Four Last Songs (Vier letzte Lieder)

Richard Strauss

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf / George Szell / Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

1965

Top choice. A classic reference version with 'wonderful recording quality.' Schwarzkopf 'sings these songs with beautiful sensuousness and caressing phrasing,' which is why she is so associated with it. Szell's accompaniment is wonderful.

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf / Otto Ackermann / Philharmonia Orchestra

1953 Mono recording.

Schwarzkopf's earlier mono recording. Not as atmospheric, but 'you do get Schwarzkopf in fresher voice.' She 'brings forth the emotions maybe a little bit more' here.

Lucia Popp / Klaus Tennstedt / London Philharmonic Orchestra

1982

A gorgeous version, 'really heartfelt and beautiful' in its phrasing, with 'ravishing tone.' Very sensitively accompanied by Tennstedt and well recorded.

Jessye Norman / Kurt Masur / Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

1982

Another famous classic. 'Just beautifully luscious' with Norman's 'gorgeous tone.' 'Im Abendrot' is 'gorgeous... lengthened to its max and beautifully sustained by Norman.' Beautifully recorded.

Gundula Janowitz / Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic

1973

You 'can't beat this in terms of just the sheer sound of it.' Janowitz has a 'purity to it that is beautiful on its own terms,' though perhaps less expressive. Coupled with 'priceless' recordings of 'Tod und Verklärung' and 'Metamorphosen'.

Lisa della Casa / Karl Böhm / Vienna Philharmonic

1953 Mono recording.

Worth hearing 'mainly... for della Casa. She sings it so beautifully, the caressing lines and gorgeous full tone.' Böhm's tempos are a bit fast and the sound is dimmer, so it's less atmospheric.

Sena Jurinac / Fritz Busch / Stockholm Philharmonic

1951 Live mono recording.

A historic choice with dim orchestral sound, but Jurinac's voice is strong. She is 'just gorgeous. Very heartfelt, very natural in her phrasing.' Wonderful musicianship if you can get over the sound.

Kirsten Flagstad / Wilhelm Furtwängler / Philharmonia Orchestra

1950 Premiere recording; dismal mono sound.

The premiere recording, which was Strauss's 'deathbed wish.' A 'beautiful performance very poignant from both artists,' but 'the sound is dismal... really, really hard sledding.' For the truly brave.