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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fine Score,
By
This review is from: R Strauss: Guntram (Audio CD)
By the time Strauss had completed his first opera Guntram in 1894 he had already established himself as a composer of several masterly tone poems, so although this opera is still the work of a young composer it is by no means the work of an inexperienced composer. Unlike the previous reviewer's description of this work as 'the son of Rienzi' and a bit 'boring' I cannot myself bring myself to concur with that description.The music is of course, not mature Strauss, but it remains Strauss nonetheless and traces of his distinctive voice are abundantly present. The heavy influence of Wagner predominates and there are passages that recall to mind the sound world of Lohengrin or even Die Walkure. The music is lush, romantic and even memorable and the score is masterfully orchestrated. I have not listened to any other versions of this rarely performed opera but I cannot really fault the performance of this recording. Gustav Kuhn handles the orchestra skilfully and sensitively ,and the expressive, smokey, heroic tenor voice of Alan Woodrow is well suited to the music, although at times he does sound a little strained which is probably due more to Strauss's vocal writing than to any inability of Woodrow. The set comes with a 39 page booklet that includes the entire libretto in german but unfortunately there is no english translation. However there is a synopsis in english included and some personal recollections about the work and it's first performance by the composer himself I bought this set as I am a Strauss completist and now finally I have recordings of all of his operas. Unlike Wagner, whose first three operas really are something of a bore, I found this work to be surprisingly pleasing and although it is no masterpiece, it does contain moments of great beauty.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not the Strauss we know and love,
By
This review is from: R Strauss: Guntram (Audio CD)
OK; I'll come clean and say that while Strauss is up there for me with my very favourite composers, I found this opera to be a real bore. It is in the son-of-"Rienzi" (equally hard going - see my review) style, not the scintillating, inventive voice of the more mature Strauss and some scenes and arias are just interminable. I realise that this contradicts the earlier review but I note that it is rarely performed and that this is a recording of a live performance; you are unlikely to see a top-quality studio recording for good reason. Strauss never got over his pique when Munich rejected this, his first attempt at opera - but in truth it really isn't a success as entertainment. As it stands, the sound quality and standard of interpretation are very good; Alan Woodrow is tireless in the thankless eponymous role and Elisabeth Wachutka, although a bit sour, tackles her role gamely. If you are a Strauss completist, then you will buy this - but I thought I was one and I gave it away, knowing that I really didn't want to hear it again when I could hear "Die Frau Ohne Schatten" instead, and wanted a splurge of Straussian glamour.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unknown treasure,
By Mr. T. R. MCKAY - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: R Strauss: Guntram (Audio CD)
I often wondered what an opera would sound like written between Parsifal and Salome. This is it! This opera certainly is Strauss's attempt at Wagnerian music drama be in only 90 mins in length. It looks back to Tristan und Isolde and ahead to Die Frau ohne Schatten. The vocal writing favors male singers with only one female role and very limited chorus. Perhaps the dreadfully difficult heldentenor role of Guntram which (in Strauss's own words) is lengthier than the role of Tristan!I would love to hear Heppner or Domingo tackle some of the dramatic monologues in the studio, (just like Eaglen did on her Strauss and Mozart album singing a scene of Freihild...my first exposure to Guntram. This work is a must for any German opera fan, and any devotee of Strauss and Wagner. The recording is of a live performance with no clapping, coughing or stage noise. This opera is a great value for a 2CD set even though the liner notes are skimpy and the libretto is in German only. No track lists or lengths are provided and no details as to the performance or recording or the obscure (to me at least) cast.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not the Strauss we know and love,
By Ralph Moore "Ralph operaphile" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: R Strauss: Guntram (Audio CD)
OK; I'll come clean and say that while Strauss in my estimation, a demi-god at his best even Homer nods...and I am delighted to discover that the distinguished music critic Robert Levine shares my view of this opera (see his review on classicstoday.com). Strauss is up there for me with my very favourite composers, but I found this opera to be a real bore. It is in the son-of-"Rienzi" (equally hard going - see my review) style, not the scintillating, inventive voice of the more mature Strauss and some scenes and arias are just interminable. I realise that this contradicts an earlier review but I note that this opera is rarely performed and what we have here is a recording of a rare live performance; you are unlikely to see a top-quality studio recording for good reason. Even his most ardent supporters might find it hard to summon up the wherewithal to mount a defence of this rather dismal early effort; it really is a dud. Strauss never got over his pique when Munich rejected this, his first attempt at opera - but in truth it really isn't a success as entertainment. As it stands, the sound quality and standard of interpretation are very good; Alan Woodrow is tireless in the thankless eponymous role and Elisabeth Wachutka, although a bit sour, tackles her role gamely. If you are a Strauss completist, then you will buy this - but I thought I was one and I gave it away, knowing that I really didn't want to hear it again when I could hear "Die Frau Ohne Schatten" instead, and wanted a splurge of Straussian glamour.
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