----- But I don't think there has ever been a stereo recording of Strauss' Japanese Festmusik

[Bob Harper]

I wasn't saying that none of the other works had sunk without a trace,
just that the Britten is well known while none of the others is. I think
that's true.

Bob Harper

[Owen]

I suppose the "Mikado" was equally out of the question.

-Owen

[Frank Berger]

On 9/1/2021 4:21 PM, John Fowler wrote:
> Current low price for "The Unknown Richard Strauss" is on American Amazon:
> https://www.amazon.com/s?k=unknown+richard+strauss&i=popular&crid=36NAT1S70E24X&sprefix=the+unknown+strauss%2Caps%2C169&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_19
> $51.98 (15 CDs) with free shipping on Amazon Prime.
> Release date October 22 which is nearly a month later than Presto Classics, but the savings are not negligible.
>


Have I asked you before why your posts frequently appear twice?

[John Fowler]

Yes

[John Fowler]

CONTENTS BREAKDOWN:
Orchestral music unless otherwise indicated:

YOUTHFUL WORKS:
1870 Schneider Polka, AV1 [CD1] - first composition, age 6
1877 Serenade for orchestra in G major, AV32 [CD1], age 13
1879 Gavotte in D major, AV59, No.4 [CD1], age 15
1879 Romance for Clarinet & Orchestra AV61 [CD2], age 15
1880 Symphony No.1 in D minor, AV69 [CD3], age 16

EARLY MATURITY *
1881 Serenade for 13 Winds in E flat major, Op.7 [CD1], age 17
1881 Piano Sonata, Op.5 [CD5], age 17
1882 Five Piano Pieces, Op.3 [CD5], age 18
1882 Stimmungsbilder for Piano, Op.9 [CD5], age 18
1883 Festmarsch in E-flat major, Op.1 [CD2], age 19
1883 Romance for Cello & Orchestra, AV75 [CD2], age 19
1883 Concert Overture in C minor, AV 80 [CD1 & CD2: two performances], age 19
1884 Symphony No.2 in F minor, Op.12 [CD3], age 20
1887 Romeo and Juliet incidental music, AV86 [CD2], age 23
1889 Festmarsch in C major, AV87 [CD1], age 25
1892 Lebende Bilder (four Tableaux vivants), AV89 [CD2], age 28
1894 Guntram Preludes – see “Orchestral Excerpts from Operas”, below

* seven well-known works date from Strauss’ early maturity: the first four symphonic poems, the Violin Concerto, Horn Concerto No.1, and Burleske (not in this box, but all seven are in the Kempe box on Warner).

TWENTIETH CENTURY:
1917 Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (Der Burger als Edelmann), Op.60 complete, narrated in English [CD11-12], Preludes & Intermezzo [CD7] (extracted from 1912 opera Ariadne auf Naxos)
1922 Schlagobers, Op.70 - Orchestral Suite [CD8]
1923 Dance Suite after Couperin, AV107 [CD9] (early version of 1941 Divertimento after Couperin), also in the Kempe box
1924 Beethoven Ruins of Athens (with Creatures of Prometheus Overture), arr. Strauss, AV190 [CD14]
1925 Parergon to Symphonia Domestica for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, Op.73 [CD4], also in the Kempe box
1928 Panathenäenzug for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, Op.74 [CD4], also in the Kempe box
1930 Mozart Idomeneo: Interlude, arr. Strauss, AV191 [CD7]
1939 Munich Commemorative Waltz, version one, AV125 [CD10]
1941 Divertimento after Couperin, Op.86 [CD9] (revised version of 1923 Dance Suite after Couperin)
1945 Munich Commemorative Waltz, version two, AV140 [CD10]
1947 Josephslegende Symphonic Fragment [CD8] (after the 1914 ballet), also in the Kempe box
1949 Des Esels Schatten (The Donkey’s Shadow) singspiel, AV300, narrated in English [CD14]

ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS FROM OPERAS:
1894 Guntram: Preludes to Act 1 & Act 2 [CD7]
1901 Feuersnot: Love Scene [CD7]
1911 Der Rosenkavalier: Waltz Sequences 1 & 2 [CD10]
1919 Die Frau ohne Schatten: Symphonic Fantasie AV146 (arr. composer in 1947) [CD6]
1924 Intermezzo: Waltz Scene [CD10]
1928 Die Agyptische Helena: Symphonic Fragment (arr. Karl Anton Rickenbacher) [CD6]
1933 Arabella: Prelude to Act 3 [CD7]
1935 Die Schweigsame Frau: Potpourri [CD7]
1940 Die Liebe der Danae: Symphonic Fragment (arr. Clemens Krauss) [CD6]
1942 Capriccio: Sextet & Moonlight Music [CD7]

UNACCOMPANIED CHORAL WORKS:
1877 Mass in D major, four movements (Kyrie, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei) for mixed chorus, AV31 [CD15], age 13
1880 Seven four-part songs, for mixed chorus, AV67 [CD15], age 16
1884 Schwäbische Erbschaft (Der gnäd'ge Herr von Zavelstein) for male choir, AV83 [CD15]
1889 Utan svafvel och fosfor (Swedish matchbox text), for male choir, AV88 [CD15]
1898 Two songs for sixteen-part mixed chorus, Op.34 [CD15]
1914 Cantata “Tuchtigen stellt das schnelle Gluck” for four-part male choir, AV104 [CD15]
1935 Three Male Choruses, AV123 [CD15]

[John Fowler]

Amazon has lowered their pre-order price to $45.49.
Now it is identical with Target's price
https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Strauss-15-Box-Set/dp/B08W7SPQH1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SB9XD3U73RS2&dchild=1&keywords=the+unknown+richard+strauss&qid=1631396875&s=music&sprefix=the+unknown+richard+strauss%2Cpopular%2C170&sr=1-1

[John Fowler]

ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS FROM OPERAS:
As long us good Americans are waiting patiently for this to be released (October 22), I thought I'd bring everyone up to date on some of the less "unknown" material in this box.
The orchestral excerpts from the operas are really not rare (except the Agyptische Helena Symphonic Fragment, arranged by Karl Anton Rickenbacher), but it's nice to have so much of it so conveniently assembled (about two CDs worth - there is still more out there).

1894 Guntram: Preludes to Acts 1 and 2 [CD7]

1901 Feuersnot: Love Scene [CD7]

1911 Der Rosenkavalier: Waltz Sequences 1 and 2 [CD10] *
1919/1947 Die Frau ohne Schatten: Symphonic Fantasie trv234a / av146 [CD6]
1924 Intermezzo: Symphonic Interlude No.1 (Waltz Scene) [CD10]
1928 Die Agyptische Helena: Symphonic Fragment (arranged Rickenbacher) [CD6]

1933 Arabella: Prelude to Act 3 [CD7]
1935 Die Schweigsame Frau: Potpourri [CD7]

1940 Die Liebe der Danae: Symphonic Fragment (arranged Clemens Krauss) [CD6]
1941 Capriccio: Sextet and Moonlight Music [CD7]

* Rickenbacher conducts Strauss’ “Two Waltz Sequences” (trv 227a,c) from Der Rosenkavalier.
[trv 227b is the silent film score that Strauss devised in 1925. EMI issued it on a CD titled “Composers in Person: Richard Strauss”.]
https://www.amazon.com/Composers-Person-Conducts-Symphony-Rosenkavalier/dp/B00000DNRS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=composers+in+person+strauss&qid=1632659204&s=music&sr=1-1
Available elsewhere is the 25 minute Rosenkavalier Suite (trv 227d) published in 1945, attributed to the composer, but in reality arranged by Artur Rodzinski, who led the premiere in 1944 with the New York Philharmonic (during World War II, which should have been a clue).
Several conductors (Kempe, Dorati, Ormandy, Schwarz) have created their own Suites.

There is a comprehensive catalog of the music of Richard Strauss on the internet.
It explains the trv numbers and av numbers.
https://imslp.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_Richard_Strauss