Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin - Strauss: Symphonia Domestica, Die Tageszeiten (2015) [DSD64]

Richard Strauss was a master at creating double entendres in his music. Nothing is as it seems at fi rst glance. One should always keep this in mind when dealing with such a controversial work as his Symphonia domestica, Op. 53. And this work was certainly recognized as controversial following its completion on December 31, 1903 and its fi rst performance in New York on March 21, 1904. In 1905, the French writer Romain Rollande criticized Strauss most notably for yet again, after Ein Heldenleben, dealing exclusively with his own personality. To which the composer gave his famous response: “I do not see why I should not make a symphony about myself. I consider myself just as interesting as Napoleon and Alexander.” This kind of statement (if meant sincerely) does not necessarily win you friends…