Strauss: Staatskapelle Dresden/Thielemann ****
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, 19th May 2017
The steepest climb in Paris is probably the walk up to Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre – or at least it feels like it to my knees. Strauss’ Alpine Symphony is a more ambitious proposition, in which case having Christian Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Dresden as our guides is a shrewd move. Strauss dedicated his giant tone poem to the orchestra, and its current chief conductor is closely associated with the composer’s music. Between them, they know this terrain like the back of their hand. At the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, as part of a mini-European tour, the Alpine Symphony formed a bracing finale.
Renée Fleming
© Andrew Eccles/Decca
Read the full review on Bachtrack.