Strauss: Ein Heldenleben

PRODUKTBESCHREIBUNGEN
KURZBESCHREIBUNG
In a very short time, Yannick Nézet-Séguin has become one of the most sought-after young conductors in the world, popular with orchestras and audiences alike. Recently named as Music Director Designate of the Philadelphia Orchestra, he succeeded Valery Gergiev as Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008. He is also Chief Guest Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. On this the second of four projected discs for BIS, the Rotterdam Philharmonic here perform two of Richard Stauss most popular works: The tone poem Ein Heldenleben (A Hero s Life) has often been described as an autobiographical work. The six interwoven sections describe themes of hope, love and courage, with a scherzo that mocks the hero s enemies and a final climax that sees the hero withdraw from the world fulfilled. The Four Last Songs were the last works that Strauss composed before his death in 1949, and throughout the works, the pervading mood is one of death and transience. The Rotterdam Orchestra are here joined by Dorothea Röschmann, who has built a reputation on the opera stage as one of the most admired present interpreters of Mozart and of lieder. This is a Hybrid SACD

REZENSION
Ein Heldenleben and the Four Last Songs make a slightly unusual coupling, though these works are, in fact, contrasting portraits of Strauss's own marriage. Heldenleben mockingly pits thoughts of domesticity against the trials and tribulations of stardom, while the Songs contentedly look back on a lifetime's companionship, even as death begins to make its presence felt. They're nicely contrasted here by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who comes across as a striking Straussian. The multiple ironies of Heldenleben are superbly caught, though the emotional kernel of his interpretation lies in a sexy account of the central love scene and his touchingly beautiful treatment of the finale. The orchestral sound is lean and sinewy; it's not for those who like their Strauss uber-opulent. That this is deliberate, however, is born out by the warmer orchestral colours that Nézet-Séguin adopts for his grave yet urgent performance of the Four Last Songs. Dorothea Röschmann is his soprano soloist.you can hear every word and hear it given meaning. **** --Guardian,11/08/11

Dorothea Roschmann is simply wonderful,soaring and expressive,blessed with a beautiful tone and painting the words with meaning. --IRR,Sept'11

The whole cycle is gloriously,indeed radiantly sung here by the elequent and beautiful Dorethea Roschmann who has a truly lovely voice,and is most sensitively accompanied.i played it through four times before writing this notice and each time it brought tears to my eyes.Even among many illustrious names,there is no finer recorded performance.The disc is well worth having for that alone. --Gramophone Awards issue '11

1: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40
2: Four Last Songs

Composer: Richard Strauss, Richard Strauss

Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Number of Discs: 1

Orchestra: Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra

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