This fourth audio release for The Cleveland Orchestra’s own label again showcases the unparalleled artistry, refined polish and emotional power of this ensemble under the direction of Franz Welser-Möst.

The album features three of Richard Strauss’s early tone poems, providing a tantalising window into Welser-Möst’s reputation as a renowned conductor of Strauss’ music.

Strauss wrote a total of nine tone poems – orchestral works that depict a storyline. Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks are among his earliest successes and became instant hits with audiences worldwide.

These Cleveland Orchestra recordings were captured in September and October 2021 with live audiences in Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center in Cleveland. All three were featured in a series of donor appreciation concerts, while Macbeth was also included in the season’s opening weekend, the Orchestra’s first public indoor performances since the lockdown in March 2020.

Hybrid SACD in deluxe gatefold CD wallet with 40-page booklet featuring an essay by Franz Welser-Möst about Strauss’s tone poems and artistry, along with programme notes about each piece and an overview of Strauss’s career and legacy.