Richard Strauss - Till Eulenspiegel op. 28 | Semyon Bychkov | WDR Symphony Orchestra

Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks op. 28 by Richard Strauss was performed by the WDR Symphony Orchestra conducted by its then principal conductor Semyon Bychkov in December 2007 in the Cologne Philharmonie.
Historical recording from the WDR Klassik-Archiv.
WDR Sinfonieorchester
Semyon Bychkov, conductor
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○ Introduction to the work
It is undoubtedly one of the most popular orchestral works by Richard Strauss: the symphonic poem Till Eulenspiegel. The work with the character of a well-told anecdote, yet ravishingly orchestrated and endowed with memorable melodies, has never failed to make an impact.
It was first performed on 5.11.1895 at the Gürzenich in Cologne. Till Eulenspiegel was once very aptly described as "the most victorious laughter in music". It is quite possible that Strauss saw himself in the role of the fool. In the 1890s he was considered a hopeful newcomer to the scene, supported by important personalities and holding leading positions in Meiningen, Munich and Berlin. But Strauss, who appeared with a revolutionary attitude, also took a corner. The influential Eduard Hanslick, himself a follower of Brahms and thus a representative of absolute music, generally rejected Strauss' music as well as the efforts of the "future musicians" Liszt and Wagner with regard to program music and symphonic poetry (Richard Strauss, by the way, preferred to speak of "tone poetry"). But with the stroke of genius of Till Eulenspiegel, Strauss mocked his opponents and in the end also established himself internationally as a composer.
The roguish pranks of Til Ulenspiegel appeared in book form as early as the beginning of the 16th century. Still a bestseller today, the popular book reports how Till played the most impudent pranks on his contemporaries' land. Strauss' music tells of this and creates plastic orchestral scenes such as Till's "Ride through the Screaming Market Women" or his dispute with the equally dim-witted and conceited scientists. Till's musical themes appear regularly: a horn melody (the so-called "Schelmenweise") and a nose-twisting clarinet motif as a concise gesture of malicious joy. After he has done it too madly, Strauss' music describes in a spooky court scene with subsequent execution (small and large drum) how the quietly whimpering Till am Strang breathes his last. "The fool is dead, long live the fool," the orchestra conciliatorily announces at the end.

[@shupingwang3392]

Das ist eine klare und ausdrucksstarke Auffuehrung von Strauss TE. Bychkov ist wie immer hervorragend darin, sehr genau und mit passenden Tempi zu arbeiten. Da stimmt einfach alles und hat Charakter.

[@WDRKlassik]

Vielen Dank! Es freut uns, dass Ihnen unsere Interpretation gefällt 😊

[@philtsui]

Effortless horn solo, some musicians are smiling and cameraman catch every moment, what cam I ask for more! Thank you

[@Everest-nh3dl]

Very stylish with the pitch black background. I really like that. I wish there were more performances like this today. Thank you for uploading these broadcasts from the Philharmonie!

[@WDRKlassik]

Hi, Everest1992! You are welcome!

[@kennethpack1963]

They can play pretty dam good too...

[@MrMichaelvier]

fantastic Orchestra , fantastic Soloists......Conductor ...and of course my all time favorite Composer Richard Strauss:-)) thx for posting

[@gregorywoodbridge7590]

More Bychkov!!! Give us everything you’ve got!

[@jamesfoster866]

I have watched this many times with sheer delight. The orchestra is fabulous and the conductor quite brilliant. I think he could conduct effectively using his facial expressions. Many, many thanks

[@WDRKlassik]

You're welcome! We're glad that you like it 🤗

[@fabricefortin8230]

Les tempos sont originaux et permettent de mettre en lumière tous les détails de la partition sans perdre en narrativité et sans grossir le trait (ici pas d'excès de sentimentalité ni de démonstration orchestrale trop appuyée) ! Merci WDR de nous gratifier de ces collaborations entre le maestro Bychkov et son magnifique WDR !

[@philthefox1948]

Bien dit. C'est une des meilleures versions sur YT. Remarque : le premier violon solo, Elise Batnes, est actuellement premier violon au Oslo Philharmonic. Voir l'extraordinaire Heldenleben au Royal Albert Hall dirigé par Makela aux Proms 2022. Vous m'en direz des nouvelles 😊 Bien à vous

[@jori4345]

Fantastische Aufführung!👍😊

[@WDRKlassik]

Vielen Dank!

[@kennethpack1963]

As a French Horn player of old, I sure as hell like this, a whole bunch....

[@fauredaniel57]

Best performance, at least for me. And I've heard a lot of this incredible piece of Music.

[@johnturley8621]

Here is one piece I don't have in my collection that I've missed since childhood. Normally I kinda shy away from 20th-century music, but this is a rare exception. Glad to have access to it here. Thank you again, WDR! JAT

[@WDRKlassik]

You're welcome! We're glad that you like this piece and our rendition 🤗

[@kennethdower7425]

Till Eulenspiegel is late nineteenth century.

[@johnturley8621]

@@kennethdower7425 Sorry, my music history usually ends post-Brahms and doesn't begin again until the transition between Danny Kaye and rock 'n roll. JAT

[@kennethdower7425]

@@johnturley8621 Hehe, actually, Brahms was _still_ alive when Till Eulenspiegel was first performed!

