Schwanengesang

Franz Schubert

Bryn Terfel, Malcolm Martineau

1991

Top choice. A newer recording where Terfel's 'dark, really just rich tone' works well with these dark songs. A 'really, really dark, dramatic version' and a 'very direct interpretation' that is beautifully recorded.

Hans Hotter, Gerald Moore

1954 Mono recording.

A good complement to Terfel. More introspective, with the 'calmness that you associate with hotter, that warmth of sound.' But it's also 'very intense,' as in 'Die Stadt'.

Brigitte Fassbaender, Aribert Reimann

late 1980s/early 1990s

An excellent version and 'one of the best sounding leader recordings.' Fassbaender 'sings really passionately and emotionally' and 'really earths out the different emotions of each song'.