Alpine Symphony
Richard Strauss Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The “Alpine Symphony” is Richard Strauss’ longest and last tone poem. In 22 parts, this work describes a day climbing a mountain in the Alps. Aside from showing Strauss’ spectacular powers of music description, this composition has a deeper meaning, about the struggle of trying to reach the peak of one’s ambitions, the moments of triumph, and the road down from that supreme achievement. And, yes, there is a thunderstorm, all on this week's Classics of the Phonograph, Saturday at 11 am on WILL-FM.