Customer Reviews

Schwarzkopf, Seefried & Fischer-Dieskau Sing Mahler, Richard Strauss & Schubert (EMI Classic Archive 21)

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This DVD is a treasure. Elizabeth Schwarkopf is first heard in a selection from Der Rosenklavier. An arresting, captivating wonderful performance. Irmgard Seefried sings 5 of Strauss's songs, including "Morgen" & "Wiegenlied". Her beautiful voice,vocal technique & dancing eyes bring the songs vividly to life. Dietrich Fischer Dieskau performs 4 Mahler songs & a Bonus of 4 Schubert songs,including "An Die Musik" & "Im Fruhling". To listen & watch these performances is an experience full of joy. The quality of sound & picture is excellent. Subtitles & given text excellent. I am RAPT.

This DVD is extraordinary. I am not a fan of Schwarzkopf in general, but there is no denying that the Rosenkavalier excerpt is beautifully done. Every word, every thought is there. About Fischer-Dieskau there is also little that needs to be said; it's as good as you'd expect. For me, though, the revelation on this disc, and the highlight, is Seefried. I have never seen film of her before, and words simply can't quantify how superb she is. Her face is so expressive, especially just BEFORE she sings a line, that each song, no matter how familiar it might be, takes on a sudden new meaning. And yet, though every single line gets this attention, the feeling is one of total spontaneity. I could write much more, but won't, except to say that I've never been a great fan of Seefried's before, and never quite got why she was so beloved. Now I understand why. I'm hooked!

Dame Elisabeth's portrayal of the Marschallin in the final 24 minutes of the first act of "Der Rosenkavalier" is absolutely stunning, and, IMO, surpasses even her performance in the color video of this opera with Karajan conducting. The phrase "ob ich in den Prater fahr'" is deliciously sung with an air of Viennese aristocracy. Too bad there is only this excerpt in the DVD, and one wonders how magical the final trio in the 3rd act would be like.

In addition to this, there are performances of Seefried and Fischer-Dieskau singing well-known Strauss, Mahler and Schubert lieder (with orchestra and piano accompaniment)--giving a glimpse into the fine lieder singing of the era.

Amazon.com does have reviewers with great taste.

But why is EMI making Schwarzkopf's photo the largest on the cover and Dieskau the smallest? That might due to the order of their appearance.

But in terms of the running time, or in view of the quality of the excerpts here, I wonder if the size of the photos should switch places. Here we are offered almost the best of Dieskau and only a small portion of the many achievements of Schwarzkopf. Is it due to the avialability of the footage which is so rare?

And in any event, I'm grateful to have sight of such clips.

Irmgard Seefried has a whole visual dimension I had never seen. I'd only heard her. Just watching her face is amazing even without the sound. Her dancing eyes.

That's the best of this for me, but Schwarzkopf and Fischer-Dieskau aren't bad either. DFD sings "Erlkonig".

The video of Schwarzkopf duplicates one offered elsewhere, but it has English subtitles, which are most helpful. The Seefied segments were a fine introduction for me to Imgaard Seefried. Although expressive as she was, I would have to agree with the program notes that she was not at her peak, especially in the Strauss songs. But she seemed more relaxed in the Mahler songs. The Fischer-Dieskau segments are a lovely document of him as a younger singer--the same wonderful voice, but before he lost the weight and looked more fitting to sing duets with the elegant Schwarzkopf.