Richard Strauss Bernd Weikl, Sabine Hass, SymphonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch - Friedenstag

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Review by Manoj Chandran

Friedenstag by Richard Strauss: A Hidden Gem That’ll Knock Your Socks Off If you’re into classical music but haven’t stumbled upon Richard Strauss’ Friedenstag, let me tell ya, you’ve been missing out big time. Released in 1999 under EMI Classics (yeah, I know it feels like forever ago), this opera is a powerhouse of emotion wrapped up in some serious vocal acrobatics. Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks? Yeah, that’s basically like having Mozart himself whispering secrets into your ears. Let’s dive right in. The album opens with “Krieg, furchtbarer Würger” (“War, terrible strangler”), and holy smokes, does it hit hard. Bernd Weikl as the baritone brings so much grit and despair to his voice that you can almost feel the weight of war pressing down on him. It’s one of those tracks where you forget you’re listening to an opera because it just feels… real. Like, he’s not singing about war—he is war. You don’t need subtitles to get what’s going on here; the pain drips from every note. And when Sabine Hass joins in later with her soprano vocals? Oof. Talk about chills running down your spine. Their voices clash and blend like fire meeting water—it’s messy, beautiful, and unforgettable. Then there’s “Hier ist des Kaisers Boden,” which is basically the musical equivalent of standing at the edge of a cliff while someone whispers, “Jump.” Jan Vacík’s tenor shines here, soaring above the orchestra like a lighthouse beam cutting through fog. What makes this track stick in my head isn’t just how damn catchy it is—it’s the way Strauss builds tension until you’re practically holding your breath waiting for the next note. By the time the chorus kicks in, you’re ready to grab a sword and charge into battle yourself. Okay, maybe not literally, but you catch my drift. Now, let’s talk style for a sec. This ain’t your grandma’s fluffy opera filled with love triangles and fancy dresses (well, unless your grandma was super into politically charged anti-war themes). Written during WWII, Friedenstag tackles heavy stuff—war, peace, humanity’s endless struggle—and Joseph Gregor’s libretto doesn’t shy away from any of it. With Cornelia Wulkopf’s alto adding depth and Kurt Moll’s bass grounding everything like the roots of a thousand-year-old tree, the whole thing feels epic yet intimate. And props to the choirs—the Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper and Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks—for making the climactic moments sound like heaven itself has burst open. Seriously, if angels had playlists, this would be on repeat. But here’s the kicker: despite all its brilliance, Friedenstag often gets overshadowed by Strauss’ more famous works like Salome or Der Rosenkavalier. Why? Beats me. Maybe people are intimidated by its intensity, or maybe they just haven’t given it a proper listen yet. Either way, it deserves way more love than it gets. So, final thoughts? Listening to Friedenstag feels like sitting in a dark room lit only by candlelight—it’s haunting, raw, and kinda makes you want to stare off into space thinking deep thoughts. Weirdly enough, after finishing the album, I found myself wondering why we even bother fighting wars in the first place. Then again, maybe that’s exactly what Strauss wanted us to think. Or maybe he just wanted to show off how good he was at writing bangers. Who knows? One last thing before I sign off—if you ever meet someone who claims they don’t like opera, slap this album on and watch their face melt. Trust me, it works every time.

Table of Contents

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Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Nur einer hier2:24
Das Zeichen2:51
Sieg! Welch ein Fanal1:16
Hier ist des Kaisers Boden3:35
Wie? Niemand hier?2:47
Krieg, furchtbarer Würger3:42
Wohl durft ich 3:10
Hör Kommandant3:06
Zu Magdeburg 5:07
Warunm kampften wir2:04
Der Feind1:23
Nein, nicht Todesnebel2:08
Geliebter, nicht das Schwert!5:36
La Rosa5:31
In einer Stunde 4:53
Geht, geht alle!2:06
Es sei!2:36
Wagt es zu denken3:39
Ihr Alten habt in mancher Schlacht2:06
Hast was gesehn?3:34
Hunger! Hunger!3:59
Schweige!1:50
Nein leere Hoffnung alles 6:03
(Krieg!) ... Mein Kommandant!1:11
Erwunschstes Zeichen!1:35
Marsch1:29

Images

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Catalog Numbers

7243 5 56850 2 5

Labels

EMI Classics

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Formats

  • CD
  • Album

Credits

RoleCredit
Alto VocalsCornelia Wulkopf
Baritone VocalsBernd Weikl
Bass VocalsKurt Moll
ChorusChor Der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Composed ByRichard Strauss
ConductorWolfgang Sawallisch
Libretto ByJoseph Gregor
Soprano VocalsSabine Hass
Tenor VocalsJan Vacík
VoiceGerhard Auer

Notes

  • Recorded live 22/8/1988, Staatsoper, München
  • Booklet contains German libretto with French and English translations

Barcodes

Barcode: 7 24355 68502 5

About Richard Strauss Bernd Weikl, Sabine Hass, SymphonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch

baixar álbum Richard Strauss Bernd Weikl, Sabine Hass, SymphonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch - Friedenstaglast ned album Richard Strauss Bernd Weikl, Sabine Hass, SymphonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch - Friedenstagladda ner album Richard Strauss Bernd Weikl, Sabine Hass, SymphonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch - Friedenstagdescargar álbum Richard Strauss Bernd Weikl, Sabine Hass, SymphonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch - FriedenstagAlbum herunterladen Richard Strauss Bernd Weikl, Sabine Hass, SymphonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch - Friedenstagtélécharger l'album Richard Strauss Bernd Weikl, Sabine Hass, SymphonieOrchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch - Friedenstag
German Classical composer, born June 11, 1864, in Munich, died September 8, 1949, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He is best known for his composition 'Also sprach Zarathustra' and the operas 'Salome' and 'Elektra'. His father was the musician .

Real Name

    • Richard Georg Strauss

Name Vars

  • Dr. Richard Strauß
  • Generalmusikdirektor Dr. Rich. Strauß
  • Generalmusikdirektor Dr. Richard Strauß
  • J. Strauss
  • Prokofjew
  • R Strauss
  • R. Estrauss
  • R. Strauss
  • R. Strauß
  • R. Trauss
  • R. Štrauss
  • R. ·åÈ馹
  • R.Strauss
  • R.Struss
  • R.·åÈ馹
  • Ricardo Strauss
  • Riccardo Strauss
  • Rich. Strauss
  • Rich. Strauß
  • Richard G. Strauss
  • Richard Georg Strauss
  • Richard Straus
  • Richard Strauss mit großem Blasorchester
  • Richard Strauß
  • Rihards Štrauss
  • Rû·åÈ馹
  • Straus
  • Strauss
  • Strauss Den Yngre
  • Strauss R.
  • Strauss Richard
  • Strauss, R.
  • Strauss, Richard
  • Strauss/Strauss
  • Strauß
  • Р. Штраус
  • Рихард Штраус
  • Рихард Штраусс
  • Рихард Щраус
  • Ричард Штраус
  • Штраус
  • Штраус Рихард
  • êÒãëÈû·åÈ馹

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that Richard Strauss's *Friedenstag* is basically a one-act opera about peace? It’s set during the Thirty Years’ War, but instead of focusing on battles, it zeroes in on hope and humanity. The 1999 recording by Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks brings this rarely performed gem to life. With powerhouse singers like Bernd Weikl and Sabine Hass, it’s a moving listen. What makes it even cooler? The libretto was written by Joseph Gregor, who worked closely with Strauss. This isn’t your typical war story—it’s more about the quiet moments when people choose compassion over conflict.