CACOPHONY: GREAT CLASSICAL MUSIC20 Aug 2022

125. Ain’t no mountain high enough: Strauss, An Alpine Symphony

With the wonders of our imagination and some great music to help, all things are possible - so let's enjoy the views from the top of a mountain: leaving the house (or even getting out of bed) is entirely optional. Richard Strauss takes us over the top (in every sense) in his epic, excessive, exuberant Alpine Symphony, with great views and plenty of thrills but also moments that inspire deeper contemplation on the glories of nature. It's a trip you don't want to miss.

Listening time: 62 mins (Podcast, 11', music 51')

In 1982 Herbert von Karajan conducted An Alpine Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. It was the first thing to be put on cd, and those who know these things maintain that it's still one of the best:

Links here to performances on Youtube, Spotify and Apple Music . If you can, try to listen without adverts, which are particularly interrupting in this piece!

If you like to see huge orchestras in action, there are good films performances on youtube. I like the Oslo Philharmonic with Vasily Petrenko and the WDR Symphony and Semyon Bychkov.

Picture credit: Thanks to Melanie Stefan for providing the picture, it's the Alps in France, as seen from the Charmant Som in the Chartreuse Mountains.

What do you think? Let me know with an easy voicemail or comment at Cacophonyonline.com, Facebook or Twitter.

If you'd like to support Cacophony there are easy, great, ways:

- share this episode with someone you know

- share the 100 second trailer

- buy us a cuppa at ko-fi.com

- subscribe/ review and keep listening!

Thanks for listening!

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(194)

155. Pitting man against nature: Haydn, Symphony No.51

A subtle extremist, in his Symphony no.51 Haydn throws down some extraordinary challenges to his horn players - can they beat the ‘immutable forces of nature’? Listening time 30 mins (podcast 9′, musi...

30 Jul 20248min

154. Wedded Bliss! A 30th anniversary gift: Stravinsky, Dumbarton Oaks

A cool and funky wedding anniversary present - a 15 minute classic from the most famous composer alive, Stravinsky's Dumbarton Oaks is stylish, sophisticated and hugely enjoyable! Listening time 23 m...

26 Jan 20248min

153. Ecstasy, beauty, and ripping the universe open: Messiaen, Vingt regards sur l’enfant Jésus - with Rolf Hind

Pianist Rolf Hind introduces one of the epics of piano music. A heady mix of virtuoso composing and devout faith, Olivier Messiaen's 20 reflections on the infant Jesus, Vingt regards sur l'infant Jésu...

12 Jan 202437min

152. An injection of flavour and joy: Nohl, Spices

Hot off the press! The wonders of modern tech allow us to enjoy Katharina Nohl's rhapsody for piano and orchestra, Spices, before it's even been performed by live musicians! And Katharina joins us to ...

22 Okt 202315min

151. An unbeaten 50 of flair and panache! Haydn, Symphony No.50

Always entertaining the crowds, Haydn brings up his 50 with typical style (before settling down for 50 more symphonies). Not a famous piece but well worth a listen! Listening time 27 mins (podcast 9',...

30 Sep 20238min

Women’s World Cup FINAL of Classical Music: USA v Ireland

It's the Women’s World Cup of Classical Music! And it's THE FINAL! USA vs Republic of Ireland Complete music here: hthttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCXUbmBaA9OoRjafAn_k1zTnHR8cH9qyj Please listen ...

19 Aug 20232min

If plankton made music what would it sound like? Norway: Maja S K Ratkje

Maja S K Ratkje joins Cacophony at the Women's World Cup to explore the fun and joy of writing music and choose pieces by her Norwegian colleagues. But there must be something in the Norwegian water, ...

18 Aug 202317min

Music from a global melting pot: Brazil / Gabriella di Laccio

It's Cacophony… at the Women’s Football World Cup! A glorious celebration of music from around the world, all written by women, and chosen specially for Cacophony by leading female musicians. Singer, ...

9 Aug 202326min