Richard Strauss: Death and Transfiguration, Metamorphosen and Four Last Songs

Four Last Songs, Metamorphosen (study for 24 strings), Tod und Verklarung (Death and Transfiguration). Gundula Janowitz, soprano. Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von Karajan




Herbert von Karajan is regarded as one of the supreme interpreters of Richard Strauss' works and it is not difficult to know the hype about him. The homogenous and glowing sonority of the Berlin Philharmonic ensemble suits the nature of these works featured here respectively. Obviously the Crème de la Crème of this CD is the Four Last Songs sung by Gundula Janowitz which is cited as the benchmark of Strauss' last great masterpiece. Miss Janowitz' voice not only has silvery, creamy tone but the same kind of radiating, intense glowing sound that can attract and even repel as Karajan Berliners. Listen to these songs and go back to another classic recording by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf accompanied by Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin lead by George Szell on EMI. Here, Schwarzkopf's lack of Janowitz power and vocal intensity is obvious. Also obvious are the accompaniment by Berliners which their Radio Symphony counterparts are of no match but the sonorous homogeniety of this recording obscures much of the score's details and it is Schwarzkopf's recording with Szell that you should go back for more intimate, chamber settings and transparency. The shortcomings are no fault of Karajan, but this recording seems only to be done justice with on a very sophisticated sound system. The Four Last Songs here screams for a SACD release if you agree with me.


The Death and Transfiguration and Metamorphosen here has some sort of quasi-mystical aura about it thanks again to Karajan's guidance. For Transfiguration, the opening quiet passage has an almost otherworldly quality about it, which when followed by the thud on timpani, listeners are sent to hell, literally. The loud passages are scorching, and I mean seriously with the Berliner brasses matching Chicago Symphony's form. This Transfiguration here is one of the most intense of Karajan's recordings ever captured on record apart from the famous Bruckner 4th on EMI and live Mahler 9th on DG. One downside is the timing, at almost half an hour Karajan stretches far, far longer than his counterparts Kempe and Bohm whom recorded this work at 20 minutes average. It is most obvious at the closing passages, which seems to crawl forever.

Metamorphosen benefits from one of the very rare moments where we get to listen to the Berliner strings toned down. R.Strauss post-war study was written for 24 string players, mourning the destruction of city of Dresden during WWII. It is a stunning showpiece for Berliner strings, although I heard a later recording in the 80s (also with Death and Transfiguration) is even better and won a Penguin Guide "Rosette Award". But with great price and very lengthy playing time (77 mins), this CD is a must grab.

Technical: 10
Interpretation: 8
Recording: 8