R. STRAUSS

Complete Chamber Music

Wolfgang Sawallisch, piano

Johannes Ritzkowsky,

Gitti Pirner,

Elisabeth Woska,

Begoña Uriarte Mrongovius,

Karl-Hermann Mrongovius,

Sinnhoffer-Quartett,

Wiener Streichtrio

Richard Strauss was supremely a composer for the orchestra, and of opera and songs, but in his earlier years he wrote a large amount of chamber music. The young Strauss was heavily influenced by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms, and it was only later that he fell under the spell of Wagner and composed the operas and programme music for which he is best known. This splendid 9-CD set of Richard Strauss’ complete chamber music encompasses a huge range of genres for a variety of instruments. Strauss’ chamber output includes solo works and miniatures, duets, trios and quartets through to concertos, symphonies and melodrama, a once-popular genre that married music with the speaking voice. Early works of note include the mellifluous String Quartet in A Op.2, some of whose themes are modelled on Mozart, and the joyous Serenade in E flat, heard here as a piano solo, already exhibiting the lush textures that were typical of the composer. The Fugue for piano, demonstrates Strauss’ increasing command of intricate counterpoint. Another major work is the Horn Concerto No.1 in E flat Op.11, the first concerto with which Strauss really made his mark, and where his genius is really starting show with its bravura and freedom from traditional formal constraints. With his last major chamber work, the Violin Sonata in E flat, we can almost find the mature Strauss.

The performances are by major international instrumentalists including renowned Straussian Wolfgang Sawallisch (piano), Ernö Sebestyen (violin), Wenn-Sinn Yang (cello), Karl-Heinz Steffens (clarinet), the Vienna String Trio and the Sinnhoffer Quartet.

Sawallisch has been acclaimed as an interpreter of the music of Richard Strauss. As a pianist, he has accompanied a number of prominent singers in lieder, including Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Dame Margaret Price. He has also been acclaimed for his interpretations of the symphonies of Anton Bruckner.

Brilliant Classics 9cds 9231