Customer Reviews

Strauss - Don Juan · 4 Letzte Lieder · Tod und Verklärung / Voigt · NYP · Masur

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

 

 

Grand gorgeous gorgeous vocalism and subtle interpretation. I think other listeners have mistaken the fussy, over-done performance of Fleming for musical intelligence (hence, tasteful singers are seen as boring). Voigt finds meaning in the music instead of over-acting each word phrase. Regarding Voigt's sound, listen to early Strauss interpreters such as Ursuleac and Jeritza to get an idea of a real Strauss soprano sound - a sound that Voigt has in spades

That said, I can't give the recording 5 stars for three reasons:

1. the Norman/Masur version is the very very best

2. I was present at the performances from which the recording was made and the recording does not do full justice to her voice and interpretation

and

2. the NY Phil's "Death and Transfiguration" is god-awful (bland, dull sounding, no sparkle, no power, no colors, NO depth, no meaning, etc.)

A nice CD. The orchestral work throughout is, of course, exemplary.

Deborah Voigt is a major artist. She possesses a voice of formidable power. She is also a very intelligent artist.

This is a nice performance of Strauss' Four Last Songs. I find no fault.

However, frankly, admire Ms. Voigt though I do, there are simply more involved performances. Several, in fact. I'm not much of a fan of the recent Fleming recording, again, admire her though I do. There are times you want to tell her to trust herself and "just sing it!".

I have two personal favorite recordings of these songs. 1. Janowitz/Karajan, which is almost universally praised, and, especially, Te Kanawa/Solti, which for some reason that simply illudes me, is seldom spoken of. Dame Kiri was in simply unbelieveable voice for these sessions. Her voice absolutely shimmers. And Solti, seemingly in a rare mood of introspection (at least for him), lets this glorious music work its' magic on its' own terms. It is, to my taste, one of the greatest recordings Solti ever made.

What more could you ask for? The New York Philharmonic, Kurt Masur, and Deborah Voigt, and the genius of Richard Strauss! I, for one, could ask for some emotional involvment. I'm sorry to say that these otherwise illustrious performers did not seem to have their hearts in their work when this live recording was made. Miss Voigt's rightly praised voice is too monochromatic in the Four Last Songs. Masur and the NY Phil. are recorded in a fog of undetailed playing and limited dynamic range. It's too bad that such an opportunity has been wasted. I don't understand why all the wonderful details that are printed in the scores of these works can not be heard. I look at the music and hear only the voice, one prominent instrument, and the bass line in the songs. As for the tonepoems, the impression is of boredom and slick professionalism. I thought we were living at the end of the 20th century not the beginning. If you want a really, really good recording of the Four Last Songs, try the Fleming/Eshenbach/Houston recording on RCA. There is heartfelt music-making, and genuine imagination worth twice the price.

I was present at the concert and was looking forward to hearing Voight's rendition of the Four Last Songs. I found it dry and un-moving. I much prefer Rene Flemings recorded rendition.