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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Strauss - Four Last Songs
Renee Fleming (soprano) Münchner Philharmoniker, Christian Thielemann The dream team: Renee Fleming and Christian Thielemann, today's foremost interpreters of Richard Strauss, in a brand new recording of the Four Last Songs, plus other arias and songs by R. Strauss. Renee Fleming, the world's leading lyric soprano, records the exquisitely beautiful Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss in a brand new recording. Fleming recorded these songs once before, ten years ago before she had ever sung them live. Since then, these enduringly popular showcases for the soprano voice have become signature pieces for Fleming and a regular and much-loved part of her concert repertoire. With years of experience of live performances behind her, Fleming is ready now to revisit these works, bringing more insight, fresh interpretations and greater maturity. She is conducted by Christian Thielemann, a renowned interpreter of Strauss. The disc also includes other Strauss scenes from his operas Ariadne auf Naxos and Die Agyptische Helena as well as Richard Strauss's songs Freundliche Vision, Verfuehrung, Winterweihe and Zueignung, several of which Fleming has sung live to critical acclaim. “[Fleming's] voice is perfectly suited to [these 'magical late songs'] demands, less of range than of tender, expressive feeling…a must for more than merely Straussians” Anthony Holden, The Observer, 7th September 2008 “Renée Fleming's first recording of the Last Songs, made in 1996 (on RCA), was distinctly mixed. Here Christian Thielemann is a much more natural Straussian, powerful and luxuriant, and Fleming's voice has gained in distinctiveness and diction, to splendidly dramatic effect, often with a real 'float' at the top.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2008 **** | 
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| |  | Strauss - Four Last Songs
Strauss, R: | Four Last Songs A year before his death in 1948, Richard Strauss composed his masterpiece, Four Last Songs, expressing a calm acceptance of the inevitability of his own death. Brentano Lieder Op. 68 TrV 235 In contrast the six Brentano-Lieder are playful, incandescent and virtuosic settings of Clemens Brentano’s deeply romantic poems. Ariadne auf Naxos (excerpts) |
Ricarda Merbeth (soprano) Weimar Staatskapelle, Michael Halász Acclaimed Strauss star Ricarda Merbeth shines in these sublime masterpieces, as tender as they are haunting. “The star achievement is Ricarda Merbeth….. heavenly tone, all the notes and a strong emotional pulse.” The Financial Times on a recent performance in Toulouse “Merbeth is supremely well prepared and on top of this repertoire, and the Weimar orchestra, cliché to say but true, have the sound of Strauss's music still in their blood.” Gramophone Magazine, May 2008 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | R.Strauss - Vier letzte Lieder and Other Lieder
Jessye Norman (soprano) Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Kurt Masur ["Norman is] grand, impassioned, noble, dignified, unmannered in this unforgettable interpretation"
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Nina Stemme Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Antonio Pappano Speaking of Nina’s interpretation of the Four Last Songs, Pappano enthuses: “I trust the warmth of Nina's voice. There are a lot of lighter voices that have recorded the piece but you have to remember that Kirsten Flagstad sang the premiere and it's that kind of ample voice with warmth and body - Nina's voice - that I think is too rarely heard in this repertoire.” | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Kirsten Flagstad Philharmonia Orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwängler | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Ackermann & Lovro von Matacic “Schwarzkopf enthrals with her myriad of nuances and inflexions….there are so many instances when she moulds a phrase so memorably that one feels that this is the only way to do it…… Schwarzkopf’s recordings should be in every respectable collection.” Gramophone | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Strauss, R: | Four Last Songs Muttertändelei, Op. 43 No. 2 Waldseligkeit, Op. 49 No. 1 Zueignung, Op. 10 No. 1 Freundliche Vision, Op. 48 No. 1 Die heliegen drei Könige aus Morgenland Op. 56 No. 6 Ruhe, meine Seele!, Op. 27 No. 1 Meinem Kinde, Op. 37 No. 3 Wiegenlied, Op. 41 No. 1 Morgen, Op. 27 No. 4 Das Bächlein, Op. 88 No. 1 Das Rosenband, Op. 36 No. 1 Winterweihe, Op. 48 No. 4 |
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra / London Symphony Orchestra, George Szell | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Strauss R: Four Last Songsand other works
Strauss, R: | Four Last Songs Wiegenlied, Op. 41 No. 1 Ruhe, meine Seele!, Op. 27 No. 1 Freundliche Vision, Op. 48 No. 1 Waldseligkeit, Op. 49 No. 1 Morgen, Op. 27 No. 4 Das Rosenband, Op. 36 No. 1 Zueignung, Op. 10 No. 1 Des Dichters Abendgang, Op. 47 No. 2 Capriccio: closing scene Capriccio: Intermezzo (Moonlight Music) |
Felicity Lott (soprano) Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi 'She [Felicity Lott] never loses sight of what the words are about; her vocalism is consistently poised and centered; and its no wonder that the wealth of commitment and knowledge shes brought to Strauss music over the years has made her a prime exponent of this repertoire.'
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| |  | Strauss - Four Last Songs & Songs with Orchestra
Heather Harper London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox |
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