BaL 13.11.21 - Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30 Building a Library
Mark Simpson compares recordings of Richard Strauss's Eine Alpensinfonie and chooses his favourite.

The epic Alpine Symphony is Strauss's vivid evocation of the thrills and spills of a day out in his beloved Bavarian Alps, including dangerous moments and a glacier on the way up to a spectacular view from the summit. On the way down there's a violent thunderstorm and at the end, as the sun sets and night falls, the deep, emotional satisfaction of having completed an arduous and exhausting journey. The 1915 tone poem thrillingly tests an orchestra, at once collectively, its individual sections and its principal players. And it also tests a conductor who has to convincingly marshal a score calling for 130-plus musicians including 34 brass players (with 12 offstage horns) and a percussion section stocked with, among other things, wind machine, thunder machine and cowbells. Spare a thought, too, for the recording engineers...

The recordings, roughly in chronological order, but not all are currently available.

Oskar Fried Staatskapelle Berlin - 1925 Music & Arts MACD1167

Richard Strauss Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra - 1936 Music & Arts MACD1057

Karl Böhm Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra -1939

Richard Strauss Bavarian State Orchestra - 1941 Preiser Records 90205

Dimitri Mitropoulis New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra - 1947 Music & Arts CD-1213

Hans Knappertsbusch Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - 1952 Altus ALT 074

Franz Konwitschny Orchestra of the Munich State Opera - 1952 Urania URN22.247+

Carl Schuricht Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra -1955 Hänssler Classic CD 93.151

Dimitri Mitropoulos Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - 1956 Orfeo C 586 021 B

Karl Böhm Staatskapelle Dresden - 1957 Deutsche Grammophon 463190

Evgeny Svetlanov USSR Symphony Orchestra - 1962 Melodiya

Yevgeny Mravinsky Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra - 1964 Melodiya 74321294032

Rudolf Kempe Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - 1966 RCA/Testament SBT 1428

Yuzo Toyama NKH Symphony Orchestra - 1966 Naxos NYNN-0020

Rudolf Kempe Staatskapelle Dresden - 1971 - EMI Classics 64350

Zubin Mehta Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra - 1975 Decca 470954

Georg Solti Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks - 1979 Decca

Herbert von Karajan Berliner Philharmoniker - 1980 Deutsche Grammophon

Andrew Davis London Philharmonic Orchestra 1981 Sony SBK61693

Norman Del Mar BBC Symphony Orchestra 1982 IMP 15656 91572

André Previn Philadelphia Orchestra 1983 EMI 72435741162

Pierre Bartholomée Orchestre philharmonique de Liège 1983 Cypres CYP7650-12

Kurt Masur Gewandhausorchester Leipzig 1983 Decca 446 101-2

Herbert von Karajan Berliner Philharmoniker (DVD) 1983 Sony 88697195429

Bernard Haitink Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra 1985 Philips 416 156-2

Neeme Järvi Royal Scottish National Orchestra 1986 Chandos CHAN 8557

Vladimir Ashkenazy Cleveland Orchestra 1988 Decca 4251122

Herbert Blomstedt San Francisco Symphony 1988 Decca 421815

Horst Stein Bamberg Symphony Orchestra 1988 Eurodisc 69012-2-RG

Edo de Waart Minnesota Orchestra 1989 Virgin Classics 7234 5 61460 2 0

André Previn Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra 1990 Telarc 80211

Zubin Mehta Berliner Philharmoniker 1989 Sony SMK 60030

Takashi Asahina NDR Symphony Orchestra 1990 NDR Klassik NDR10152

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos London Symphony Orchestra 1990

Mariss Jansons BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra 1991 BBC Music Magazine Vol.1 no.5

James Judd European Community Youth Orchestra 1991 Regis RRC1055

Daniel Barenboim Chicago Symphony Orchestra 1992 Warner Elatus 097749837 2

Giuseppe Sinopoli Staatskapelle Dresden (Also on DVD) 1993 Deutsche Grammophon 439- 899-2

Zdenek Ko�ler Czech Philharmonic Orchestra 1994 Supraphon SU0005-2 031

Choo Hoey Singapore Symphony Orchestra 1994 DW Labs

Friedrich Haider Göteborgs Symfoniker 1995 Nightingale Classics NC 261864-2

Emil Tabakov Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra 1996 Laserlight Classics 24 418/2

Seiji Ozawa Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra 1996 Philips 454 448-2

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Vienna Symphony Orchestra 1996 Calig CAL 50981

Marek Janowski Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France 1997 Radio France CMX378081.84

Takashi Asahina Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra 1997 Canyon Classics PCCL-00540
Andreas Delfs Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra 1998

