2014 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great German composer Richard Strauss, and this 10-CD box set is being released to celebrate this landmark and his musical legacy. It includes all his great orchestral works, and the ‘Four Last Songs’, as well as the legendary 1956 recording of his opera ‘Der Rosenkavalier’.

Richard Strauss was not only a world famous concert conductor and one of the leading opera composers of his day, but also the creator of masterly tone poems and trend-setting orchestra-accompanied lieder.

The conductors featured in the set include Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan, Erich Kleiber, George Szell, Sir Georg Solti and Fritz Reiner.

Several of the recordings presented in the collection are considered to be among the best ever made, including the legendary complete recording of ‘Der Rosenkavalier’ made by Herbert von Karajan in 1956.

Amongst the singers and instrumentalists featured are Friedrich Gulda, Dennis Brain, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Nicolai Gedda, Christa Ludwig and Gerald Moore.

Contents:
CD 1:
- Eine Alpensinfonie op.64
Staatskapelle Dresden / Karl Böhm (1957)

CD 2:
- Don Quixote op.35
Pierre Fournier (cello), Ernst Moraweg (viola)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Clemens Krauss (1953)

CD 3:
- Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche op.28
- Don Juan op.20
- Tod und Verklärung op.24
Cleveland Orchestra / George Szell (1957)

CD 4:
- Also sprach Zarathustra op.30
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras (1993)

- Horn Concerto No.1 in E flat major op.11
Dennis Brain (horn), Philharmonia Orchestra / Wolfgang Sawallisch (1956)

CD 5:
- Ein Heldenleben op.40
John Weicher (violin), Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Fritz Reiner (1954)

CD 6:
- Liebeszene (Feuersnot op.50)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / André Cluytens (1958)

- Burleske in D Minor for Piano and Orchestra TrV 145
Friedrich Gulda (piano), London Symphony Orchestra / Anthony Collins (1954)

- Violin Sonata in E flat major op.18
Ginette Neveu (violin), Gustav Beck (piano) (1939)

CD 7:
- Four Last Songs
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Ackermann (1953)

- Die Nacht
- Allerseelen
Christa Ludwig (soprano), Gerald Moore (piano) (1957)

- Zueignung
- Cäcilie
- Traum durch die Dämmerung
- Morgen
Peter Anders (tenor), Günter Weissenborn (piano) (1954)

- Ich danke, Fräulein … Aber, der Richtige, wenn’s einen gibt (Arabella)
Lisa della Casa (soprano), Hilde Güden (soprano)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Georg Solti (1957)

- Sie woll’n mich heiraten … Und du wirst mein Geliebter sein (Arabella)
Lisa della Casa (soprano), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Jospeh Keilberth (1958, live)

CD 8/9/10:
- Der Rosenkavalier op.59
Loughton High School for Girls, Bancroft‘s School Children’s Choirs
Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Chorus / Herbert von Karajan (1956)
Cast:
- Marschallin: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano)
- Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau: Otto Edelmann (bass-baritone)
- Octavian: Christa Ludwig (soprano)
- Herr von Faninal: Eberhard Wächter (baritone)
- Sophie, seine Tochter / his daughter: Teresa Stich-Randall (soprano)
- Marianne: Ljuba Welitsch (soprano)
- Valzacchi: Paul Kuen (tenor)
- Annina: Kerstin Meyer (contralto)
- Singer: Nicolai Gedda (tenor)
- Police Inspector: Franz Bierbach (bass)
- Marschallin’s Steward: Erich Majkut (tenor)
- Faninal’s Steward: Gerhard Unger (tenor)
- Notary: Harald Pröglhöf (bass)
- Innkeeper: Karl Friedrich (tenor)
- Milliner: Anny Felbermayer (soprano)
- Animal Vendor: Gerhard Unger
- Orphans: Schwarzkopf, Ludwig, Felbermayer
- Lackeys: Unger, Majkut, Wächter, Pröglhöf, Kellner
- Waiters: Majkut, Unger, Wächter, Bierbach