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Terrific!

Sungu Okan | Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey | 11/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(This review applies only to "Ein Heldenleben")"Ein Heldenleben" is one of the most distinguished and most beautiful works of Richard Strauss and this performance, perhaps, the best performance (with Karajan's 1959 recording) of this great symphonic poem.The tempi are very fast (as usual in Toscanini), especially in 4th movement - The Battlefield of Hero.
But, this doesn't disturb to the listener, even so, this is very impressive, absorbing.This symphonic poem, as you know, is an autobiographical work of composer, so, The Hero (of course) is himself and his enemies are music critics (of course!).
This work was scored for large orchestra: quadruple woodwinds, 8 horns, 5 trumpets (2 E-flat, 3 B-flat), 3 trombones, 2 tubas, timpani, cymbals, snare drum, tenor drum, bass drum, 2 harps, strings. In other words: approx. 110 musicians...The performance is excellent, the violin solo (imagine that Composer's Wife) is amazing and the solo of E-flat Trumpet (in 4th movement) is very good. And, I think, the most impressive movement of this work is the last movement - The Retreat of Hero and his Death. In last seconds, there is a noble finale -crescendo to reach to Fortissimo and then a diminuendo to reach to Pianissimo- of all winds, which tells that, the last breath and the death with peace of mind.Highly recommended for all R. Strauss or Toscanini fans."