Strauss: Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 68; Symphony No. 2 in F minor

1. Symphony No. 2 in F minor, Op. 12
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra with Eileen Hulse
Conducted by Neeme Jarvi

2. Songs (6) for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 68
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra with Eileen Hulse
Conducted by Neeme Jarvi

Strauss: Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 68; Symphony No. 2 in F minor,Richard Strauss,Neeme Järvi,Royal Scottish National Orchestra,Eileen Hulse,Chandos,Classical,Romantic Symphony,Song Collection for Solo Voice and Piano,Symphonic,Vocal

Average customer rating: Not a desert island recording EUREKA, I've found out what is lacking..... Another one bites the dust Marvellous Salome Disappointing Strauss: Expert-polished orchestra, Adequate Soprano

Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Soprano Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem Songs by Mahler, Handel & Peter Lieberson Bellini - Norma Russian Album ASIN: B000MV93EG Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

1. Letzte Szene: "Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund"
2. Mondscheinmusik
3. Letzte Szene: "Morgen mittag um elf!"
4. Frühling (Hermann Hesse)
5. September (Hermann Hesse)
6. Beim Schlafengehn (Hermann Hesse)
7. Im Abendrot (Joseph von Eichendorff)

Amazon.com

This gifted Swedish soprano, rapturously praised internationally in Wagner, is clearly eager to stake a claim in Strauss. She has the necessary vocal strength, wide range, fine musicianship, clear textual delivery, and flexibility. But listen to legendary benchmarks of Strauss singing (Ljuba Welitsch in the Salome scene, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf or Lisa della Casa in the other material on this disc) and you'll hear voices of pristine timbre and absolute steadiness, both of which Stemme lacks; her vibrato might be less intrusive in the theater, but on records it consistently puts her at a disadvantage, especially in Strauss. Even if the Salome finale offers a certainly amount of feverish excitement, throughout the program the singing generally wants variety of color. With the Capriccio Countess, the line-by-line specificity for this demanding characterization - above all, the lady's abundant charm - is conspicuously missing. Likewise, phrase after phrase of the Four Last Songs lacks profile, and here the vibrato prevents Stemme from achieving the serenity so crucial to this sublime music. EMI provides fine supporting singers (but why weren't the Capriccio Majordomo's opening lines included?) and a splendid Strauss orchestra, that of London's Royal Opera House, elegantly led by music director Antonio Pappano. --Roger Pines

Album Description

Tracklisting:

Richard Strauss- Songs & Scenes
Salome (Hedwig Lachmann after Oscar Wilde)
1. Letzte Szene: "Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund"

Capriccio (Clemens Krauss/Richard Strauss)
2. Mondscheinmusik
3. Letzte Szene: "Morgen mittag um elf!"

Four Last Songs
4. Frühling (Hermann Hesse)
5. September (Hermann Hesse)
6. Beim Schlafengehn (Hermann Hesse)
7. Im Abendrot (Joseph von Eichendorff)

Customer Reviews:

Not a desert island recording.......2007-07-12

This is not a recording to take to that desert island, if you can only pack the essentials. Nina's voice is okay but with the recordings of Jesse Norman and Kiri Te Kanawa still very much in-print, why bother with this one. Nina sounds like a Bayreuth house soprano and her rendition is in no way startling or original. Just adequate. Skip this recording and buy one of the other two.

EUREKA, I've found out what is lacking............2007-06-24

Timbre is to the voice what French Silk is to chocolate pudding; the difference between rich cream and skim milk, it is texture, depth and perspective, and sheen. Nina Stemme does not have the finer of those qualities, but she is not alone.

She seems to me the hope for tomorrow, so low is her tone, firm her committment, and classic her appearance - even if not on this cover. Her singing is very musical, but I don't hear beauty - the production is too narrow and this works for Wagner but not Strauss. Her phrasing is straight - very little variance and again - Wagnerian, not Strauss. Ideally, the portamento and a floating vibrato free tone (ethereal) are two of the hallmarks of Strauss singing. The most fine singer of these wonderful songs - to me - will always be the late Elizabeth Schwarzkopf but Rene Kollo (tenor) also recorded them. His Abendrot is very touchingly sung. But Nina Stemme brings her own touch that validates this attempt. Any singer who attempts Four Last Songs is brave indeed, not only for attempting the difficult music, but for the grand tradition preceeding them.

