Strauss: Four Last Songs & 15 Lieder

Richard Strauss (Composer), Wolfgang Sawallisch (Conductor), The Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra), Barbara Hendricks (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Barbara Hendricks
• Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra
• Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch
• Composer: Richard Strauss
• Audio CD (May 21, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002RVY
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,902 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. 2 Lieder From Op.68: No.2 Ich Wollt' Ein Strausslein Binden - Barbara Hendricks

2. 2 Lieder From Op.68: No.3 Sausle, Liebe Myrthe - Barbara Hendricks

3. Madchenblumen, Op.22: No.1 Kornblumen

4. Madchenblumen, Op.22: No.2 Mohnblumen

5. Madchenblumen, Op.22: No.3 Epheu

6. Madchenblumen, Op.22: No.4 Wasserrose

7. 3 Lieder From Op.10: No.4 Die Georgine

8. 3 Lieder From Op.10: No.7 Die Zeitlose

9. 3 Lieder From Op.10: No.8 Allerseelen

10. 4 Lieder, Op.27: No.1 Ruhe, Meine Seele!

11. 4 Lieder, Op.27: No.2 Cacilie

12. 4 Lieder, Op.27: No.3 Heimliche Aufforderung

13. 4 Lieder, Op.27: No.4 Morgen!

14. Das Rosenband, Op.36 No.1

15. Heimkehr, Op.15 No.5

16. Four Last Songs: Fruhling - Barbara Hendricks

17. Four Last Songs: September - Barbara Hendricks

18. Four Last Songs: Beim Schlafengehen - Barbara Hendricks/William De Pasquale

19. Four Last Songs: Im Abendrot - Barbara Hendricks/William De Pasquale

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Rendition, December 13, 2000

By 

Paul Pickering (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strauss: Four Last Songs & 15 Lieder (Audio CD)

The Philadelphia Orchestra provides a beautiful, sensitive, and technically fluent accompaniment to Ms. Hendricks rendition of Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs. He vocal technique is excellent and her diction precise--she tackles the challenging breathing required for these songs' performance with ease. Both Maestro Sawallish and Ms. Hendricks, while showing superb musicianship, effectively portray the wistful longing Strauss was feeling (and intended) for these works. The sound is radient and lush, with the balance between singer and orchestra appropriate so that both components of this masterpiece are displayed artistically and in balance.

The other selections on this disc are equally well done. They are a collection of songs Strauss wrote in the earlier years of his career, and many of them are love songs dedicated to his wife Pauline. The text to all the songs on this disc is included in the notes with excellent translations, and an appropriate amount of background material is given to each opus included on the CD.

Although some Strauss is challenging for the musical neophyte, this entire project (approximately 60 minutes) is touching, melodic, and engaging to listeners of all levels.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A luscious voice, nicely applied, February 5, 2008

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Strauss: Four Last Songs & 15 Lieder (Audio CD)

Although not yet listed at Amazon, EMI has issued a two-fer containing two separate Strauss recitals from the silvery-voiced Hendricks: a 1991 album of lieder with piano accompanimet and this 1996 album of orchestrated songs, including the Four Last Songs, under Wolfgang Sawallisch, filled out with Sawallisch as pianist in a dozen other songs that aren't orchestrated. She's in the same voice, with its joyful, girlish flutter, despite the span of five years.

Being a maturecoloratura isn't an easy fate, since imprfections show up early and often rob the voice of its youthful tone. Hendricks still sounds youthful, and she's an intelligent, engaging Lieder singer. In fact, I think Strauss is her best composer, because her biggest lack is in the ability to alter her tone and offer interesting emotional changes. But Strauss demands a gorgeous lyrical tone above all else, and that she has. Sawallisch is straightforward and uninteresting on the podium compared to, say, George Szell for Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Even so, the orchestral playing from the Philadelphians is outstanding. The engineers applied a bit too much hall resonance in the sound mix, and yet overall this is a charming recording, especially if you can find the two-fer.

P.S. - I have returned to this dark horse in the Four Last Songs race and now consider it one of the most enjoyable, ahead of Jessye Norman, Solie Isokoski, Lucia Popp, and perhaps even Renee Fleming.