Strauss: Burleske, Serenade & Tod und Verklärung Nelson Goerner, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France & Mikko Franck

• Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949):
• 1 Strauss: Burleske in D Minor, TRV 145 20:01
• 2 Strauss: Serenade for Winds in E-Flat Major, Op. 7 08:32
• 3 Strauss: Tod und Verklärung, Op. 24 26:42
• Total Runtime 55:15

Info for Strauss: Burleske, Serenade & Tod und Verklärung

The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Mikko Franck continue their collaboration with Alpha and here invite one of the label’s flagship pianists, Nelson Goerner. The programme is devoted to Richard Strauss, coupling several of the German composer’s early works. The Burleske for piano and orchestra, written at the age of twenty, is brimming with lyricism and Romantic ardour; its tone colours herald Strauss’s operas, while the orchestration anticipates his symphonic poems. The piano part is exceptionally virtuosic: Hans von Bülow, for whom Strauss wrote it, called it unplayable! The Serenade for thirteen wind instruments harks back to Mozart’s Gran Partita K361 for similar forces. This brief work in a single movement begins in a nocturnal colouring, as befits a serenade, before growing more animated and finally returning to the contemplative atmosphere of the opening. The symphonic poem for large orchestra Tod und Verklärung depicts the last hour of an artist’s life: the listener is gripped from the very first bars, which evoke the breathing and heartbeats of a dying man. Strauss allows us to experience his final moments and the transfiguration of his soul in one of the most glorious moments in the symphonic repertoire.

"Two areas where I can be unequivocal are the uniform excellence of the orchestral playing – take a bow the solo oboe – and in the epic scale of Alpha's production." (MusicWeb International)

Nelson Goerner, piano
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Mikko Franck, conductor

Nelson Goerner
has performed with many of today’s major orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Hallé Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia and NHK Symphony Orchestra, and with several of today’s leading conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Philippe Herreweghe, Neeme Järvi, Sir Mark Elder, Paavo Järvi, Vassily Sinaisky, Jonathan Nott, Fabio Luisi and Esa-Pekka Salonen. His festival appearances include today’s most prestigious engagements, including Salzburg Festival, La Roque d’Anthéron, La Grange de Meslay, Edinburgh International Festival, Festival de Verbier, La Folle Journée (Nantes and Tokyo), Schleswig-Holstein, Warsaw’s ‘Chopin and his Europe’ and the BBC Proms.

A keen chamber musician, Nelson Goerner has collaborated with artists such as Martha Argerich (in repertoire for two pianos), Janine Jansen, Steven Isserlis and Gary Hoffman. The 2019-20 season will include a series of duo recitals with Sol Gabetta in Italy and Renaud Capuçon in Switzerland.

Nelson Goerner has a strong relationship with the Mozarteum Argentino in Buenos Aires and enjoys a long association with the Chopin Institute in Warsaw, where he is a member of the artistic advisory committee. He has released several albums of unusual repertoire on the Institute’s own record label, the latest, in 2019, featuring works by Godowski and Paderewski, including the latter’s monumental Variations and Fugue op.23. His recording of the Chopin Ballades and Nocturnes was recognised with a Diapason d’Or.

“Goerner’s Chopin was special right from the start of his career, but it has matured into something remarkable now…5*/5*” – BBC Music Magazine, Instrumental Choice

Nelson Goerner records predominantly for Alpha Classics and his discography for them includes works by Chopin, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Schumann, Fauré and Franck. Many of Goerner’s albums have been named “reference” recordings. Accolades include: Diapason d’Or of the Year for his recording of Debussy; BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Month for his album of works by Schumann; Choc de Classica and Diapason d’Or for his Chopin Preludes album; plus resounding critical acclaim for his recording of Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata Op 106.

Details of Nelson Goerner’s complete discography can be found here.


Nelson Goerner was born in San Pedro, Argentina, in 1969. After studying in Argentina with Jorge Garrubba, Juan Carlos Arabian and Carmen Scalcione, he was awarded First Prize in the Franz Liszt Competition in Buenos Aires in 1986. This led to a scholarship to work with Maria Tipo at the Geneva Conservatoire, and in 1990 Nelson Goerner won the First Prize at the Geneva Competition.

Nelson Goerner lives in Switzerland with his wife and son. He is a proud and active supporter of the humanitarian organisation, Ammala.

Booklet for Strauss: Burleske, Serenade & Tod und Verklärung