Beethoven & R. Strauss: Symphony No. 2, Op. 36 - Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 (Remastered) Boston Symphony Orchestra & Pierre Monteux

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36:
• 1 Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36: I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio 09:49
• 2 Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, OP. 36: II. Larghetto 10:50
• 3 Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36: III. Scherzo - Allegro - Trio 03:39
• 4 Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36: VI. Allegro molto 06:40
• Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949): Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40:
• 5 Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: I. Der Held (The Hero) 04:04
• 6 Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: II. Des Helden Widersacher (The Hero's Adversaries) 03:10
• 7 Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: III. Des Helden Gefährtin (The Hero's female Companion) 10:32
• 8 Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: IV. Des Helden Walstatt (The Hero's Battlefield) 08:30
• 9 Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: V. Des Helden Friedenswerke (The Hero's Works of Peace) 04:49
• 10 Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40: VI. Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung (The Hero's Retreat from the World and Consummation) 10:24
• Total Runtime 01:12:27

Info for Beethoven & R. Strauss: Symphony No. 2, Op. 36 - Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 (Remastered)

The summer of 1962 saw Monteux back once more at Tanglewood for six guest appearances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The following year, at the age of 88, he made two final appearances with the BSO at Tanglewood, just a few months before his final concert with the orchestra at Boston's Symphony Hall on 21 December 1963.

The 1962 concerts started with two identical programmes, of which these recordings were taken from the second concert. The programme began with an orchestrated organ work by Bach, followed by the Beethoven, an interval, and the Strauss presented here. The programme suggests that a last minute change due to illness meant the Bach replaced vocal music from Purcell and Weber - the Beethoven and Strauss were always planned here.

Of these, the Beethoven is a lovely performance, but it is perhaps Ein Heldenleben which stands out as particularly inspired and righly brings the house down after some brilliant playing and well-judged pacing. Naturally the Boston Symphony is excellent throughout. Sound quality on these XR remasters of excellent if originally slightly hard-sounding stereo source recordings is truly superb - an ongoing improvement from the previous years' recordings can be clearly heard and enjoyed.

Boston Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Monteux, conductor

Digitally remastered

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