Somehow, Nina Stemme seems more serious than the airy prima donnas of the past 10 years - Fleming and Angela Alagna come to mind first -- also this young Russian woman (her name escapes me). Stemme is a classic woman, knowing, practical - she is a prima donna, an authentic opera singer - very far from Church, Bocelli, and those pop-classical people (where are they now?) --- she is the beginning of a new practical era where the Art is the measure of productivity - not the Spin Meister.

Brava Nina!!!

Another one bites the dust.......2007-05-25

I could not believe it when I picked up this disc in my local music store to see my favourite music by Strauss on one CD. The first thing I thought is how is Nina Stemme going to pull off each of these selections. The answer is unfortunately, much to my expectations, she excels in the Salome scene, while the remainder of the CD shows her to a bit of a disadvantage. She sings the Countess's Final Scene music well enough, but just like the 4 Last Songs, she lacks the inner-most feeling and cannot penetrate the music like Fleming or Schwarzkopf. Her vibrato also seems to get in the way of most of the music, although it seems to work better in the Salome Final Scene than anywhere else. Pappano and ROH Orchestra provide worthy accompaniment.

Marvellous Salome.......2007-05-24

Stemme makes a most dramatic, marvellous interpretation, one of the best I have ever heard, of the final scene of Salome. The sheer power in her voice points forward to Elektra and Brünnhilde. And the orchestra is in top form. The reason why I do not give this record five stars is to be found in the final scene from Capriccio. Stemme seems not quite to understand the deeps of this role. The best recording ever made of this scene is done by Elisabeth Söderström, CBE - also on EMI.
It is wonderful to hear a "Hochdramatische" sing Vier letzte Lieder! Strauss obviously wanted this kind of voice, and here Stemme, I must confess, scores over Flagstad. Ms. Stemme has to attend to a small vibrato. But: Do not miss this record!

Disappointing Strauss: Expert-polished orchestra, Adequate Soprano.......2007-05-21

If I could only take one Richard Strauss vocal disc to my lonely desert island, I would be torn between choosing the highlights of Der Rosenkavalier, and the Four Last Songs. Come to think of it, I bet the Four Last Songs and other orchestrated songs would finally win out, though I suppose I could try to burn a personal combo disc of the four songs plus at least the bulk of the Rosenkavalier excerpts.

So we come to Nina Stemme singing both a couple of opera excerpts from Salome and Capriccio, and the songs. The orchestra is Covent Garden, with their current music director, Antonio Pappano, leading.

Right off you hear that Pappano is generating a leaner, cleaner Strauss orchestra sound than the lavish, sumptuous sound we now tend to expect. He is not asking the band for high calorie strings, and daring the woodwinds and the brass to cut through when possible. Instead he brings a clean touch that reminds a listerner of George Szell and Cleveland. The difference is that Pappano also generates more warmth of tone, and the sort of razor-edged, hair-pin precision that we associate with Fritz Reiner and Chicago in their heyday.

In sum, this combo approach works, definitely. The orchestra draws a listener in, and gets all the right Straussian juices going. One wants to hear more Richard Strauss - opera, plus orchestral, plus songs - from Pappano and Covent Garden then. Much, much more. There hasn't been such a gifted Strauss conductor resident in England, apparently, since the late, great Tommy Beecham.

Now to the soprano, Nina Stemme.

I have nothing against a bigger voice doing the songs. If only Flagstad had lived to record them in better conditions. For a hint of that imaginary blessing, check out her Mahler song cycles with orchestra, under Vienna led by Boult and Knappertsbusch.

What I think you will hear from Flagstad, that, alas, I do not hear from Ms. Stemme is yet another confidence and physical embodiment, bolstered by seasoned years of professional work, founded on unfailing vocal technique.

At first and later plays, I thought that Ms. Stemme just missed the stylistic differences between opera and lieder in her overall way with musical phrasing. And maybe the differences between Strauss and Puccini. Overall sweep and lift are there, but the focus in her voice gets to spread too much, as if general intention and vocal gesture and obvious involvement were all there was to it.

No, I am afraid I am disappointed. Is Ms. Stemme yet another gifted younger singer who is being pushed too fast into the limelight, short-cutting her technical foundations? Was she just having a bad day?

Other passing deficits, which are indeed not all that terrible but not all that great either, include a so-so take on the texts, again as if one could make the point with just singing this music and letting the texts slide into home base, whenever and however they may.

