BaL 13.07.19 - Strauss: Four Last Songs

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My favourite disc is still Popp/Tennstedt, which never got a look-in, but I did like what I heard of the Norman/Masur.

Te Kanawa/Solti might have got into my personal shortlist, but by the time this was recorded, Decca had begun to lose the plot with its balancing of sound, and rammed the microphone down the singer's throat. John Culshaw must have turned in his grave.

[Bryn]

Interesting - in one of his better Imagine programmes, Alan Yentob had a brain scan (the jokes are obvious, so I'm resisting) whilst listening to his own favourite recording - the Norman/Masur. The images of the blood surging around as he reached his favourite moments in the work were fascinating.

Starting around 27'50" in:

[richardfinegold]

Who was the HIPP choice?
Never heard the Mattila. Having heard her in recital in Mahler a few years ago I imagine it would be a satisfying listen, but I feel no need to augment my Popp and Lott recordings. I really dislike Schwarzkopf and am glad to see not be declared the winner

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Starting around 27'50" in:

[Mal]

Starting around 27'50" in:

Thanks Bryn & Ferney, the whole documentary was totally fascinating! Unfortunately, the sound cuts out near the end; there is another upload, not as high quality, but it's worth skipping to it to hear the final words:

[Bryn]

[QUOTE=Mal;746671]Thanks Bryn & Ferney, the whole documentary was totally fascinating! Unfortunately, the sound cuts out near the end; there is another upload, not as high quality, but it's worth skipping to it to hear the final words:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRFI_kSSGr4

Thanks for that. My Dutch is non-existent, so even the sub-titles on the one I linked to did not help.

[visualnickmos]

Apart from the new format, interruptions to the flow (always really annoying!) and what I now consider to be the usual Radio 3 approach of sounding like a certain other 'classical music station', a reasonable BaL. One of my own favs, not even mentioned - Barbara Hendricks, a sad omission.

I can't stand Schwarzkopf in anything, and in these - well, less said the better. At the risk of being tried for heresy, I have never warmed to Janowitz and Karajan, although it was my first ever hearing and purchase of the songs on record/CD. To my ears, it sounds too forceful, even hard-edged.

[Mal]

... My Dutch is non-existent, so even the sub-titles on the one I linked to did not help.

Not too off putting though. There's a follow on documentary with the first ten minutes directly relevant to this thread. No production problems here, it's the editor's own website!

http://editorium.co.uk/imagine/

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Who was the HIPP choice?

It would have to be Flagstad/Furtwangler’s world premiere.

[Master Jacques]

So glad Schwarzkopf was dismissed.

"Glad"? You clearly dislike it, but taking a leaf out of Iain Burnside's book, might we agree that sometimes our own first choice might not be the best library choice?

Whatever we might personally think of the Schwarzkopf/Szell disc - which seems to me (for what it's worth) an outstanding record "of its time" as a performance and as an example of the art of sound engineering for home listening - very many people have been deeply moved by it, as its regular appearance on Desert Island Discs proves. It remains a cherished part of many collections, and a recording "classic", whether we like it or not.

[cloughie]

It would have to be Flagstad/Furtwangler’s world premiere.

Della Casa?

[Barbirollians]

Della Casa?

Jurinac/Busch !

[visualnickmos]

"Glad"? You clearly dislike it, but taking a leaf out of Iain Burnside's book, might we agree that sometimes our own first choice might not be the best library choice?

Whatever we might personally think of the Schwarzkopf/Szell disc - which seems to me (for what it's worth) an outstanding record "of its time" as a performance and as an example of the art of sound engineering for home listening - very many people have been deeply moved by it, as its regular appearance on Desert Island Discs proves. It remains a cherished part of many collections, and a recording "classic", whether we like it or not.

I take your point, but when I want music, I'm not looking for an outstanding record "of its time" - I just desire a damn fine sound that 'speaks' to me. Also - I agree many people have been deeply moved by it, but that is irrelevant. We as individuals, are not 'many people'. I just happen to detest the Schwarzkopf sound...

[LeMartinPecheur]

I take your point, but when I want music, I'm not looking for an outstanding record "of its time" - I just desire a damn fine sound that 'speaks' to me. Also - I agree many people have been deeply moved by it, but that is irrelevant. We as individuals, are not 'many people'. I just happen to detest the Schwarzkopf sound...

With respect, I think it's one thing to say that you totally agree with Burnside's dismissal (no Schwarzkopf fan is likely to object to this personal view) but quite another to say you are glad it was dismissed, which comes close to an attack on the judgment of anyone who does happen to like it, as if IB might have saved countless listeners from corruption by this utterly evil version

PS Too quick on the draw here. Should have replied to DracoM's posting that he was 'glad', not vn's

[visualnickmos]

With respect, I think it's one thing to say that you totally agree with Burnside's dismissal (no Schwarzkopf fan is likely to object to this personal view) but quite another to say you are glad it was dismissed, which comes close to an attack on the judgment of anyone who does happen to like it, as if IB has actually saved countless listeners from corruption by this utterly evil version

It wasn't me who said I was glad it was dismissed. I think it was DracoM. I was merely stating my general dislike of Schwarzkopf, as a performer/artist.