Sir Simon Rattle – R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben & Le bourgeois gentilhomme (Édition StudioMasters) (2005/2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Sir Simon Rattle – R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben & Le bourgeois gentilhomme (Édition StudioMasters) (2005/2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:22:00 minutes | 749 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Warner Classics International

Sir Simon Rattle’s position as chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker provides a real boost of inspiration. There is no other way to judge the recent development of the Rattle discography. For the first time in his long career, the conductor has recently dedicated himself to the symphonies of Antonín Dvorák and Franz Schubert, and now a new name is appearing in Rattle’s repertoire again: Richard Strauss. Sir Simon combined his tone poem “Ein Heldenleben”, which was recorded live in September 2005, with the rarely heard orchestral suite “Der Bürger als Edelmann” after Molière. With almost 82 minutes of playing time, the CD program breaks all EMI Classics records.

“A fascinating self-portrait,” praised the Berlin “Tagesspiegel” Rattle’s “hero’s life” interpretation after the concert. No doubt about it: with this interpretation of Strauss’s blatantly autobiographical self-hero worship, Rattle and his orchestra once again attracted the attention of the critics. The suite “Der Bürger als Edelmann”, created from a incidental music to Molière’s play of the same name “Le Bourgeois gentilhomme” and originally composed for the first version of Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos “, shows the other, the easy Strauss. The piece quotes a wealth of Baroque themes by Lully and offers a capricious retrospective from the late Art Nouveau period to the 18th century.

“Rattle’s recording does not seem sluggish at any moment, but elastic and tense in the motivic struts: the sound image is more annoying, harder, rougher than with the Viennese, who are enjoying themselves. Rattle and the Berliners are confidently sensitive to the transitions, the ominous side episodes of the hero, such as the emotional curves of his companion, sound emphatically individualized, and even increases are breathed through with courage – boldly interrupted by the brilliant insertions of the solo violinist Guy Braunstein. Then, with explosive force, the majestic apotheosis.” (W. Schreiber, FonoForum)

Tracklist:
1-1. Sir Simon Rattle – Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: I. Der Held (04:19)
1-2. Sir Simon Rattle – Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: II. Des Helden Widersacher (03:18)
1-3. Sir Simon Rattle – Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: III. Des Helden Gefährtin (14:00)
1-4. Sir Simon Rattle – Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: IV. Des Helden Walstatt (07:21)
1-5. Sir Simon Rattle – Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: V. Des Helden Friedenswerke (06:21)
1-6. Sir Simon Rattle – Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: VI. Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung (12:16)
1-7. Sir Simon Rattle – Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60-IIIa: I. Ouvertüre (04:03)
1-8. Sir Simon Rattle – Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60-IIIa: II. Menuett (01:34)
1-9. Sir Simon Rattle – Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60-IIIa: III. Der Fechmeister (01:50)
1-10. Sir Simon Rattle – Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60-IIIa: IV. Auftritt und Tanz der Schneider (04:53)
1-11. Sir Simon Rattle – Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60-IIIa: V. Das Menuett des Lully (02:13)
1-12. Sir Simon Rattle – Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60-IIIa: VI. Courante (02:18)
1-13. Sir Simon Rattle – Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60-IIIa: VII. Auftritt des Cleonte (03:55)
1-14. Sir Simon Rattle – Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60-IIIa: VIII. Vorspiel (03:26)
1-15. Sir Simon Rattle – Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60-IIIa: IX. Das Diner (10:05)

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