Strauss:Four Last Songs

[Stanley Stewart]

Message 8. Thank you for the reminder about Elisabeth Soderstrom's performance of Four Last Songs. I'm permanently in the throes of transferring LP recordings to minidisc or CD-R and was quite impressed that I managed to locate the vinyl so quickly, yesterday, without a string of expletives in sheer frustration. A 1982 EMI recording with DIGITAL embossed beneath the HMV logo. A lovely radiant photograph of ES on the cover by Lars Falck. The LP also includes the Closing Scene from Capriccio with Philip Joll as the Major-Domo, and the Marschallin's Act 1 monologue, Rosenkav. Orchestra of the WNO/Richard Armstrong. I don't think this recording was transferred to CD which is rather a shame. Straussian magic aplenty.

A further treat alongside this 'find'. The same soloist and musical forces in 1983; Britten, Our Hunting Fathers and Folk Songs (arr. Britten) with orchestra. And a touching back cover photo of a frail Britten and Soderstrom at Snape Maltings in 1976; BB died in December of that year.

[Cellini]

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.

Wonderful singing - Popp was one of the greatest. There was nothing wrong with the leader's bowing but I agree about longer phrasing and he used far too fast a vibrato for my taste! The end was spoilt by Solti's awfully jerky conducting, as usual.

It is hard to get the right combination of orchestra, conductor and solo voice for this wonderful music.

[Cellini]

Message 8. Thank you for the reminder about Elisabeth Soderstrom's performance of Four Last Songs. I'm permanently in the throes of transferring LP recordings to minidisc or CD-R and was quite impressed that I managed to locate the vinyl so quickly, yesterday, without a string of expletives in sheer frustration. A 1982 EMI recording with DIGITAL embossed beneath the HMV logo. A lovely radiant photograph of ES on the cover by Lars Falck. The LP also includes the Closing Scene from Capriccio with Philip Joll as the Major-Domo, and the Marschallin's Act 1 monologue, Rosenkav. Orchestra of the WNO/Richard Armstrong. I don't think this recording was transferred to CD which is rather a shame. Straussian magic aplenty.

I took part in this recording and have one or two photos I took of Elisabeth Soderstrom. There are things I don't like about the recording (Ms S was very fine) but I had better not go into these even though they do make interesting stories ...

[Peter Katin]

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

I'm rather surprised not to see Christine Brewer. I've been given her recording for Christmas and am dying to hear it. But what about Flagstad? They were written with this voice in mind although she wasn't entirely happy about it.

[Barbirollians]

Flagstad's premiere performance with Furtwangler has been cleaned up on Testament but is still noisy . Much more muscular singing than we have perhaps become used to but quite thrilling I think .

It has been a tremendously lucky work on record . I probably would choose Sena Jurinac with Busch in 1950 if I had to choose one performance but I have obtained a great deal of pleasure from Janowitz,Schwarzkopf,Popp, Isokowski,Soderstrom, Brewer and della Casa.

[Mahlerei]

Remarkable how often the 4LS appear as a thread on these boards. Apart from 'the usual suspects' can I put in a word for Heather Harper and Richard Hickox on CfP? It's a radiant performance, and that applies to the other orchestral songs on the disc as well. A bargain at any price, I think.

[Steerpike]

Oh, come on Cellini!

You can't leave us with the idea of 'interesting stories' and a wink. What a tease! Let's have' em then.

[Op. XXXIX]

Nilsson's live recording (don't recall the date, I don't have the CD handy) with Segerstam and the Swedish Radio Orchestra is best avoided. She sings sharp a lot of the time! Very painful listening. (And I generally admire Nilsson. )

[StephenO]

I have Schwarzkopf, Janowitz, Norman and Isokoski. Isokoski is the recording I return to most often. To me she has the most glorious voice and brings levels of meaning to the songs which many other sopranos don't. I know a lot of people won't agree with me, though!

[Cellini]

Oh, come on Cellini!

You can't leave us with the idea of 'interesting stories' and a wink. What a tease! Let's have' em then.

I was rather hoping no one would say that. If I was to repeat these stories I think it would blow my cover. And it wouldn't be fair to at least two of the people involved.

Maybe one day when the fog is heavier.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Apart from 'the usual suspects' can I put in a word for Heather Harper and Richard Hickox on CfP? It's a radiant performance, and that applies to the other orchestral songs on the disc as well. A bargain at any price, I think.

Mahlerei: I have the Harper/RPO/Del Mar live (or BBC studio?) recording put out on a 'BBC Music'/ 'The BBC Classic Collection' disc in the 90s and like it very much. Do you (or others) know it? If so, need I rush to buy the Hickox as well???

[Times is werry 'ard and tonight I'm doing me tax return... Time for another grim Schnittke symphony to set the mood methinks]

PS I thought I'd posted this reply earlier. My apologies if the MkI version lands belatedly from cyberspace like the Dying Flutchman

[Mahlerei]

Mahlerei: I have the Harper/RPO/Del Mar live (or BBC studio?) recording put out on a 'BBC Music'/ 'The BBC Classic Collection' disc in the 90s and like it very much. Do you (or others) know it? If so, need I rush to buy the Hickox as well???

No, I don't know that recording so can't really comment. However, if it is even half as good as the Hickox - the LSO are in great form as well - then I will certainly seek it out. At such a low price the CfP disc must be worth a punt. If you do buy it I'd be interested to know your thoughts on it.

bws