Richard Strauss: Tod und Verklärung (Death andTransfiguration) op. 24

Mikko Franck conducts the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France performing the symphonic poem "Tod und Verklärung" (Death and Transfiguration) by Richard Strauss, composed in 1887-1888. Excerpt from the concert recorded on 21 décembre 2018, live from de Radio France Auditorium.
Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration) was composed during the decade in which Richard Strauss composed many of his great symphonic poems inspired by literature, poetry, and philosophy from various different sources. This influential decade begin in 1889 with the symphonic fantasy Aus Italien - hommage, in many ways, to Harold en Italie by Berlioz and to Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony. These symphonic poems each draw influences from the works of Franz Liszt whilst at the same time transcending the genre with a melodic verve and a constant renewal of the form itself, characteristics untypical of the orchestral works of the Hungarian composer.
Thus were born after Aus Italien, successively: Macbeth, Don Juan, Tod und Verklärung, Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Also sprach Zarathustra, Don Quixote, and finally Ein Heldenleben. Strauss then dedicated himself almost entirely to the stage, creating Feuersnot (1901) and Salome (1905), until the final Capriccio, premiered in Munich in 1942.
Richard Strauss elevated somewhat the style of the symphonic poem, but he was always careful to never become subserviant to the chosen texts for his works. Several of his symphonic poems, contrary to Thus Spoke Zarathustra, even have a particularly weak literary support. This is the case of Death and Transfiguration, whose score includes an epigraph of a poem by Alexander Ritter, but which could very well do without such an addition. The music indeed speaks of agony, of suffering, of a fight with Death, then of a final rise towards deliverance, the light and appeasement, an inward journey which hardly requires additional commentary or further explaination to be wholly understood by the listener. The program even seems to have been added in this case to the music after the fact.
Richard Strauss himself wrote: "Death and transfiguration is the fruit of my imagination, and not that of a lived experience (I fell ill almost two years later). It was an idea like any other... Probably the musical need, after Macbeth [which begins and ends in D minor] and Don Juan [which begins and ends in E minor] to write a piece that begins in C minor and finishes in C major!".
The c minor key of the work's opening is that of agony and nostalgia. The timpani announces the violence of the duel with Death, Un coup de timbale annonce la violence du combat avec la mort, a fierce struggle that subsides briefly before giving way to the glorious memories that seize the imagination of the dying hero: it is the heroic life (expressed by the horns), it is love, it is also the theme of the Ideal that seeks to impose itself. (The last of the Four Last Songs quotes this theme fleetingly.) A new transition, with stifled yet threatening tom-tom hits, leads to a great crescendo that affirms the theme of the Ideal and ends with an arpeggio of harps, in an atmosphere of definitive reconciliation.
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[@sergiocontreras8372]

I have been listening to this piece since I was a young boy. I am now 80. By now I think I know how death comes to you. I have yet to experience the Transfiguration, if it ever comes. Excellent interpretation with conductor Franck.

[@jcQ1a2z3W4s5x6]

The spiritual Rebirth and Resurrection

[@sergiocontreras8372]

Very well said, my dear sir.@@jcQ1a2z3W4s5x6

[@sergiocontreras8372]

I agree completely. You hit the nail in the head. Thanks!@@jcQ1a2z3W4s5x6

[@michaelmcclary8054]

I played this at BGSU with Maestro Emil Raab conducting.1975, Bowling Green, OH. Mr. Raab took off his glasses, and conducted from memory. Sharpest conducting I have ever experienced in 43 years of professional Trumpet 🎺 playing. Last 16 bars, Maestro Raab was sobbing - as was the entire BGSU Symphony. I will never forget this. Michael McClary, retired Professor of Trumpet 🎺. Georgia Perimeter College & Georgia State University

[@natga8943]

any trumpet tips? always learning

[@npkmanasatienkijmusic]

I give my loudest applause to all the honorable people who took part in this performance! Bravissimmo! 😊

[@musicfirst5020]

There is something special and unique about that French orchestra sound. Dynamic but always tasteful. Simply marvelous.

[@masterofallthelakesintown2472]

It should be German. As intended.

[@kelsocampbell1301]

one of the absolute best performances I've ever hear of this great work....the intonation and blending of sound in the winds is phenomenal!

[@Jetheridge24]

Amazing. I never thought I could feel a piece so deeply. Many people get brought to tears during beautiful works of art in pure musical form and I never understood it. Put the headphones in, laid back and took it all in. By the end I had tears rolling down my face. Magnificently deep, so amazing how music with no words can tell such a story! I truly hope everyone can take these wonderful chords for what they are. Bravo

[@masterofallthelakesintown2472]

If you cry you definitely didn’t understand it.

[@attackdog6824]

@@masterofallthelakesintown2472what an absurd load of nonsense.

[@backyardastronomer]

​@@masterofallthelakesintown2472 don't you know it is about someone dying?

[@lunarastra3103]

Look. Within. Your " I" will evermore be your Guide... " THIS IS NOT OUR WORLD. WE ARE ALL BUT PASSING THROUGH"..PEACE.

