Strauss, R: Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski
Jurowski’s Alpine Symphony ideally paced and beautifully balanced…There are so many good recordings of it, but this is up there among the best. And I know no more bewitching or exciting performance...
Strauss, R: Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski
Purchase product
Jurowski’s Alpine Symphony ideally paced and beautifully balanced…There are so many good recordings of it, but this is up there among the best. And I know no more bewitching or exciting performance...
About
‘This music is absolutely ideally placed to Jurowski’s strengths: his precision and ability to inspire playing of the greatest delicacy, pointing, accuracy and warmth is exactly what’s called for in this score’ Bachtrack.com, September 2012. This release marks the 29th on the LPO label conducted by Vladimir Jurowski, and is the first Jurowski-conducted Richard Strauss release to date. The performances of the three works on this release were also critically well received, with the soloists within the Orchestra noted for their ‘poise’ and ‘exquisite handling’ of Die Frau ohne Schatten and Jurowski’s ‘perfect blending of rich textures’ in Eine Alpensinfonie (The Arts Desk). Vladimir Jurowski has a strong affinity with Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman Without a Shadow), and chose to conduct a selection of orchestral highlights from the opera rather than the composer’s own published Fantasie. He went on to conduct the complete opera at the Metropolitan Opera in 2013. ‘If the evening can boast a hero, the honour must go to Vladimir Jurowski, who conducts with abiding passion, sensitivity and propulsion.’ (The Financial Times). The Dance of the Seven Veils was performed as part of the opening concert of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s critically acclaimed The Rest is Noise festival of music which shaped the twentieth century. ‘Jurowski and the LPO set the scene with an outstandingly delicate performance of the Dance of the Seven Veils’ (The Financial Times). These discs join the previously released recordings of Richard Strauss’s Don Juan and Ein Heldenleben, conducted by Bernard Haitink (LPO-0079); performances which were highly praised at the time. Gramophone magazine said ‘[it] gives any account in the catalogue a run for its money in terms of sheer élan, and bristles with energy’.
Contents and tracklist
- London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Vladimir Jurowski
- Recorded: 30 April 2016
- Recording Venue: Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London
- Kristina Blaumane (soloist)
- London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Vladimir Jurowski
Awards and reviews
August 2018
Jurowski’s Alpine Symphony ideally paced and beautifully balanced…There are so many good recordings of it, but this is up there among the best. And I know no more bewitching or exciting performance of Salome’s Dance, either.
September 2018
[Jurowski] is certainly a reliable guide [in the Alpensinfonie]: no-nonsense, level-headed, occasionally almost stoic. There are many fine things that come as a result, with a remarkable level of detail to be heard in Strauss’s multi-stranded score – executed with remarkable accuracy by the orchestra…Jurowski knows [Frau] well (he’s conducted it several times in the theatre) and he draws outstanding playing from the orchestra.
August 2018
Vladimir Jurowski’s superbly responsive London Philharmonic cope brilliantly in this refulgent-sounding live recording. Strauss’s cloudy opening is magnificently murky, making the first theme’s cheery entrance all the more uplifting.
