Richard Strauss: Macbeth, Op. 23, TrV 163 (with Score)

Richard Strauss: Macbeth, Op. 23, TrV 163 (with Score) Composed: 1886-88 Conductor: David Zinman Orchestra: Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich Richard Strauss was a veritable fountain of music in the 1880s and 1890s, and during these years it is a rare thing indeed to find him taking the time to tinker with an already-finished piece of music. But he was sufficiently dissatisfied with the first version (1886-1888) of his orchestral tone poem Macbeth, Op. 23, to withdraw it and completely rethink the matter of its ending. When the second version appeared some two years later and was given its Weimar premiere (October 13, 1890), all involved agreed that the changes made for a better piece. Still, however, Strauss’ Macbeth remains the least fawned-over of his tone poem children, and one might have to wait many seasons to hear a live performance of the work. Macbeth’s unpopularity has been credited to many things over the years. It has been accused of having no memorable themes. Untru