BaL 30.09.17 - Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder

[HighlandDougie]

The OP includes this:



I don't think this can be correct. I can find no record of Kaufmann's performance of the Wesendock lieder appearing on commercial DVD or Blu-ray.

I have the disc. See:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Jonas-Kaufmann/dp/B00AEQYM6S/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1506101862&sr=1-1&keywords=wagner+jonas+kaufmann

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The OP includes this ...

... I don't think this can be correct. I can find no record of Kaufmann's performance of the Wesendock lieder appearing on commercial DVD or Blu-ray.

Yes, you are quite right. It's Blu-ray audio. I've corrected the OP.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Decca/4785678

[gurnemanz]

Most of the listed versions have orchestral accompaniment by various people, usually Mottl. Wagner's original was with piano. I wonder how this will be handled. Will there be an overall choice or one of each? I don't know that many versions and two of my favourites are with piano: Maureen Forrester/Michael Raucheisen and Kirsten Flagstad/Gerald Moore. Orchestrally I'd certainly go along with the already mentioned Baker/Boult, Ludwig/Klemperer, and Elisabeth Meyer-Topsoe/Hans-Nobert Bihlmeier (the latter of which I got when it was recommended on this forum.)

[Alison]

I know Susan Bullock can be variable yet I find her version with the estimable Malcom Martineau on piano a splendid listen. Less strain on the voice compared to the orchestral version which rather suits her.

[Barbirollians]

She's wonderful, what a great disc that is. Possibly my favourite Four Last Songs of all.



You certainly do RC

Her disc of Wagner and Strauss arias from Kontrapunkt is pretty special too.

[gradus]

My favourite version, Minton/Boulez appears to be hors de combat. She brings a particular expressiveness to the final song that I haven't heard equalled. In general though I just love these songs, no matter who is performing.

[Barbirollians]

So far she only seems to have compared about five versions half an hour in .

[Barbirollians]

Making up for it with half a dozen versions of Traume but no Janet Baker !

[DracoM]

I thought this one of the most perverse BALs I've heard in a long while. Made me cross enough to listen more closely!!
Yes, choosing informative clips from something as long-lined and languorous as the Wesendonck Lieder is going to be tough, but to even think Bernstein was near perfect in this work made me splutter tea.

[Bryn]

What a list! I love this work, but only have one recorded version - Anne Evans at the 1997 Proms, on BBC Music Vol lll no 7. I heard her Brunnhildes (all 3) and Isolde live, her voice combined the necessary heft with a touching vulnerability which made her one of the most interesting Wagnerian sopranos (I have the Barenboim Ring on DVD).

I too have that Anne Evans CD and feel no need to supplement it will an alternative.

[Barbirollians]

I liked the winner though . I encourage anyone to buy the 5 disc set of Janet Baker's records with the Wesendonck Lieder in .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Was her remit to cover only the orchestral version(s)? None of the piano versions were illustrated/mentioned, were they? (Nor any of the "many other male singers [than Kaufman] who have performed and recorded" the songs?)

I thought it an instructive and informative BaL - like Barbs, I would have liked to have heard some comment on the Baker/Boult recording (which is much more to my taste than Ludwig/Klemperer); but there were a couple of recordings I didn't know about that I wouldn't mind adding to my collection - and I must get the Norman/Davis!

[vinteuil]

I liked the winner though . I encourage anyone to buy the 5 disc set of Janet Baker's records with the Wesendonck Lieder in .

... or this set?

: http://amzn.eu/dEgrXXy

.

[BBMmk2]

I don't know this work very well, but I will be investigating this baL, at some point.

[Barbirollians]

That looks like one hell of a bargain.

It may be that there are copies of the old HMV Classics CD about where it was tacked on to her Nuits d'Ete and Sheherazade recordings with Barbirolli .