Listening to tone poems by Richard Strauss give us a glimpse into the mind, heart and soul. Scaling the emotional trails of philanderers, poets and philosophers, these musical portraits need a musical animator to make the two-dimensions of the score become a sonic multifaceted portrait painted with just a baton alone. The catalog is brimming with artists that possess the communicative prowess to bathe the scores in a vivid light.
Conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Georg Solti and Mariss Jansons have made recordings that for generations of listeners have brought endless pleasure, with the deep and penetrating vision they have into the music and stories within. Krzysztof Urbański’s latest release with NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester programs three works that appear on Karajan’s famed 1973 album.
Opening with the colorful portrayal of the fiction libertine is “Don Juan”. Urbański’s tempos are brisker than Karajan, in an overall faster rendition, but Urbański never feels hurried. The pacing throughout feels natural and the work unfolds organically; the narrative reveals Urbański’s understanding. The vibrancy of Don Juan is obvious, but the colors are a little muted overall. Phrases and emotions are strongly conveyed and contrasted, but the precision in observing rests for their full values curtails the emotional impact, sounding somewhat fussy. The conclusion lacks the complete unity in the playing which Vasily Petrenko finds with the Oslo Philharmonic.
From the pursuits of the philanderer to the jaunts of an entertainer, Urbański turns to the comedy and frivolity of “Till Eulenspiegel”. Urbański holds the reigns tightly at the beginning and throughout. Urbański depicts the comedian as a darker, more serious, and sinister character, with a more manic persona, resulting in a highly personal take. Urbański’s strings are cooler, whilst the brass are more astringent. Petrenko and Karajan are warmer, finding more of the court jester, with greater lyricism, keeping the high jinks lighthearted.
Related Classical Music Reviews
- Review: Riccardo Chailly Conducts Richard Strauss
- Review: Lise Davidsen Sings Strauss and Wagner
- Review – Daniel Müller-Schott Plays Strauss
Delving into the mind of the philosopher, Urbański’s “Also Sprach Zarathustra” is a darker affair. The radiance Karajan brings to his opening is quite joyous, with many crests to the sound, whereas Urbański is more controlled, broody and more ominous. Karajan finds tenderness, with a stronger precision and clarity to the string parts. In Urbański’s hands, the section marked “das grablied” is primarily all one color, and while somber, it doesn’t fully capture the subtleties and cantabile lines Karajan cajoles from the Berlin Philharmonic’s wind players. “Das Tanzlied” has moments in which the rubato over-sentimentalizes the emotion, thus occasionally detracts from its dance-like qualities. In the final bars, Urbański brings some welcomed tenderness to this rather enigmatic work.
Urbański’s rendition was recorded live from several performances in the Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, in 2019, and the overall listening experience is akin to sitting in the hall. The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester are flawless in their playing, with all the solos carefully and commendably played. The percussion timbres are well-chosen, adding something distinctive to Urbański’s vision. The recording, however, lacks the same detail and bass definition as Karajan or Petrenko, which gives Urbański a disadvantage in painting the luscious velvety colors needed to make the Straussian palette of sound.
These crowd-pleasing Strauss tone poems are a worthy listen from Urbański, but don’t have the same passion, poetry or vision of some other conductors. Petrenko’s pacing is similar to Karajan’s in “Till Eulenspiegel” and in “Don Juan” he offers a cleaner sound and marginally more restrained, but still invigorating experiences. The choice is, then, between the transparency of Urbański, who sometimes offers glowing segments at the expense of an overall outlook of a poem, to a big-picture vision that can persuade but lacks a certain polish. Despite the range of performances available, Urbański fans will appreciate this album.
Strauss – Also sprach Zarathustra, Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegel
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra
Krzysztof Urbański
Alpha Classics, CD ALPHA 413
Recommended Comparisons
Read more classical music reviews or visit The Classic Review Amazon store
Follow Us and Comment:
Get our periodic classical music newsletter with our recent reviews, news and beginners guides.
We respect your privacy.
