Strauss: Four Last Songs / Orchestral Songs ~ Kanawa / Davis

Kiri Te Kanawa (Artist), Richard Strauss (Composer), Andrew Davis (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Andrew Davis
• Composer: Richard Strauss
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: CBS Masterworks / Sony
• ASIN: B0000025C9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,442 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #41 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Te Kanawa, Kiri

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Of the many recordings I've heard this is by far the best, October 25, 2000

By 

Thomas Lapins (Orlando, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strauss: Four Last Songs / Orchestral Songs ~ Kanawa / Davis (Audio CD)

"Four Last Songs" remains one of those pieces I will collect by many artists. I first heard this piece and this version in the film "Year Of Living Dangerously" (one of my favorite movies of the 80's). "Four Last Songs" brought the film to a feverish pitch which made both film and music all the more powerful. This was Richard Strauss's last composition. The power of this music is that of a man who has lived life well and wants to express his final magnificient, majestic remembrance in one last piece, and he did it so well. Kiri has one of the finest voices of opera, and found a piece in which to use it fully. This cd is a total joy and experience.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best!!, September 5, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strauss: Four Last Songs / Orchestral Songs ~ Kanawa / Davis (Audio CD)

I agree with the other reviewers that this is the best recording of this treasured work I've ever heard. I'm a "Four Last Songs" fanatic, and this is my favorite recording. Her sound is just stunning; there's no other word for it. The control of the voice is beyond anything I've ever heard from her before or after. As for the interpretation... Well, that's not the main reason I listen to her, though she is very good. Just compare this to the cold, but perfect, renderings by Janowitz, or the rather mincing classics of Schwarzkopf. For me, this certainly holds its on against these. But the voice... it's fuller, deeper, and more ravishing than either of those other two superb singers. Please buy and listen to this wonderful, must-have recording.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kiri at her finest, August 27, 2001

By 

"puccinigirl" (Shawnee, Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strauss: Four Last Songs / Orchestral Songs ~ Kanawa / Davis (Audio CD)

As a student who has studied Kiri's singing let me be frank; I realize that she often lacks wonderful interpretation, but the voice is completely gorgeous! That being said, this is a wonderful collection of German Lieder. Kiri is youthful and fresh here and her interpretation is really quite good, of not riveting, but then, this music is ideally suited for her creamy voice and she floats right through it. Definitely one of her best recordings!