Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra Op. 30 & Ein Heldenleben Op. 40

Description

The Oslo Philharmonic and Vasily Petrenko present the first of a new series of recordings of Richard Strauss' orchestral music. This first release features the great tone poems "Also Sprach Zarathustra" and "Ein Heldenleben", both works the Oslo Philharmonic has a long history of performing at home and abroad. Vasily Petrenko, chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic since 2013, exploits the special intensity of the orchestra's string sound and its magnificent wind and brass sections to full effect in this thrillingly virtuosic music. Previous recordings on Lawo with these performers have been unanimously critically acclaimed. "These performances from Vasily Petrenko and Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra are top-drawer " Music Web International on Scriabin BBC Radio 3's Record of the Week for Romeo and Juliet (Record Review). Gramophone Editor's Choice: "There's no lack of excitement or, where needed, bombast, and the Osloers' sound at full throttle is thrilling, their playing superb. But what makes this account so special is that it also has room for patient musicality…It's a performance that's full of detail and loving touches to make you smile, while it also offers a sense of coherence to leave you deeply satisfied." The Sunday Times: "As Petrenko's tenure in Oslo begins to wind down, he revels in the standards of orchestral virtuosity he has attained with this excellent band in two Strauss tone poems that challenge all instrumental departments...the Osloers shine brilliantly." Vasily Petrenko is one of the most significant and galvanizing musicians alive, and has won numerous accolades for his recordings of Russian repertoire, including two Gramophone awards. With the Oslo Philharmonic, he has recorded works by Shostakovich, Szymanowski, Strauss and Prokofiev, as well as a major cycle of orchestral works by Alexander Scriabin. The Oslo Philharmonic was born in 1919 and over the next half-century, the orchestra's reputation grew steadily. In 1979, it changed forever with the arrival of a young Latvian arriving in Norway, Mariss Jansons, who transformed it to rival the great Philharmonics of Vienna, Berlin and New York.