The super budget Arte Nova label is gaining a reputation for quality and
originality. The focus of interest in this collection of Richard Strauss's
tone is the inclusion of the earlier work, Macbeth which is something of
a rarity, as far as recorded performances are concerned, in comparison to
his other tone poems. Macbeth turns out to comprise much of the sort of material
we meet in the other tone poems on this disc plus a little of Till Eulenspiegel;
although, towards the end the atmosphere becomes appropriately doom-laden.
Herbig gives energetic performances of the better-known tone poems. His Don
Juan is lusty and sensuous, as adept with his blade as he is around the
petticoats and his everyman hero of Tod und Verklärung has something
of the Don too before his appointment with Death. The transfiguration episode
is moving and dignified. There are higher-voltaged readings of these more
well known works but the recorded sound is very good and with the inclusion
of Macbeth this is a firm recommendation in its price range. The documentation
is sparse and inadequate
Reviewer
Ian Lace
tar.gif)
FastCounter
by LinkExchange
Saarbrücken Radio Symphony
Orchestra conducted by Günther Herbig
