"Vier Letzte Lieder"

[Tetrachord]

I'm looking for an outstanding recording of this wonderful song cycle by Strauss. My only version - on CD - is BPO/Karajan/Janowitz from the early 70s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CqxzBUr6I0

I'm ready for a new interpretation after all these years and the liner notes are a synopsis and details about Stravinsky's "Pulcinella"!!!!!

Suggestions?

[mikealdren]

Schwarzkopf and Szell, unless you have an allergy to her voice. Despite not having a large voice, the way she uses the words and manages the soaring lines is amazing.

[Richard Tarleton]

Tetrachord, I've unearthed a previous thread on this topic thanks to the Forum's search engine, I think we've been round this track a few times!

I think that in Janowitz you already have some people's favourite, ferneyhoughgeleibte for example it's one of my three versions - but you'll find a few more suggestions there. This might also be of use.

I first heard it sung live by Elisabeth Söderström in 1972, and have her BBC testament recording (cond. Dorati). I heard Felicity Lott sing it with Kurt Masur in the 1990s - she's some people's top choice including a BAL a few years ago. Masur conducts the Leipzig Gewandhaus on the fabulous Jessye Norman version which was a best seller in the 1980s - I love it, though some find it too much of a good thing.

I think it's one of those works you really need multiple versions of! Renée Fleming sang it impressively at the Proms a few years ago - she's recorded it twice. Again, her voice seems to divide opinion, as do Schwarzkopf, Norman....

[gurnemanz]

Another previous thread here.

[Tetrachord]

Absolutely terrific!! Thanks so much.

[Pulcinella]

I'm looking for an outstanding recording of this wonderful song cycle by Strauss. My only version - on CD - is BPO/Karajan/Janowitz from the early 70s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CqxzBUr6I0

I'm ready for a new interpretation after all these years and the liner notes are a synopsis and details about Stravinsky's "Pulcinella"!!!!!

Suggestions?

See, I get everywhere!
Which liner notes are in your recording of Pulcinella, I wonder?

[Tetrachord]

See, I get everywhere!
Which liner notes are in your recording of Pulcinella, I wonder?

I don't have a recording of that work. When the CD was packaged the wrong notes were put into the disc - some years ago!!!

Tonight in Sydney I'm listening to some of those "Vier Letzte Lieder" recommended here. This one is just far too slow and ponderous for my taste:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=envQ-ZqGQu8

[Richard Tarleton]

Tonight in Sydney I'm listening to some of those "Vier Letzte Lieder" recommended here. This one is just far too slow and ponderous for my taste:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=envQ-ZqGQu8

Indeed - if you're used to Janovitz - 9.54 as against Janovitz/Karajan's 7.04 for Im Abendtrot - depends what mood I'm in

[Tetrachord]

Indeed - if you're used to Janovitz - 9.54 as against Janovitz/Karajan's 7.04 for Im Abendtrot - depends what mood I'm in

This is on the fast side and the orchestra is much too loud, IMO. Kleiber adored Popp and he absolutely insisted the orchestra must be directed so that if the soprano whispers she can be heard!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur-Is-04SxU

Again, the orchestra is too loud here with Solti. I just don't think this music suited Kiri!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co61XmUu-tc

I'm just comparing the same song for the moment amongst the sopranos.

This is phenomenal music, it has to be said!! I just can't get enough of Strauss lately.

[Conchis]

I picked up a version by Heather Harper with the LSO and Richard Hickox last year, on EMI. I'd never heard of it before, but it's become my favourite version.

[Tetrachord]

This is more to my liking!! This gal can sing and, boy, doesn't she look gorgeous in that blue dress!! Don't know whether it's available on CD but can check it out. Maestro Abbado (bless him) is super responsive with his orchestra - it's positively diaphanous: oh, we miss him so -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5xFL-iFh0Q

[Richard Barrett]

Tonight in Sydney I'm listening to some of those "Vier Letzte Lieder" recommended here.

In fact the last time I heard these pieces was two years ago in Australia, with the excellent Erin Wall, as a pendant to Mahler 1 at the beginning of Andrew Davis' Mahler cycle with the Melbourne Symphony. I rarely listen to any recording other than the Jessye Norman one already referred to. Yes it is extremely slow, but the last words are of course "is this something like death?", at which I imagine an infinitely extended single moment of stillness, and (in this case) beauty. That's how I would like it to be. Nobody else does it in that way as far as I'm concerned.

[Pulcinella]

I picked up a version by Heather Harper with the LSO and Richard Hickox last year, on EMI. I'd never heard of it before, but it's become my favourite version.

She's the only singer I have heard sing these at a concert I've been at, I think (Bristol, many moons ago).
Yes, a favourite here too, but if I want a real wallow it's Jessye Norman.
Also have Janowitz/Karajan and Popp/Tennstedt, and the BBCMM version (Schwanewilms/Elder).
Not a fan of Schwarzkopf, so can live without her, despite all the acclaim she gets.
Certainly a tingle factor work for me.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Popp and Tennstedt - every time.

[ahinton]

Norman's is increadibly persuasive, I find, but I somehow doubt that the composer would have approved of the tempi that she adopts, especially in Im Abendrot.

No one's yet mentioned Lott, so I will!