Strauss Four Last Songs, Live in Concert 25/3/15

[Flosshilde]

Didn't take to this performance. Either the balance for the broadcast was wrong, or the orchestra was rather too loud for Sally Matthews. The first song (a difficult one to launch into cold) sounded very effortful, & I thought she had rather too much vibrato. Subsequent songs were better, but not a performance that moved me.

(She sounds much better in the interval songs accompanied by piano)

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm afraid I have had cause to avoid Ms Matthews's performances before and on this occasion too, I ripped the earphones from my ears after the first phrase...

[Flosshilde]

Now listening to Lucia Popp & Tennstedt

[Nick Armstrong]

Now listening to Lucia Popp & Tennstedt

[Barbirollians]

I like Sally Matthews in Mozart - an excellent Fiordiligi in Cosi a few years back .

[Vile Consort]

I'm afraid I have had cause to avoid Ms Matthews's performances before and on this occasion too, I ripped the earphones from my ears after the first phrase...

I lasted rather longer than that - but not much. The vibrato was most unpleasant.