Marek Janowski - Richard Strauss: Symphonica Domestica & Die Tageszeiten (2015)

Richard Strauss’s original working title for the work was “My home. A symphonic portrait of myself and my family” and was intended as a homely sequel to Ein Heldenleben (1898). Instead of the hero’s struggle for supremacy, Symphonia presents a portrait of a family, with the husband, wife and child each characterised by themes.

Family and home as the theme of a symphony? The musical aspect of subjects such as visiting relatives, children’s play, lullabies, a love scene and an argument between spouses most certainly did not correspond to the themes that were usually combined with absolute music. All the commotion around it was silenced by Strauss’s famous remark, “I do not see why I should not make a symphony about myself. I consider myself just as interesting as Napoleon and Alexander”.

One fascinating feature of Symphonia is based on another contradiction, which Strauss manages to solve here in a brilliant manner. The intimate family situation is paired with a huge orchestral force. He makes use of the full orchestra when required; however, when the piece turns into an intimate dialogue, he portrays it masterfully.

Composer: Richard Strauss
Conductor: Marek Janowski
Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Radio Chorus

Tracklist:

01. Symphonia domestica, Op. 53, TrV 209- Bewegt
02. Symphonia domestica, Op. 53, TrV 209- Scherzo
03. Symphonia domestica, Op. 53, TrV 209- Adagio
04. Symphonia domestica, Op. 53, TrV 209- Scherzo - Symphonia domestica, Op. 53, TrV 209- Bewegt
05. Die Tageszeiten, Op. 76, TrV 256- No. 1. Der Morgen
06. Die Tageszeiten, Op. 76, TrV 256- No. 2. Mittagsruhe
07. Die Tageszeiten, Op. 76, TrV 256- No. 3. Der Abend
08. Die Tageszeiten, Op. 76, TrV 256- No. 4. Die Nacht