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Strauss: Complete Orchestral Songs

Richard Strauss, Friedrich Haider, Adrianne Pieczonka, Edita Gruberova, Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, Judith Howarth, Petja Petrova, Peter Straka, Bo Skovhus, Kurt Moll

Nightingale Records

1. Zueignung ('Ja, du weisst es, teur Seele'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 10
   1 (TrV 141
   1)
2. Zueignung ('Ja, du weisst es, teur Seele'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 10
   1 (TrV 141
   1)
3. Allerseelen ('Stell' auf den Tisch die duftenden Reseden'), song for voice & piano, Op. 10
   8 (TrV 141
   8)
4. Heimkehr ('Leiser schwanken die �ste'), song for voice & piano, Op. 15
   5 (TrV 148
   5)
5. St�ndchen ('Mach' auf, mach' auf, doch leise, mein Kind'), song for voice & piano, Op. 17
   2 (TrV 149
   2)
6. Ruhe, meine Seele ('Nicht ein L�ftchen regt sich leise'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 27
   1 (TrV 170
   1)
7. C�cilie ('Wenn du es w�sstest'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 27
   2 (TrV 170
   2)
8. Morgen ('Und morgen wird die Sonne wieder scheinen'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 27
   4 (TrV 170
   4)
9. Traum durch die D�mmerung ('Weite Wiesen im D�mmergrau'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 29
   1 (TrV 172
   1)
10. Liebeshymnus ('Heil jenem Tag'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 32
    3 (TrV 174
    3)
11. Songs (4) for voice & orchestra, Op. 33 (TrV 180): No. 1, Verf�hrung
12. Songs (4) for voice & orchestra, Op. 33 (TrV 180): No. 2, Gesang der Apollopriesterin
13. Songs (4) for voice & orchestra, Op. 33 (TrV 180): No. 3, Hymnus
14. Songs (4) for voice & orchestra, Op. 33 (TrV 180): No. 4, Pilgers Morgenlied
15. Das Rosenband ('Im Fr�hlingsschatten fand ich sie'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 36
    1 (TrV 186
    1)
16. Ich liebe dich ('Vier adlige Rosse voran unserm Wagen'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 37
    2 (TrV 187
    2)
17. Meinem Kinde ('Du schl�fst und sachte neig' ich mich'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 37
    3 (TrV 187
    3)
18. Mein Auge ('Du bist mein Auge!'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 37
    4 (TrV 187
    4)
19. Der Arbeitsmann ('Wir haben ein Bett, wir haben ein Kind'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 39
    3 (TrV 189
    3)
20. Befreit ('Du wirst nicht weinen'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 39
    4 (TrV 189
    4)
21. Wiegenlied ('Tr�ume, tr�ume, du mein s�sses Leben'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 41
    1 (TrV 195
    1)
22. Muttert�ndelei ('Seht mir doch mein sch�nes Kind'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 43
    2 (TrV 196
    2)
23. Songs (2) for alto or bass & orchestra ('Gr�ssere Ges�nge'), Op. 44 (TrV 197): No. 1, Notturno
24. Songs (2) for alto or bass & orchestra ('Gr�ssere Ges�nge'), Op. 44 (TrV 197): No. 2, N�chtlicher Gang
25. Des Dichters Abendgang ('Ergehst du doch im Abendlicht'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 47
    2 (TrV 200
    2)
26. Freundliche Vision ('Nicht im Schlafe hab' ich das getr�umt'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 48
    1 (TrV 202
    1)
27. Winterweihe ('In diesen Wintergarten'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 48
    4 (TrV 202
    4)
28. Winterliebe ('Der Sonne entgeten in Liebesgluten'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 48
    5 (TrV 202
    5)
29. Waldseligkeit ('Der Wald beginnt zu rauchen'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 49
    1 (TrV 204
    1)
30. Songs (2) for bass & orchestra, Op. 51 (TrV 206): No. 1, Das Thal
31. Songs (2) for bass & orchestra, Op. 51 (TrV 206): No. 2, Der Einsame
32. Fr�hlingsfeier ('Das ist des Fr�hlings traurige Lust!'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 56
    5 (TrV 220
    5)
33. Fr�hlingsfeier ('Das ist des Fr�hlings traurige Lust!'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 56
    5 (TrV 220
    5)
34. Die heil'gen drei K�n'ge aus Morgenland, song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 56
    6 (TrV 220
    6)
35. Songs (6) for voice & piano (or orchestra) ('Brentano Lieder'), Op. 68 (TrV 235): No. 1, An die Nacht
36. Songs (6) for voice & piano (or orchestra) ('Brentano Lieder'), Op. 68 (TrV 235): No. 2, Ich wollt, ein Str�usslein binden
37. Songs (6) for voice & piano (or orchestra) ('Brentano Lieder'), Op. 68 (TrV 235): No. 3, S�usle, liebe Myrthe
38. Songs (6) for voice & piano (or orchestra) ('Brentano Lieder'), Op. 68 (TrV 235): No. 4, Als mir dein Lied erklang
39. Songs (6) for voice & piano (or orchestra) ('Brentano Lieder'), Op. 68 (TrV 235): No. 5, Amor
40. Songs (6) for voice & piano (or orchestra) ('Brentano Lieder'), Op. 68 (TrV 235): No. 6, Lied der Frauen
41. Hymns (3) of Friedrich H�lderlin, for soprano or tenor & orchestra, Op. 71 (TrV 240): No. 1, Hymne an die Liebe
42. Hymns (3) of Friedrich H�lderlin, for soprano or tenor & orchestra, Op. 71 (TrV 240): No. 2, R�ckkehr in die Heimat
43. Hymns (3) of Friedrich H�lderlin, for soprano or tenor & orchestra, Op. 71 (TrV 240): No. 3, Die Libe
44. Das B�chlein ('Du B�chlein silberhell und klar'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 88
    1 (TrV 264, AV 118)
45. Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs), for soprano & orchestra, o.Op. 150 (TrV 296, AV 150): Fr�hling
46. Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs), for soprano & orchestra, o.Op. 150 (TrV 296, AV 150): September
47. Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs), for soprano & orchestra, o.Op. 150 (TrV 296, AV 150): Beim Schlafengehn