[@youngstervideo]

0:00 Largo (The sick man, near death) 05:24 Allegro molto agitato (The battle between life and death offers no respite to the man) 09:09 Meno mosso (The dying man's life passes before him) 17:09 Moderato (The sought-after transfiguration)

[@koji2551]

Thanks pal

[@caesargreco7115]

1

[@caesargreco7115]

1

[@domenicoborelli2543]

Simply beautiful! 👏👏👏🥹

[@MrMichaelvier]

Richard Strauss The greatest Composer of the 20. Century......what a genius , about when he was 25 to create a masterpiece like this one:-)) fantastic Orchestra.. ....gratulations:-))ohhh i should not forget Gustav Mahler....the other greatest Composer of the 20th century:-)

[@jonnieinbangkok]

You need to listen to more music 😜

[@rr7firefly]

17:07 We cross into completely new territory. Has there ever been a more beautiful picture of transcendence? As he lay on his deathbed in 1949 Strauss said to his daughter-in-law: "It's a funny thing, Alice, dying is just the way I composed it in Tod und Verklärung," which he had written some 60 years before.

[@joeowens6180]

An ensemble and a conductor completely unknown to me, but this was absolutely the clearest, most powerful, and even luminous presentation of this piece I have ever heard. The conductor, cool as the proverbial cucumber, sometimes seated, sometimes standing, sometimes in a multitude of positions - with perfect authority on his calm face - really, what more can someone ask for? Bravissimo.

[@francemusiqueconcerts]

Thank you for your comment.

[@aleksandarjankovski6542]

Sublime playing: the strings produce a rich and warm sound, the brass players are superb and the woodwinds, in a typical French style, are just extraordinary, led by the marvelous Magali Mosnier.

[@michaelmcclary3154]

Maybe THE MOST BEAUTIFUL piece of music EVER WRITTEN! MMC

[@bulotperturbe2488]

Une oeuvre magnifiquement jouée et un orchestre joliment filmé. J'aime regarder les musiciens aux prises avec leur instrument. Ce spectacle rehausse encore la beauté de la musique. Quoi de mieux qu'une mer d'archets s'agitant pour illustrer une envolée passionnée ?

[@francemusiqueconcerts]

Merci infiniment

[@MichaelFineMusic]

Superb Mikko in Strauss!

[@marams7434]

When I die I want this played in my funeral

[@douglasyiuchinglok307]

SO DO I

[@ronaldbeield7946]

Would be kind of lengthy. Better to have Strauss's 3rd last song, Beim Schlafhegen

[@bobhunter3086]

As it is written...Let it be done.

[@javiermedina5313]

me too

[@abraham8287]

On his death bed, he told his daughter, Alice. "It's funny , death is exactly as I composed in death and transfiguration "

[@michaelmcclary8054]

Beautiful! Defies Description! Michael McClary

[@stuartpoyser6678]

This is one of the most wonderful encapsulations of orchestral music I've seen on video. The concentration on the faces, the co-leader's eyes glued on the leader's bow, the secret smiles between the players (especially the violas), the conductor's ridiculously shiny shirt. It shows all the humanity that goes into performing a piece of music that might, on an audio-only recording, simply seem like an effortless transcription of notes by skilled professionals. I led an amateur orchestra playing this in London a few years back and it makes me miss playing more than anything else I've experienced during lock-down. Thanks to all involved (I suppose Strauss deserves some credit too :)

[@ciupenhauer]

I find it hard to like Strauss, but this hit the right spots for me

[@maxgregorycompositions6216]

I find it hard to not like Strauss.

[@ciupenhauer]

@@maxgregorycompositions6216 yeah, I've since changed my mind too

[@michaelplatek1657]

Inspired and transcribed by the hand of God....no mere mortal could produce something so Divine...I have listened to this piece countless times since my youth....it never fails to become profoundly moving...frequently to the point of tears..especially the crescendo at the end...and like others, I want it used at my funeral...indescribably exquisite!!...one 'glitch' did they HAVE TO place a jarring cat grooming aid 'commercial' abruptly in the MIDDLE!!!

[@ronaldbeield7946]

It was God. Strauss was merely taking dictation.

[@horsthornung2424]

Did you die in the meantime?

[@Kazzerp]

@@ronaldbeield7946wrong

[@Steve-in-the-uk]

​​@@ronaldbeield7946no god needed, Strauss on his own.

[@timotheuspeter734]

Puccini also said that with respect to Madama Butterfly.. totally different, but both in their own Right unbelievably beautiful music.

[@jean-marieboisbouvier6678]

Absolument dans l'esprit du Maitre. Romantique toutes en nuances OPRF au sommet sous la baguette ce M Franck. C'est très beau. Merci :)

[@backyardastronomer]

Très beau!! I got goosebumps.

[@Free-uw4jl]

A masterpiece!

[@ceydaksoy]

C'est magnifique...

[@JoelAWeiss]

Great performance. Thank you for posting it.

