Welcome to ‘Dodd’s Discoveries’, a review series from NativeDSD Senior Music Reviewer Bill Dodd. This series focuses on Bill’s latest selections, with new reviews regularly. And the best part… the albums featured in the most current review will be available at a reduced price! Click the button below to see all of Dodd’s Discoveries and to find the current album(s) on sale.
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Richard Strauss 2US$23.99 – US$34.99
You know the question– If you could only have one (whatever) on a desert island, what would it be. Desert Island Favorites can sometimes produce some interesting results. I was thinking a while back about what my desert island favorite tone poems might be. I came up with two: Rachmaninoff’s Isle Of the Dead, and Richard Strauss’ Don Juan. We’re missing the Rachminoff at Native, but there is a an album featuring exciting recordings of Strauss’ Don Juan, and two other Strauss tone poems.
Valery Petrenko conducts the Oslo Philharmonic in very fine renditions of Don Juan, Don Quixote, and Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche. Don Juan is the earliest work and is considered by many to be the most perfect tone poem ever written. Don Juan is, as you’d suspect, quite the dashing fellow. He might not be quite as flashy as Errol Flynn , but there’s no doubt as to his identity.
And for the other works, Till Eulenspiegel is light and amusing, but no less excellent. Don Quixote, as portrayed by Luisa Tuck’s lovely cello, is ready to slay the giants.
All in all, a beautifully recorded, marvelously played selection of tone poems by Richard Strauss.
