Aldeburgh Strings and Winds - R. Strauss: Metamorphosen - The Scotsman

Richard Strauss' Metamorphosen remains a gem among string ensemble repertoire. Written in response to the 1944 bombing of the Munich Opera House, its luxuriously thick hamonies and timeless fluidity combined with Strauss' exquisite craftsmanship, create a unique and tangible sense of inner peace. It is played here by the international collection of talented young musicians who make up the Aldeburgh Strings, a product of the 40-year old Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme. Director Markus Däunert elicits a warmth from his players, not least in the aching fullness of the heightened climaxes. Also featured are the complimentary Aldeburgh Winds under Nicholas Daniel. Their shaping of Strauss' Serenade in E flat is glowing in nuance, paving the way for a scintillating representation of the Symphony for Wind Instruments.