Metamorphosen
Richard Strauss
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic
1969Top recommendation. A great job of setting the atmosphere of quiet contemplation. Creates a beautiful, distant sound that serves the music well. More commitment and depth than his digital version.
Apple Music — Metamorphosen on an album with Death and Transfiguration and Four Last Songs.Otto Klemperer / Philharmonia Orchestra
1961 Recorded very well, very clear.This is really something. Does what Klemperer does: steady, stark, almost too brutal. Very emotionally impactful for its grimness and solemnity. Only Klemperer could have done it.
Apple Music — Metamorphosen within a Mahler and Strauss collection.Rudolf Kempe / Staatskapelle Dresden
From the Dresden set. No slouch either. Very dramatic and powerful, beautifully played, nice clarity. A devoted Straussian, so you get the full emotional impact.
Apple Music — Metamorphosen on an album with An Alpine Symphony.Wilhelm Furtwängler / Berlin Philharmonic
1947 Live recording, fairly new piece. Dim sound, noisy.A very moving performance, recorded in the rubble of WWII. Faster than others, emphasizing the dramatic side. Powerful climax. Worth seeking out for the historical context.