Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, George Szell - Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs (1966) [2012 SACD]

Esteemed interpreter Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor George Szell deliver a landmark reading of this Strauss’ masterpiece. Schwarzkopf’s gorgeous vocal gifts add a new dimension to the pieces, while the warm maestro brings forth a technically flawless performance by the ensemble. The extraordinary attention to detail is lush and passionate. There is no finer rendition of these beloved works.


Tracks:

Vier Letzte Lieder, Op. Posth.
01 Frühling (Hesse) 3:46
02 September (Hesse) 5:17
03 Beim Schlafenhegen (Hesse) 5:22
04 Im Abendrot (Eichendorff) 8:20

12 Lieder
05 Muttertändelei, Op. 43, No. 2 (Bürger) 2:04
06 Waldseligkeit, Op. 49, No. 1 (Dehmel) 3:14
07 Zueignung, Op. 10, No. 1 (von Gilm) 1:50
08 Freundliche Vision, Op. 48, No. 1 (Bierbaum) 3:06
09 Die Heiligen Drei Könige, Op. 56, No. 6 (Heine) 6:39
10 Ruhe, Meine Seele, Op. 27, No. 1 (Henckell) 3:59
11 Meinem Kinde, Op. 37, No. 3 (Falke) 2:48
12 Wiegenlied, Op. 41, No. 1 (Dehmel) 4:52
13 Morgen, Op. 27, No. 4 (Mackay) 3:50
14 Das Bächlein, Op. 88, No. 1 (Goethe) 2:06
15 Das Rosenband, Op. 36, No. 1 (Klopstock) 3:17
16 Winterweihe, Op. 48, No. 4 (Henckell) 3:20

Personnel:

Conductor – George Szell
Orchestra – Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Soprano Vocals – Elisabeth Schwarzkopf