Kathleen Battle and Richard Strauss!
This DVD features several amazing singers, as well as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Claudio Abbado.
I am a great admirer of Richard Strauss’ music. I love many of his Operas, his tone poems, his Alpen Symphonie, his songs for soprano and orchestra, and more…
I have never been able to figure out how a gentle man like Strauss became a Nazi sympathizer, and I will never forgive him for that, nor will I ever forget it! Still, I am able to enjoy his music…
Unfortunatley we now hear a lot less of Kathleen Battle. When she was active on the concert stage, and in many opera houses, the public could hear what a marvelous singer she was. She had an amazing way of presenting all manner of song with great feelings, great phrasing, and great musical expression.
In this DVD we are able to hear and see marvelous interpretations of Strauss’ music:
• Tone poem, “Don Juan”
• Tone poem “Till Eulenspiegel”
• Scene from the Opera “Der Rosenkavalier” with Kathleen Battle and other singers
• Burleske for piano and Orchestra, with Martha Argerich as soloist
What rich content that is! And the music is performed by a world-class orchestra!
In the following video, Renee Fleming, Frederica von Stade, Kathleen Battle, and Andreas Schmidt sing the finale to Richard Strauss’ opera, Der Rosenkavalier, with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado
Also on this DVD is a performance of the Burleske for Piano and Orchestra in D minor by Strauss. Same orchestra and conductor as for the Rosenkavalier, and now with pianist Martha Argerich. What an amazing performance of this piece filled with pianistic pyrotechniques. And Ms. Argerich is up to the challenge as you’ll see with that smile on her face at the end!
Tags: Richard Strauss, Martha Argerich, Kathleen Battle, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado