Josephs Legende

Featuring

Stefan Solyom
Staatskapelle Weimar
Richard Strauss

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Performer Biography

Stefan Solyom, the conductor on this recording, has been the general music director and principal conductor of the German National Theatre and the Weimar Staatskapelle since 2009.

Critical Reception

The premiere of Josephs Legende received an enthusiastic reception, with critics praising its symphonic qualities and the translucence of the score.

Composer's Artistic Vision

For Josephs Legende, Richard Strauss aimed for a new musical approach, using melodies, gestures, and timbres distinct from his previous works like Salome or Ariadne.

Performer Biography

The Weimar Staatskapelle, founded in 1491, is one of the world's most venerable musical ensembles, with a history linked to many significant musicians and works.

Compositional Technique

Richard Strauss used a large late-romantic orchestra for Josephs Legende, including strings divisi à tre, piano, celesta, four harps, a heckelphone, and an enormous percussion section.

Critical Reception

George Bernard Shaw, a famous Irish playwright, defended Josephs Legende as a 'masterpiece' in an open letter to The Nation, countering anti-German sentiment in England.