R. Strauss: An Alpine Symphony, Op. 64, TrV 233

Featuring

Marek Janowski
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Richard Strauss

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Composer's Artistic Vision

In Eine Alpensinfonie, Richard Strauss focused on a detailed portrayal of nature rather than metaphysical experiences, describing a 'day in the high mountains'.

Performer Biography

Marek Janowski, the conductor, transformed the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France into an internationally renowned ensemble during his sixteen-year tenure.

Composer Biography

Richard Strauss's Eine Alpensinfonie may be a musical processing of a childhood experience where he was caught in a thunderstorm during a mountain hike.

Composition History

Richard Strauss initially planned to write a four-movement symphony titled 'Tragedy of an Artist' but instead created the one-movement symphonic poem, Eine Alpensinfonie.

Critical Reception

Richard Strauss's Macbeth, Op. 23, was considered 'dreadful' by his colleague Hugo Wolff due to its high level of dissonances, but Strauss remained unconcerned.

Compositional Technique

Eine Alpensinfonie is a virtuoso orchestral work featuring wind and thunder machines, cowbells, celesta, organ, heckelphone, and requires at least 125 musicians, including 12 horns, 2 trumpets, and 2 trombones behind the scenes.