Credits:

Haydn, J.

Description:

Richard Strauss attempted to compose a "symphony" when he was a teenager and completed two works. The first, "No. 1 in D minor," was premiered at the age of 16 under the direction of Hermann Levi, but Strauss himself was not satisfied with the performance, lost interest in the work, and did not revise it. On the other hand, the 19-year-old "No. 2" is a work that deserves to be regarded as one of the symphonies of the Romantic period, although it does not have the strong personality of Strauss's later works. It is a brilliant work in the tradition of Beethoven and other German-Austrian symphonies. The overture to the concert is another rarely performed work, but this one is a tour de force reminiscent of Beethoven's "Coriolan," including its key of C minor. The overture is also a very enjoyable piece, with Strauss's typical brass treatment of the brass in several important places. Boimmer's conducting captures the young Strauss's ambition and makes both works into magnificent music. Naxos Japan