[@notaire2]

Wunderschöne und spannende Aufführung dieses spätromantischen Meisterwerks mit farbenreichen und perfekt balancierten Töne aller Instrumente. Die Solovioline klingt besonders schön. Der geniale Maestro dirigiert das ausgezeichnete Orchester im gut phrasierten Tempo mit völlig effektiver Dynamik. Echt großartig!

[@jeancharlesrolland]

violon solo : Hélène Collerette

[@abbassaada9548]

Few composers can dramatically build up a massive bone-jarring climax like Strauss, with the exception of Anton Bruckner, master of ear-assaulting codas and climaxes. To me, the climax here is tame or tepid just a tad compared to one or two other versions I have heard over the years. This is not to take away anything from a fine performance here.

[@ashleythorpe7933]

Maybe Gustav Mahler?

[@nickwright6034]

Excellent.

[@HumblerThanYou1]

My man Patton Oswalt is so talented. Actor, comedian, and now conducting!? GOAT fr

[@nicolasferri304]

por dios que sonido tiene esta orquesta, felicitaciones para todos. strauss es un maestro

[@elainejan]

Thank you for posting this

[@elainejan]

Thank you for posting thisb

[@steveegallo3384]

Fine performance....one detects a "French nuance" in the delicate passages....BRAVI TUTTI!

[@culturalivrebr]

Moderato belíssimo 👏👏👏

[@bcing75]

This is the greatest tone poem of all time. This is how I hope death will be.

[@ulrichalbrecht9723]

yes indeed, but I also recommend to listen to "eine alpensinfonie" by Strauss, especially the sunrise, on the summit the sunset and the conclusion are devine

[@ronaldbeield7946]

Richard Strauss on his deathbed 1947: "It's a funny thing, this is just how I imagined it in Tod und Verklarung"

[@michaelmcclary3154]

BGSU SYMPHONY CONDUCTOR EMIL RAAB SOBBED FROM THE PODIUM IN 1976. THE BRASS & WINDS WERE CRYING TOO! Michael McClary

[@klafuenfde]

WOW!

[@alexandracostide4678]

Divine

[@roxanarosado8706]

Magnífico

[@mariawieck4265]

Me deja ectaciada...

[@dominiquethirel4437]

Doux et puissant !

[@anatoliusprimero8861]

Gran obra sinfonica de R.Strauss...con excelente ejecucion se la dedico a las victimas del maldito VIRUS 2020

[@sergiocontreras8372]

When Strauss was dying he told his wife that dying felt just as he had felt when composing Death and Transfiguration. I do not know if this is history or just a story. However, I would like it to be true because it is fitting and even poetic.

[@ronaldbeield7946]

A story says that Strauss was on his deathbed and said to his wife, "It's a funny thing, this is just how I imagined it in Tod und Verklarung"

[@leestamm3187]

He said it to his daughter-in-law Alice, with whom he was quite close. It was she who related it to the rest of the family.

[@algo3766]

Quel bel orchestre ! Œuvre magnifiquement interprétée. A quand le retour dans les auditoriums pour se sentir "transfiguré " à nouveau ?

[@TOMMA1313]

❤

[@jeffreymafereka9477]

👌🙏

[@c.j.6455]

11:05

[@michaelmcclary8054]

American trumpeters now need to have Rotary Valve as well as Bach/Schilke/Yamaha Piston Valve Orchestral quality trumpets. Michael McClary, retired Professor of Trumpet -Georgia Perimeter College

[@hideoussails1783]

Peter Lorre lives!

[@alexl.3819]

7:11

[@jacobroy017]

and 12:17 :)

[@hybridviol]

Your description claims he was a Hungarian composer, which is wrong! He was German

[@1brewski2]

Was talking about Liszt.

[@ObrolKronckx]

Looks like the guy didn't catch the fantastic trombone line from 23:13 figuring the theme twice as slow... :/

[@Yeoldelole]

Does anyone get strong "Pines of Rome" vibes from this? Or I should say, did this inspire bits of the Pines of Rome?

[@angelabender8132]

Maybe 🤔

[@MrLoris85]

Does anyone know why the director stands beside the podium?

[@BianLee]

Loris Gerber and also why is he sitting down 😂

[@shaunkasparian3213]

This was a Radio taping. Not so formal.

[@TimothyReeves]

@@shaunkasparian3213 the orchestra is wearing concert black and there are obviously several video cameras filming….also you can see the audience

[@shaunkasparian3213]

@@TimothyReeves Thank you for the clarification.

[@Pacolencia]

He conducts sitting down due to a back injury. When he gets excited he gets up and stands next to the podium. 😉

[@maxlun2649]

5:24

[@maxlun2649]

5:25 Allegro molto agitato

[@hmmm-dp9hb]

17: 14

[@mangowater9143]

Who’s the concertmaster

[@jeancharlesrolland]

Hélène Collerette

[@maxlun2649]

6:15

[@maxlun2649]

6:10

[@davidbaker4692]

Didn't know Patton Oswalt was a conductor