After the premiere of Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, a storm of criticism erupted. After all, the composer referred to the heroic E flat major, the key of Beethoven's untouchable Eroica. In addition, Strauss made use of the symphonic artillery with which Wagner had celebrated the superhuman achievements of his mythical heroes. Strauss, however, only used these means to glorify him, himself, and
… his own person. His symphonic poem was more like reality TV than a 'Heldenleben'. Self-aggrandizement or Bavarian self-mockery? Strauss himself said to Romain Rolland about this: 'I am not a hero. I don't have the strength. I am not fit for battle. I prefer to keep myself in the background, in a quiet place. ' Yannick Nézet-Séguin - chief conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra - seems to think mainly of a singing hero: the beautifully played opening section sounds more hymnical than heroic. An excellent performance for a 35-year-old conductor, you would think. Ironically, Strauss once composed this music for an even younger conductor. And that was 27-year-old Willem Mengelberg of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra. (HJ)more
