Search - R. Strauss, Maazel, Brso :: R. Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra / Rosenkavalier Suite / Don Juan

Virtuoso Strauss

Ralph Moore | Bishop's Stortford, UK | 12/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I profoundly disagree with the two preceding negative/lukewarm reviews; I don't know what they are listening to but I can only assume that there was something wrong either with the pressing or his equipment to have elicited such a condemnation of the recorded sound from the 2002 reviewer and the other judgement from the Santa Fe Listener strikes me as just plain perverse. (At least he recognises that the sonics are great, however.) It would seem that Dan L Francis and I agree, at least. This is a terrific CD; one of my favorite recorded performances: demonstration sound, a virtuoso orchestra and inspired conducting. Maazel gets everything right: he steers a prudent course between over-solemn, "Wagnerised" Strauss - a composer whose sunny, Italianate nature must always be recognised - and too ironic or flippant an attitude to this grand music. The climaxes are magisterial, even stunning, but there is still always room for the wit and warmth of this marvellous score. There is just the right degree of lilt in the waltz section of the "Tanzlied", a beautifully judged balance between tenderness, nostalgia and brilliance in the "Rosenkavalier" suite and real élan and thrust in the "Don Juan". As much as I enjoy Karajan's definitive 1973 recordings of Strauss' tone poems with the BPO, Maazel and the Bayerischen Rundfunks can give them a run for their money - especially with recorded sound of this spaciousness, depth and crystalline clarity.



(I, too, have the earlier edition of this CD featuring a cover with Maazel striking a gnomic pose with electric blue hands and it's really hokey - but I can forgive him the cheesiness when he produces a performance like this.)"

Wonderful performances with incredible sonics!

Dan L. Francis | Ft. Worth, TX United States | 05/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These Strauss masterpieces have never received better modern performances. The Bavarian Radio Symphony is first rate and Lorin Maazel seems to be supercharged as he leads them through these masterworks. These are highly recommended in the Peguin Guide and I couldn't agree more. They are very passionate and exciting performances."