Search - Richard [1] Strauss, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Richard Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie

Hands Down......The Best

Trevor Gillespie | San Jose, California United States | 08/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When it comes to the tone poems/symphonies Richard Strauss, the clear choice for conductor is Herbert von Karajan. Perhaps one of his finest Strauss recordings, the Alpine Symphony in Karajan's hands becomes something greater than it already was. Written for a large orchestra, there are some incredible passages of power and volume. Any conductor out there can make a great deal of noise with an orchestra. Where true talent and genius is needed is unifying the orchestra to create the scenes depicted by such loud music. Furthermore, greater attention to unification is in the tender more quiet moments of the work. Karajan demands great detail and precision from his orchestra in the peaceful/tranquil moments of the score. He elicits a warm unified sound from the orchestra that adds great beauty. For sure one of the great Strauss recordings, and for sure the Alpine Symphony of choice."

Another great Strauss performance from Karajan and the BPO

Kenji Fujishima | East Brunswick, NJ USA | 12/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here is Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic in another marvelous performance of the music of Richard Strauss. EINE ALPENSINFONIE (An Alpine Symphony) is not considered one of his more distinguished tone poems, and admittedly it does occasionally mistake bombast for substance. Still, any good performance of this work ought to thrill you regardless of reservations about its substance, and Karajan delivers the goods. True, the playing of the BPO is not necessarily the paragon of orchestral perfection---there are some fluffed notes and at least one noticeable early entry in the strings here and there---but, when it counts, it can be spectacular (the brass awesomely majestic in Track 13, for example, and the string playing impassioned in Track 21). Karajan also brings his customary attention to structure and line to his interpretation. EINE ALPENSINFONIE is a work that can easily sound sprawling and unfocused in lesser hands; instead, this performance moves along inevitably, with tempos that are broad but never dragging. The result is a performance that presents a truly epic ALPENSINFONIE, and another great performance from a team that was often exemplary with the music of Richard Strauss. Recommended."

A treasure

Kenji Fujishima | 01/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many people regard Karajan's Mahler Symphony No. 9, live version, as his best accomplishment, or his '73 Zarathustra or his '63 Beethoven cycle. While I don't disagree, look at this one: Almost forgotten, really. This is a treasure for everybody who loves Strauss! And most amazingly to me, as one of the earliest DDD recordings Karajan ever made: The sound is excellent, much much much better than many of his early digital average. The winds are amazing, the sheer depth and majestic power of the Berlin Philharmonic shines with beauty and elegance throughout the entire piece, and it makes us really believe that we actually really ARE on that grandiose hiking trip throughout, what, Austria, Bavaria or Switzerland... A wonderful experience! Do not miss this one! Highly, highly recommended"