Saito Kinen Orchestra, Daniel Harding - Strauss: Alpine Symphony (2014)

  • 25 Oct, 18:42
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Artist:
Title: Strauss: Alpine Symphony
Year Of Release: 2014
Label: Decca
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (tracks) / MP3 320 Kbps
Total Time: 51:47
Total Size: 265 Mb / 139 Mb
WebSite:

Tracklist:

Eine Alpensinfonie, Op.64 - An Alpine Symphony - Une Symphonie Alpestre (51:59)
1. Nacht - Night - Nuit 3:10
2. Sonnenaufgang - Sunrise - Lever Du Soleil 1:24
3. Der Anstieg - The Ascent - L'Ascension 2:21
4. Eintritt In Den Wald - Entry Into The Wood - Entrée Dans Le Bois 5:17
5. Wanderung Neben Dem Bache - Wanderin By The Stream - Promenade Le Long Du Ruisseau 0:49
6. Am Wasserfall - At The Waterfall - Près Des Chutes 0:15
7. Erscheinung - Apparition - L'Apparition 0:49
8. Auf Blumigen Wiesen - On The Flowering Meadows - Sur Les Prairies En Fleurs 0:53
9. Auf Der Alm - On Alpine Pasture - Sur Les Pâturges 2:20
10. Durch Dickicht Und Gestrüpp Auf Irrwegen - Lost In Thicket And Undergrouth - Egarés Parmi Halliers Et Sous-Bois 1:30
11. Auf Dem Gletscher - On The Glacier - Sur Le Glacier 1:16
12. Gefahrvolle Augenblicke - Dangerous Moments - Moments Périlleux 1:29
13. Auf Dem Gipfel - On The Summit - Au Sommet 4:49
14. Vision 3:33
15. Nebel Steigen Auf - Mists Rise - Le Brouillard Se Lève 0:19
16. Die Sonne Verdüstert Sich Allmählich - The Sun Is Gradually Obscured - Le Soleil Se Voile Peu À Peu 0:53
17. Elegie - Elegy - Élégie 2:13
18. Stille Vor Dem Sturm - Calm Before The Storm - Calme Avant L'Orage 2:47
19. Gewitter Und Strum, Abstieg - Thunder And Tempest, Descent - Tonnerre Et Orage, Descente 3:47
20. Sonnenuntergang - Sunset - Coucher Du Soleil 3:00
21. Ausklang - Waning Tones - Derniers Reflets 6:40
22. Nacht - Night - Nuit 2:20

Performers:
Saito Kinen Orchestra
Daniel Harding, conductor

Because the Saito Kinen Orchestra annually performs at a summer festival held in the Japanese Alps near Matsumoto, the choice of Richard Strauss' immense Alpine Symphony for this 2012 recording seems quite appropriate for the occasion. Led by Daniel Harding, the ensemble of exceptional orchestral musicians from around the world takes on one of Strauss' most imposing scores, and the power, dynamic range, and physical stamina required to make this work succeed are well within the orchestra's abilities. Strauss' musical depiction of the Alps is a sprawling affair, more properly regarded as a tone poem rather than a symphony in the conventional sense, and the effect of the large orchestra of approximately 125 players must be overwhelming to convey the enormous mountains, the volatile weather, the different times of day, and other imagery. Harding controls the orchestra with a steady hand, and his interpretation is expansive without being exaggerated. The sound of the live performance is a little unbalanced, favoring the brass over the strings and woodwinds, and the live recording is just a little unfocused, leaving some details hard to distinguish in the mix. Even so, this recording has excitement and passion going for it, and the spirit of high adventure conveyed in the music is impressive.