Average customer rating:

Luxurious Set of All of Strauss' Orchestral Songs

I'm not sure how Nightingale Records has the courage to record and issue this compendium of the complete orchestral songs of Strauss, but the result is a splendid addition to the record library. Generously spaced over three CDs the unifying factor here is that the many songs are not excerpted from various recordings from various years with a range of soloists that span a long period of time. This project was recorded with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice conducted by Friedrich Haider and while this is not one of the top ranking ensembles in the world, there is a lovely sound and a unifying presence that adds to the enjoyment of the wide collection.

Recorded in the year 2000 some of the soloists were well-established Strauss specialists - Edita Gruberova, Kurt Moll - and some were to grow into that range. Bo Skovhus, Peter Strake, and Judith Horvath are all fine singers, if not particularly suited to the Strauss sound. The one singer that has since this recording proven herself to be one of the upcoming great Straussian singers is Adrianne Pieczonka, a Canadian soprano who recently distinguished herself as a definitive Marschallin in the Los Angeles Opera production of 'Der Rosenkavalier'. Here she literally embraces the beauties of 'Ruhe, Meine Seele', 'Morgen', and 'Cäcilie' with all the promise of the great Straussian heroine she is surely becoming.

For everyone who loves the works of Richard Strauss this set will be a welcome addition to the library. Recommended. Grady Harp, October 05

A must for Moll fans

This boxed set, claims Nightingale Classics, is the world premiere recording of Richard Strauss's orchestral songs; as such, it is a release well worth hearing, even though not all the performances give the lieder sufficient advocacy. Praise must be given straight away for the magnificent voice of the bass Kurt Moll; the thrilling gravitas of his singing in the rarely heard 'Das Thal' and 'Der Einsame' are worth the price of this set alone. Gruberova's long experience of singing Strauss (this is her fourth recording of some of these songs) also shines through; she excels not just in the coloratura extravagances of the Brentano lieder (disc 3), but is also moving in 'Freundliche Vision'. The remaining singers are more variable: Petia Petrova is rather bland in the fascinating 15 minute song 'Notturno' (but it is well sung), and I find Bo Skovhus' gruff baritone not to my taste (though again the songs themselves should be heard - listen to 'Nachtliger gang' and note its echoes of 'Elektra'). Judith Howarth, the most vocally wayward of the singers (she must watch her pitch) can also be quite exciting when at her best (hear 'Fruhlingsfeier' and the last two of the 'Holderin Hymnen'). And I must admit to rather liking the light lyric tenor of Peter Straka, though his 'white' tone is not right for some of the songs he has been allocated; they require a tenor of the heft of Peter Seiffert or Gosta Winbergh. Adrianne Pieczonka is a frustrating singer: her tone is often beautiful and soars in the opening bars of 'Fruhling' from the Four Last Songs, but at other times her readings are so perfunctory that the magic of the song can be totally missed. Take one of my favourites, 'Winterweihe', which goes for nothing; one must listen to Schwarzkopf and Szell to hear how much emotion can be wrung from the phrase 'Das Rad der Zeit mag rollen'. Part of the blame for some less than classic readings must lay at the feet of Friedrich Haider's not always idiomatic conducting and a too recessed orchestral sound; but these criticisms aside, I feel this recording is a must for fans of Strauss lieder, and admirers of Moll and Gruberova in particular.