Strauss:Four Last Songs

[Stanley Stewart]

A quick dash to the minidisc recorder when James Jolly, on Classical Collection, mentioned that the performance of "Four Last Songs" would be sung by Gundula Janowitz with the Royal CGB Orchestra/Bernard Haitink. I was poised for her performance with HvK/BPO, already on my shelves. The broadcast performance was made in the late 60s, a few years earlier than her BPO recording. A faster tempo until the third song, Beim Schlafengehen with its glorious conclusion. My favourite recording is usually the one I am listening to but I now have two performances by Janowitz to match a performance I heard at the Wigmore Hall with Christa Ludwig, accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons in the late 70s.

Earlier this morning, James Jolly also introduced a classic performance of Debussy's, Suite bergamasque, exquisitely performed by Pascal Roge.

Always so refreshing to stop and smell the roses.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Lucia Popp for me every time. I've heard so many interpretations of this georgious work, but hers stands alone.

[rodney_h_d]

Lucia Popp

There are some clips of the late and much lamented Lucia Popp singing the Four Last Songs on Youtube - I find this performance of Beim Schlafengehen with ChicagoSO/Solti very moving and although the sound quality isn't great, she looks fantastic and the quality of her singing is clear. [I would have preferred the leader to have used longer phrases and less bow in his solo].

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhdN1...eature=related.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I once heard a wonderful performance on Radio 3 of Kiri te Kanawa singing these songs, but I was less happy with her recordings, the voice being too close for my liking.

[verismissimo]

Kiri on YouTube with irrelevant interruptions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8l99...eature=related

Gundula Janowitz, sound only, but wonderful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuSJJ...eature=related

[Pianorak]

There are some clips of the late and much lamented Lucia Popp singing the Four Last Songs on Youtube . . .she looks fantastic and the quality of her singing is clear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhdN1...eature=related.

Thanks for the link - very moving, especially Im Abendrot. But I also very much enjoyed Gundula Janowitz on R3 this morning.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Yes, Kiri's performance appears to be from the Decca sessions at the Vienna Konzerthaus, and the voice is too close compared with the mighty Vienna Phil.

[Chris Newman]

On record my absolute favourite Four Last Songs are Soile Isokoski. In live performances they have to be Elizabeth Soderstrom and Heather Harper who were unsurpassable. On the old BBC R3, message boards many agreed with me.

A curious and lovely performance I heard on the Third Programme was Hans Hotter.. I am not jesting! It was probably the last major work of Strauss and he was still making up his mind how it should be done. It was many years ago and I am pretty sure it was with a pianist. Please, somebody, tell me I am not fantasising.

[Simon]

I thought today's performance, some of which I heard in the car, was wonderful.

[BBMmk2]

Both these singers I adore. Two of the best, IMO. I have Gundula Janowitz as well, so magnificent! And Schwarzkopf!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

On record my absolute favourite Four Last Songs are Soile Isokoski. In live performances they have to be Elizabeth Soderstrom and Heather Harper who were unsurpassable.

I recall a television interview in which Heather Harper said this was the work she enjoyed singing more than any other.

[Roehre]

I recall a television interview in which Heather Harper said this was the work she enjoyed singing more than any other.

Schwartzkopf said something similar, and e.g. used these Letze Lieder for her masterclass in 1987.

[ahinton]

Schwartzkopf said something similar, and e.g. used these Letze Lieder for her masterclass in 1987.

I seem to recall Felicity Lott saying something quite similar, although I cannot now recall the details.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm surprised no-on has mentioned Jesse Norman, who's Philips recording received many plaudits.

[Roehre]

I'm surprised no-on has mentioned Jesse Norman, who's Philips recording received many plaudits.

Which I personally never have understood, as e.g. the intro of Abschied is IMO a travesty of the score, incredible Masur did this tempo and this squary phrasing.