With this two-CD set of Richard Strauss tone poems led by the composer, Music and Arts embarks on an extensive series culled from the collection of Deutsches Rundfunkarchiv. The booklet claims these performances to be previously unissued. True, except for the 1936 Macbeth, issued by APR (see my ClassicsToday review). No other recording of Strauss conducting his early masterpiece manquée exists, and the composer’s lively, muscular direction inspires first rate results from the Orchester des Deutschlandsenders Berlin. Maggi Payne’s non-interventionist transfer contrasts with APR’s discreet filtering, although the latter boasts more airy equalization. Strauss’ beloved Vienna Philharmonic reciprocates its guest conductor’s affection in a superbly characterized Till Eulenspiegel from 1942. Both this and the superb Also Sprach Zarathustra from the same year supercede the familiar 1944 Strauss/Vienna radio recordings (Preiser) on both sonic and executional grounds. Faded sound and less accomplished orchestral playing, however, mark the 1936 Don Juan and Tod und Verklärung. Best of all is a 1936 Alpine Symphony with the Orchester des Reichssenders München. Compared to Strauss’ 1941 Bavarian studio recording, here we find a stronger orchestra, genuine podium dynamism, and more impactive sound. Moreover, the engineering captures the proportions of Strauss’ opulent scoring to more cogent effect than the studio recording’s distant mike placement, even if you have to take the wind machine’s contributions on faith. Strauss biographer Michael Kennedy provides ideal annotations. While this release is worth buying for the Alpine alone, each selection sheds new light on Strauss’ conductoral prowess.