[@johnturley8621]

@@kennethdower7425 Mer-say! Non music historian as I am...JAT

[@KBMars]

Bravo, sitzt perfekt!

[@juanalvarez-np5ow]

One of the best renditions

[@WDRKlassik]

Thanks.

[@brunopetitmengin7176]

Simon dirige sans partition et il prend son pied. Magnifique !!!

[@WDRKlassik]

Thanks for the compliment!

[@WDRKlassik]

He is an outstanding conductor!

[@dienyih]

My standing ovation! The camera crew followed the musical narration effectively, capturing many stunning close-ups of the WDR musicians. For instance, at 1:06, the high-pitch E-flat clarinet first introduces us to Till the jester. As the musical narration progresses, we “see” the trickster’s adventure, playing cruel pranks on innocent folks. Notice Semyon Bychko’s facial expressions and hand gestures (see one example starting at 8:30): they seem to reflect Till’s flippant, devil-may-care attitude quite well. Of course, Till’s mischief leads him to his “trial for blasphemy” (quoting Strauss’s score notations) and death sentence. The snare drum rolls (at 12:26) announce his execution by hanging. At this moment, the E-flat clarinet reappears for Till’s final defiant squeal (at 13:15). And as Till “dangles, the breath leaves his body; the last convulsion, and Till’s mortal self is finished” (quoting Strauss’s notations as translated by Norman Del Mar). All these and more are rendered dramatically in this performance. An impressive audio and visual treat!. Hats off to the WDR orchestra’s horn section, the trombones, the four (if I count correctly) clarinets! Not to mention the other players. Their virtuosity is shown and heard! Just one particularly outstanding example (among many others) is the concertmaster at 5:00. Highly enjoyable and highly recommended!

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you very much for your kind words! 🥰

[@eduardoochoa7063]

I read about this piece of music in "runaway horses" - mishima

[@vicentemarzal5606]

excelente obra dotada de mucha fuerza interpretativa

[@WDRKlassik]

Muchas gracias 🤗

[@jeffwatt3410]

It wasn't until I read a book (on the instruments of the orchestra) YEARS ago as a young man - that I realised: that famous little oft-recurring run is played on a FRENCH HORN (not a trombone as I had thought) ... and that trickster "trill" (his impudent and defiant laughter - or something even eud

[@jdaninho]

best version

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! 🤗

[@wjniemi]

What a beautiful performance by all! ❤❤

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you 🤗

[@dietmarhoffner2997]

So muss das gespielt werden. Die Musik braucht Platz, um den Humor zu entfalten. Das Orchester ist sehr gut einstudiert. Eigentlich ist die richtige Interpretation in der Partitur klar vorgezeichnet. Die meisten Aufnahmen huschen aber über die Details hinweg.

[@StevenGranados0811]

Wow the violin solo 4:53

[@elisaberthet3746]

1:13 1:37 3:01 6:08 7:07 12:07

[@Discovery_and_Change]

12:26 drum roll | Tyrant entrances: 12:32 | 12:49 | 13:08 | 13:17 | 13:25

[@노은솔-n6d]

11:30

[@jeffwatt3410]

Continued>>> that little impudent and defiant "trill" that follows (his mocking laughter - or something much ruder?): - a clarinet of course.

[@Dgjltfresxrruugbfwwqfb]

9:47

[@ibizaking]

Bitte, es gibt eine Video Aufnahme von Elektra, die dürfen sie uns nicht enthalten!!!

[@affrything]

anyone know that principal horn?

[@WDRKlassik]

Samuel Seidenberg is playing principal horn. We hope you enjoy it!

[@emiliakamper9241]

3:22 Ziffer 11

[@JahshantiH]

2:07

[@JahshantiH]

3:35

[@JahshantiH]

1:35

[@Happysongkla]

Buravo. From Tokyo

[@jpegmarina]

1:12 6:09 11:40

[@heehee5324]

1:45 11:20

[@realmarvin0658]

Hallo

[@samlin9265]

10:11

[@次郎木付]

ティルオイレンシュピーゲルの愉快ないたずら これが正しい曲名です

[@エマ-u5l]

英語から日本語に翻訳してるから変な感じになってるんでしょ

[@次郎木付]

そういうことでしたか ありがとうございます

[@GeraldNorman-vq9je]

I'm an air conductor of course. O k gotta go.

[@drapik9144]

the conductor looks like a clown. . . from children's horror films 9.17 Emma Watson?

[@artiong69]

schwach klassik ist für opfer

[@WDRKlassik]

Was immer das heißen soll. 🤷

[@christophalthoff70]

Du bist ein Opfer und dazu ein Klassikbanause?

[@javiermedina5313]

Wonderful performance! One of the bests tbh.

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! ❤

[@captaintor7920]

No one is watching the conductor.

[@vhphoenix]

10:50

[@ekmke96]

5:15

[@Fox.White.]

9:17

[@woong_cl]

11:30

[@ekmke96]

1:34

[@ekmke96]

5:20

[@ekmke96]

3:39

[@ekmke96]

1:34

[@SeoyoungChoi-z5j]

14:30

[@justincarrothers1230]

11:48

[@ekmke96]

9:20

[@lulcy789]

10:28

[@samlin9265]

5:25

[@GeneChangoff]

thank you samuel rin itoshi