Classical Music Playlist, May 2, 2022

Although Richard Strauss later removed the section headings that give narrative to his autobiographical tone poem, “Ein Heldenleben” (“A Hero’s Life”), the epic nature of a hero in battle remains in the music. This battle, as originally depicted, was Strauss’ battles with critics over his music. Strauss describes himself as heroic in the opening movement, musically belittles the critics in the second, introduces his beloved wife (“Hero’s Companion” movement) in the third, sounds of battle emerge in the fourth, and in the fifth movement, Strauss quotes many of his earlier symphonic poems Don Quixote, Don Juan, Also sprach Zarathustra, and more (“The Hero’s Works of Peace” from the original title of this movement) then in the last movement, the hero retires, satisfied, to rest with his beloved companion. “Ein Heldenleben” is today’s noon masterpiece at 2:00 p.m.

6:00 am

Arcangelo Corelli

Concerto Grosso No. 1 in D major Opus 6

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; Catherine Mackintosh, conductor Catherine Mackintosh, violin

6:12

Francois Liszt

Piano Sonata in B minor in B minor

Benjamin Grosvenor, piano

6:45 am

Federico Moreno Torroba

madranos

David Russell, guitar

6:49

Johann Scheibe

Sinfonia A 4 in Bb major

Concerto Copenhagen; Andrew Manze, conductor

6:59

Claude Debussy

Small Suite

Northern England Sinfonia; Jean-Bernard Pommier, conductor

7:12

Robert Schuman

String Quartet in F major Opus 41/2

Melos Quartet

7:35 am

Hans Leo Hasler

Canzon

New York Chamber Musicians (New York Kammermusiker)

7:38

Frédéric Chopin

Mazurka No. 3 in A major Opus 24

Garrick Ohlson, piano

7:41 am

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

MAZEPPA: Gopak

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra; Kurt Masur, conductor