Customer Reviews

To My Friends - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some of us who vastly admire Elisabeth Schwarzkopf react badly to this farewell recital that she was persuaded to make after her voice had declined. I believe the date was either 1972 or 1977 (my disc doesn't have the program insert). Schwarzkopf was the absolute mistress of Wolf lieder, and in the Morike selections heard here, one can't help but respond to her artistry, yet vocal security comes and goes, and all of these songs were done to greater effect on her many recordings for EMI. Georffrey Parsons provides excellent accompaniment, and Decca's sound is first-rate. If you don't know Schwarzkopf, this is a bad place to begin.

I am grateful for the artist's decision to make this record even if it was done very late in her career. In fact is was to be her last studio recording, and she knew that. It really is a gift to her friends and admirers. The songs are carefully chosen to fit her voice and the are all masterly performed. It is all very moving - and beautifully done. This is one of the treasures in my music collection - as yeat I have only had a tape recording, so this CD version is a mostly welcomned! Great beauty of voice and all the Schwarzkopf magic are there.