R. Strauss: Josephslegende

‘Richard Strauss’s score for the ballet Josephs Legende is absolutely fantastic, requiring a huge orchestra, larger than in any of Strauss’s operas, which naturally makes it logistically challenging and limits the frequency of performances of the work. Imagine fitting a gigantic orchestra including three keyboards, four harpists, two tubas and a massive percussion section into an orchestra pit! But the music is not just loud and opulent; it’s also pretty amazing in the subtle moments, including delicate passages where only four soloists play together for two minutes. The piece is incredibly challenging and untypical of Strauss, even though it still contains many moments reminiscent of his style.’