Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben • Elgar: Enigma Variations - Bernard haitink, RCO/LPO
Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 • Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra, Op. 36 ("Enigma")*
Bernard Haitink, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra*
XLD | FLAC (tracks) | No Log/cue-sheet | front- & back covers, High-def JPEG | ~407 Mb
Classical | ADD | Philips Silver Line Classics 432 276-2
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40, (literally A Heroic Life, but usually more loosely translated as A Hero's Life) is a tone poem by Richard Strauss. The work was completed in 1898, and heralds the composer’s more mature period in this genre. Strauss dedicated the piece to the 27-year old Willem Mengelberg and the Concertgebouw Orchestra, although it was premiered by the Frankfurter Museumsorchester.
Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra, Op. 36 ("Enigma"), commonly referred to as the Enigma Variations, is a set of a theme and its fourteen variations written for orchestra by Edward Elgar in 1898–1899. It is Elgar's best-known large-scale composition, for both the music itself and the enigmas behind it. Elgar dedicated the piece to "my friends pictured within", each variation being an affectionate portrayal of one of his circle of close acquaintances. For more information on Elgar's 'Enigma Variations', click here.
The recordings on this disc by Bernard Haitink date back from the late seventies (Ein Heldenleben (1970), Enigma (1973)) and were re-released in Philips' Silver Line Classics series. A must-have for fans of Haitink and the RCO. Enjoy!
Tracklist:
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40
1. Der Held (The Hero)
2. Des Helden Widersacher (The Hero's Adversaries)
3. Des Helden Gefährtin (The Hero's Companion)
4. Des Helden Walstatt (The Hero at Battle)
5. Des Helden Friedenswerke (The Hero's Works of Peace)
6. Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung (The Hero's Retirement from this World and Consummation)
Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra, Op. 36 ("Enigma")
7. Theme (Andante)
8. Variation I (L'istesso tempo) "C.A.E."
9. Variation II (Allegro) "H.D.S.-P."
10. Variation III (Allegretto) "R.B.T."
11. Variation IV (Allegro di molto) "W.M.B."
12. Variation V (Moderato) "R.P.A."
13. Variation VI (Andantino) "Ysobel"
14. Variation VII (Presto) "Troyte"
15. Variation VIII (Allegretto) "W.N."
16. Variation IX (Adagio) "Nimrod"
17. Variation X (Intermezzo: Allegretto) "Dorabella"
18. Variation XI (Allegro di molto) "G.R.S."
19. Variation XII (Andante) "B.G.N."
20. Variation XIII (Romanza: Moderato) "* * *"
21. Variation XIV (Finale: Allegro Presto) "E.D.U."
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40
1. Der Held (The Hero)
2. Des Helden Widersacher (The Hero's Adversaries)
3. Des Helden Gefährtin (The Hero's Companion)
4. Des Helden Walstatt (The Hero at Battle)
5. Des Helden Friedenswerke (The Hero's Works of Peace)
6. Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung (The Hero's Retirement from this World and Consummation)
Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra, Op. 36 ("Enigma")
7. Theme (Andante)
8. Variation I (L'istesso tempo) "C.A.E."
9. Variation II (Allegro) "H.D.S.-P."
10. Variation III (Allegretto) "R.B.T."
11. Variation IV (Allegro di molto) "W.M.B."
12. Variation V (Moderato) "R.P.A."
13. Variation VI (Andantino) "Ysobel"
14. Variation VII (Presto) "Troyte"
15. Variation VIII (Allegretto) "W.N."
16. Variation IX (Adagio) "Nimrod"
17. Variation X (Intermezzo: Allegretto) "Dorabella"
18. Variation XI (Allegro di molto) "G.R.S."
19. Variation XII (Andante) "B.G.N."
20. Variation XIII (Romanza: Moderato) "* * *"
21. Variation XIV (Finale: Allegro Presto) "E.D.U."
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