Lorin Maazel Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks 1998 RCA 74321 57128 2

Vladimir Ashkenazy Czech Philharmonic Orchestra 1999 Ondine ODE 976-2

Hartmut Haenchen Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra 1999 Brilliant Classics 6366/3

Kazimierz Kord Warsaw Philharmonic 2000 Accord ACD 073-2

Christian Thielemann Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra 2000 Deutsche Grammophon 469519

David Zinman Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra (Also on DVD) 2002 Arte Nova Classics 74321 92779 2

Gerard Schwarz Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 2003 RLPO Live RLCD401P

Andrew Litton National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain 2004 Kevin Mayhew 1490160

Eliahu Inbal Orchestre de la Suisse Romande 2005 Denon COCO-70763

Gabriel Feltz Philharmonisches Orchester des Theaters Altenburg-Gera 2005

Franz Welser-Möst Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester 2005 Warner Classics 3345692

Markus Stenz Ensemble Modern Orchestra 2005 Ensemble Modern Medien EMCD-003

Antoni Wit Staatskapelle Weimar 2006 Naxos 8.557811

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Dresdner Philharmonie 2006 Genuin GEN 86074

Kent Nagano Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DVD) 2006 Arthaus Musik 101 437

Mariss Jansons Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra 2007 RCO Live RCO08006

Jonas Alber Brunswick State Orchestra 2007 Coviato COV 30705

Marin Alsop Baltimore Symphony Orchestra 2007

Rico Saccani Budapest Symphony Orchestra 2007 BPO Live

Neeme Järvi Residente Orchestra The Hague 2008 Video Artists International 4411

Fabio Luisi Staatskapelle Dresden 2009 Sony 88697558392

Marek Janowski Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra 2009 Pentatone Classics PTC5186339

Philippe Jordan Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Paris 2009 Naive V 5233

Bernard Haitink London Symphony Orchestra 2009 LSO Live LSO0689

Semyon Bychkov WDR Sinfonieorchester 2007 Profil Medien PH09065

Marcello Rota Czech National Symphony Orchestra 2009 Victor VICC-6

Roman Brogli-Sacher Philharmonisches Orchester Der Hansedtadt Lübeck 2010 Klassic Center M 56937

Andris Nelsons City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - 2010 OrfeoC 833 111 A

Charles Dutoit Philadelphia Orchestra 2010 Philadelphia Orchestra

Franz Welser-Möst Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks 2010 BR Klassik 900905

Edo de Waart Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra 2010 RFP Live RFP001

Gustav Kuhn Orchester der Tiroler Festspiele Erl 2010 Col Legno WWE 1CD 60022

Kurt Masur Orchestre National de France 2010 Radio France FRF005

Christian Thielemann Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (DVD/Blu-ray) 2011 Opus Arte OA BD 7101D

Frank Shipway Sao Paolo Symphony Orchestra 2012 BIS BIS1950

Vladimir Jurowski London Philharmonic Orchestra 2012 London Philharmonic Orchestra LPO-0106

Leon Botstein American Symphony Orchestra 2012 American Symphony Orchestra ASO251

Jakub Hru�a Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra 2013 Exton OVCL-00534

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Danish National Symphony Orchestra (DVD/Blu-ray) 2014 DRS 2110433-35BD

Toshiro Ozawa Kanagawa University Symphonic Band 2014 Kafua CACD-0219

Daniel Harding Saito Kinen Orchestra 2014 Decca 4786422

Christian Thielemann Staatskapelle Dresden 2014 Unitel Classica 726504

François-Xavier Roth SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Banden und Freiburg 2014 SWR Music CD93.335

Michael Seal City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Youth Orchestra 2015

Kent Nagano Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra 2016 Farao B108091

Semyon Bychkov BBC Symphony Orchestra 2016 BBC Music Magazine Vol.25 no.10

Andrew Davis Melbourne Symphony Orchestra 2016 ABC Classics ABC 481 6754

Mariss Jansons Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks 2016

Thomas Dausgaard Seattle Symphony Orchestra 2017 Seattle Symphony Media SSM1023

James Judd European Union Youth Orchestra 2017 Alto ALC1346

Jung-Ho Pak Texas All-State Symphonic Orchestra 2018 Mark Recordings

Andrés Orozco-Estrada Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra 2018 Pentatone PTC5186628

Vasily Petrenko Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra 2017 LAWO LWC1192

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Has the BBC lost its imagination? There are so many big works that have not been given an outing on BaL in recent years, yet we now have two that cover the same works that were reviewed approximately 10 years ago. I just hope it doesn't go the same way as last time, pushing a version to the top that I would dismiss in the first five minutes for several reasons.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Which version was that and why ?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Which version was that and why ?

