I purchased this 2-CD box specifically to get a performance of "Metamorphosen" by Richard Strauss. The other two works with it are Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll", and Mahler's Symphony No. 9. I have no complaints about either the works or the performances, although I must confess that of Mahler's 10 symphonies I do find the 9th to be the most problematic for me, despite the very high reputation which it has amongst the musical cognoscenti. Klemperer's interpretations of the works are of the highest order. I was lucky enough to have been able to hear him live at the Festival Hall many years ago, and he has a reputation second to none. The Strauss "Metamorphosen" (for 23 strings) is a very fine but curious piece of music, quite unlike anything else. I suppose in the same order is Schoenberg's "Verklaerte Nacht" (for String sextet) - this is one of his early tonal works, before he gave way to the artificialities of the 12-tone "serialist" system of composing, which produced uniformly ghastly aural experiences, and sent the whole 20th century of serious music down a cul-de-sac from which it has not so far retreated certainly in terms of composers' personal psychology!Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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