Credits:

Strauss, Richard (1864-1949)

Description:

This is a collection of accessible and attractive wind ensemble works by members of the Berlin State Opera Orchestra, who are closely associated with Richard Strauss. Richard Strauss, whose father was a horn player, wrote many fascinating works for wind instruments. His concertos and ensembles all have the sunny, graceful melodies of Mozart's works with a Romantic (but not heavy) sound. This two-disc set includes all of the wind ensemble works. In particular, the Serenade and Suite for 13 Winds is a fine and beautiful work reminiscent of Mozart's "Grand Partita" with the same orchestration. The performance is by members of the Berlin State Opera Orchestra, who visited Japan in December 2022 and gave a splendid performance. Richard Strauss was the conductor and general music director of the Berlin State Opera from 1898 to 1920, conducting a total of 1,200 performances including those as a guest conductor. The opera house had planned a special program of 10 complete chamber music concerts in 2020, the centennial of Strauss' retirement as general music director, but a pandemic of the new coronavirus forced the cancellation of the program. Later, the wind ensemble's performance, delivered without an audience, was so well received that plans for a session recording emerged and resulted in this CD.Conductor Gregor Witt, who has been the principal oboist of the Opera Orchestra since 1993 by appointment of Barenboim, devotes himself here to conducting so that his colleagues can perform to their fullest. While the album is lined with classically composed pieces, the arrangement of "Till" allows the audience to fully enjoy the virtuosity and virtuosity of the orchestra members. Naxos Japan