Karajan's DG version:

Oppressively recorded, especially the violins.
Some poor tuning from the BPO.
An offstage band that's apparently slap-bang in the middle of the orchestra.

But if you like his interpretation, there's a DVD version with HvK conducting live. Far superior to the studio version imo.

[Nick Armstrong]

Which version was that and why ?

And who was the reviewer?

[Petrushka]

And who was the reviewer?

Richard Osborne, if I remember correctly.

I have to disagree with EA about the Karajan CD. It has since been re-mastered and sounds absolutely glorious in the one I have in the 1970s box. I also have the DVD and found the sound intolerable, not a patch on the CD. The massed horns baying out the 'Bruch Violin Concerto' theme on the CD are incredibly thrilling.

Karajan would definitely be my first choice.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

And who was the reviewer?

William Mival in 2011.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If sound quality isn’t a priority, Schuricht and Knappertsbusch are worth considering.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Richard Osborne, if I remember correctly.

I have to disagree with EA about the Karajan CD. It has since been re-mastered and sounds absolutely glorious in the one I have in the 1970s box. I also have the DVD and found the sound intolerable, not a patch on the CD. The massed horns baying out the 'Bruch Violin Concerto' theme on the CD are incredibly thrilling.

Karajan would definitely be my first choice.

It gets stellar reviews in the Penguin guide with particular praise for the recorded sound of the violins !

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It gets stellar reviews in the Penguin guide with particular praise for the recorded sound of the violins !

It remains the only CD I’ve given away!

[richardfinegold]

Richard Osborne, if I remember correctly.

I have to disagree with EA about the Karajan CD. It has since been re-mastered and sounds absolutely glorious in the one I have in the 1970s box. I also have the DVD and found the sound intolerable, not a patch on the CD. The massed horns baying out the 'Bruch Violin Concerto' theme on the CD are incredibly thrilling.

Karajan would definitely be my first choice.

I will go back and listen to the Karajan, but I burned it to a server a few months bag and thought it was thrilling. I don't remember any of the sonic issues that EA mentions. However, he is the undisputed expert on this work

[Ein Heldenleben]

It remains the only CD I’ve given away!

I am going to listen on Qubuz tomorrow

[Darloboy]

Has the BBC lost its imagination? There are so many big works that have not been given an outing on BaL in recent years, yet we now have two that cover the same works that were reviewed approximately 10 years ago. I just hope it doesn't go the same way as last time, pushing a version to the top that I would dismiss in the first five minutes for several reasons.

Couldn't agree more - although it's not quite as bad as when they managed to cover Die Meistersinger 4 times in 20 years.

I appreciate that BaL needs to cover major works fairly regularly for new listeners but I do wish they'd be a bit more imaginative in their programming. The programme's title is "Building a Library", not "Collecting multiple versions of the same works".

I'd suggest that the producers look back at past programmes to see what hasn't been covered recently before deciding to wheel out the old favourites.

Just looking at Strauss, Tod und Verklarung has only ever been covered once on BaL - and that was in 1977; as has Sinfonia Domestica (in 1992); and Elektra (in 1993); and Arabella (in 1995). Salome was last covered in 1995 and Don Juan in 1998. Neither Capriccio nor Die Frau ohne Schatten have ever been covered by BaL. There's some pretty major works in there that BaL has neglected for a quarter of a century or more. Elektra and Salome are surely core works for any self-respecting Strauss library.

Even Elgar (whose work I think BaL covers far too often anyway) has some works which the programme has a blind spot for, notably Sea Pictures and Serenade for Strings, neither of which I think have ever been covered by BaL. And surprisingly, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches only appear to have been covered once - in 1977 (note to any BBC producers reading this - I am not requesting a programme on the Pomp and Circumstance Marches).

Rant over, apologies.

[Lordgeous]

Interesting. Where can one find all this info? Thanks.

[Darloboy]

Interesting. Where can one find all this info? Thanks.

The BaL fact sheets going back to 1999, listing all recommendations made on the programme (except for a few errors/omissions) are available on the Record Review site. I also have the fact sheets going back to 1991, which is when I started listening to the programme - you used to send off a stamped addressed envelope to the BBC at the end of each series and they’d send you the fact sheet back.

The rest of the information I’ve put together from the BBC Genome site which has all of the listings from the Radio Times going back many years. Each listing for Building a Library indicates the work which was to be covered that week. I’ve clearly got too much time on my hands!

I’m sure someone somewhere is sitting on a pile of Building a Library factsheets going back to the 70s or even earlier - it’d be fascinating to get hold of copies.