Strauss Digital

Richard Strauss’s single-act ballet Josephs Legende emerged in 1914 just as the world’s attention was turning to war. But with its exotic instrumental colouring and the composer’s intent to rejuvenate dance into a ‘purely inspirational form’ dedicated to ‘absolute beauty’, it reveals a great ballet composer and demonstrates his orchestral mastery to the full. Josephs Legende is a parable about struggles between good and evil based on the familiar Old Testament story of the slave boy Joseph.

Santtu conducts Strauss is a double-deluxe album with four works by Richard Strauss conducted by Principal Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, two of which are live recordings of Santtu’s 2021/22 opening concert and first concert as Principal Conductor at Royal Festival Hall.

The orchestral works of R. Strauss have been at the center of Paavo Järvi's programming and recording projects as principal conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra.

Oscar Wilde's play Salome was conceived for the actress Sarah Bernhardt and was originally planned for performance in London, in 1892.

Verdi called Johann Strauss II a ‘colleague and genius’, while Johannes Brahms admitted that of all his fellow composers he was ‘the only one I envy’.

Das beliebte Fragespiel, in welcher vergangenen Epoche man gerne gelebt hätte, wird von vielen Lied-Enthusiasten spontan mit der Zeit Franz Schuberts oder Robert Schumanns beantwortet.

Strauss left over 200 songs to the world. The renowned singer Thomas Laske dedicates himself to a selection of these songs: Opus 29, 46 and 47 from the early works of Richard Strauss as well as a selection from Opus 10 and Opus 27 can be heard.

The Salzburg Wind Philharmonic with its principal conductor Hansjörg Angerer conquers highest musical peaks following the motto “From the mountains” and makes the romanticism of the countryside, hunting cries as well as Alpine storms become a unique sound experience.

This is one of Deutsche Grammophon’s key releases for the Strauss year, which marks the composer’s 150th birthday. Thomas Hampson is widely regarded as one of the premier interpreters of German art song today. In 2014, American baritone Thomas Hampson celebrates Richard Strauss’ 150th anniversary with several concerts in Europe and North America and a new production of the composer’s Arabella at the Salzburg Easter Festival.

“For me, Strauss is one of the greatest composers,” Diana Damrau has said. “The way he handles the soprano voice is a joy. And to be able to sing his music with my voice feels like coming home.” The centrepiece of this album of Strauss songs is the sublime Vier letzte Lieder, in which Damrau – born and trained in Bavaria – joins forces with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and its long-standing Chief Conductor Mariss Jansons, in what was to become his final recording. Her partner in a tempting and diverse selection of songs with piano is Helmut Deutsch. “Not only is Strauss’s music gorgeous,” says Damrau, “there’s the way he combines words and notes – and the psychology.”