Richard Strauss Vasily Petrenko

One of Strauss’ (1864-1949) foremost talents as a composer was his ability to paint musical portraits of characters or events, or to create a particular mood, using an exceptionally rich and inventive orchestra palate. The tone poem was a genre which suited him perfectly, and in works like Don Quixote (1897) he was able to distribute liberally his phenomenal skills for orchestra colour and inventive melodies. The cello soloist represents Don Quixote himself and in Strauss’ work the fantasies seem to appear as life-like as they do for the protagonist himself.

(Text: Thomas Erma Møller; Translation (from Norwegian): Sarah Osa; In photo: Vasily Petrenko; Photo: Fred-Olav Vatne/Oslo Philharmonic)