Strauss: Four Last Songs/12 Orchestral Songs

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was one of those singers whom one either loves or hates. She was a "stylist," who inflected every phrase, every note in her urge to communicate what she considered to be the meaning of the text. Others feel that the only thing she communicated was her own need to impress people with her ability to communicate, and I believe she often forgot the difference between art and artfulness. Be that as it may, she was an outstanding Strauss singer, and her performance of the Four Last Songs, in particular, is legendary. Of course, having George Szell on the podium doesn't hurt either. He insures that the music shows the singer in the best possible light. --David Hurwitz Amazon.com

A wonder, do not hesitate!

This record gives some of the best examples of Dame Schwarzkopf's art.
Everything on this disc is of the greatest beauty and intelligence. Buy it if you don't know why Mme Schwarzkopf was so famous!
I must however state, after listening through a great many versions of "Vier Letzte Lieder" (yes, Jessey Norman's too) that the best recording of this masterpiece comes from Elisabeth Söderström, CBE, on an EMI record from 1982, nla, and never reissued on CD. EMI, please.
Perhaps a bit surprising Birgit Nilsson's version also ranks high on the list. It is for sale know, buy it and compare! Listening to Mme Nilsson's version is to enter another sphere where calmness and serenity reigns. June 19, 2008

Lovely singing, superb orchestra

As someone else said, there is no perfect recording of these gorgeous works, but this one comes close. You can argue that Te Kanawa does the best third song, or Jessye Norman the best second, but the singing here is consistently sincere throughout, beautifully pitched, and with extraordinary attention to the meaning of the words.

As others have said, the problems in the low register are noticeable, as are the problems of breath control. I wished for a more satisfying climax to the third movement, and just then she seems to pull back. But as a whole, I found this very affecting.

The orchestra's playing throughout is clear, yet lush and passionate. Incredible!

The other songs on the album are also beautifully rendered. I love them all. November 20, 2007

Characteristically mature schwarzkopf!

With one exception (Zueignung) this is a lovely disc though I prefer Schwarzkopf's earlier recording of the 4 last songs. Get both and start a 4 last songs collection........the problem with zueignung is that it is beyond her vocal capacity and instead of leaving it out they left it in and ...its OK if you haven't heard Rothenberger (mature also) and some others do this so well. I adore her version of Die Drei Koenigin, it is quite exquisite, never likely to be bettered!!! October 25, 2007

A wiser Schwarzkopf in one of her best latter recordings

One of the landmark opera albums of the 1960s', Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's recording of Strauss' "Four Last Songs"; and the twelve Lieder songs of Burger, Dehmel, Bierbaum and others, is beautifully-remastered here for compact disc.

Schwarzkopf was in her fifties when she recorded these works, and there is a lot to be said for the mature, knowing performance from a soprano voice of that age. It speaks of life's joys and heartaches, and a heart still longing for youthful romance. I seriously doubt that anyone will ever fully eclipse Elisabeth's sheer dramatic intensity in this recording. She transforms herself back into a young girl, yet still retains the dramatic use of her maturity.

This recording has been remastered using Abbey Road's Prism SNS system, which gives the recording a natural soundscape, free of annoying echo or reverb, allowing Schwarzkopf's voice to come forth with astonishing clarity. Simply, it's the best this recording has ever sounded. A bargain price too.

[EMI Classics 7243 5 66908 2 0] November 4, 2006

HEAVENLY

The "Gramophone" magazine reviewer couldn't have put it better:- "a heavenly record, so beautiful that I find it goes against the grain to attempt to analyse it". A must-have for any self-respecting classical record collection. September 14, 2006

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