Not so, again check out other Straussians like Schwarzkopf whose way with lieder was justly renowned. Even Flagstad shows more lieder text insight in her Mahler cycles. Even Jesseye Norman, whose downside is the just okay support she gets from Kurt Masur and the Leipzig band.

One suspects that Stemme has notable gifts which still need a further technical foundation to fully realize them. Breath control is the deep foundation of tonal control. And even more focus on not just hitting the notes, but keeping them fine tuned wouldn't hurt. Now in her favor, Ms. Stemme does not sing out of tune at all, no. But she lets her tone spread and vibrate every time she reaches up, or tries to point the arch of the phrase, and this bodes ill generally for her interpretations, with ill effects in her lieder phrasing particularly.

My guess is this goes back to resale. But I will watch like a hawk or a night owl for more Richard Strauss from Pappano.

Three stars, then. Adequate. Probably for die hard fans of Ms. Stemme, and for listeners who can prize Pappano and Covent Garden as the real treasure trove here.

My recommends? Well, Schwarzkopf/Szell, plus Isokowski/Janowski, plus Norman/Masur, plus Te Kanawa/Davis, plus Auger/Previn, plus Fleming/Eschenbach, plus Lott/Jarvi, plus Brewer/Runnicles, plus Janowitz/Karajan, plus Price/Leinsdorf. Not a thin field, then. Take your pick and love it. The music is the thing.

Average customer rating:

Strauss: Four Last Songs; Wagner" Excerpts from Tristan und Isolde & Götterdämmerung Manufacturer: Testament UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs Songs by Mahler, Handel & Peter Lieberson Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs Bellini - Norma Great Handel ASIN: B000O59Z0C Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

1. I. Beim Schlafengehen
2. II. September
3. III. Fruhling
4. IV. Im Abendrot
5. Prelude
6. Mild Und Leise Wie Er Lachelt
7. Dawn And Siegfried's Rhine Journey
8. Starke Scheite Schichtet Mir Dort

Average customer rating: The best of the best. Beautiful and creamy voice Renee Fleming;THE BEAUTIFUL VOICE The most gorgeous soprano voice I've ever heard Wow!!!

Renee Fleming - The Beautiful Voice ~ Gounod, Lehaair, Orff, Puccini, Rachmaninov, Strauss Gustave Charpentier , Charles Gounod , Jules Massenet , Antonin Dvorak , Friedrich von Flotow , Giacomo Puccini , Erich Wolfgang Korngold , Carl Orff , Richard Strauss , Sergey Rachmaninov , Johann II Strauss , Franz Lehar , Jose Maria Cano , Marie-Joseph Canteloube , Jeffrey Tate , Sir Charles Mackerras , Renée Fleming , English Chamber Orchestra , Osian Ellis , London Voices , and Clive Greensmith Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Canteloube, Joseph | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Korngold, Erich Wolfgang | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Orff | Orff, Carl | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Korngold, Erich Wolfgang | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Fleming, Renee | C to G | Featured Performers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Renée Fleming Renee Fleming: By Request Renée Fleming - Signatures ~ Great Opera Scenes / Sir Georg Solti Sacred Songs Handel ASIN: B0000042I6 Release Date: 1998-02-10

Tracks:

1. Louise (Acte 3): Depuis le jour ou je me suis donnee
2. Faust (Acte 3 - Air des bijoux): O Dieu! que de bijous!... Ah! Je ris de me voir si belle (Air des bijoux - Jewel Song)
3. Manon (Acte 3): Je marche sur tous les chemins... Obeissons... Profitons bien de la jeunesse (Gavotte)
4. Gypsy Melodies, Op. 55 B104 No. 4: Songs My Mother Taught Me
5. Martha (Act 2 - No. 8 The Last Rose): 'Tis The Last Rose Of Summer
6. La rondine (Act 1): Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
7. Die tote Stadt (Act 1 - Mariettas Lied): Gluck, das mir verblieb
8. Carmina Burana (No. 21): In trutina
9. Vier Lieder, Op. 27 No. 4: Morgen!
10. Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14: Vocalise
11. Die Fiedermaus (Act 2 - Csardas): Klange der Heimat (Csardas)
12. Die lustige Witwe (Act 2 - Vilja-Lied): Es lebt' eine Vilja (Vilja-Lied)
13. LUNA: Epilogo
14. Chants d'Auvergne, Series 1: Bailero

Amazon.com essential recording

This vocal recital certainly lives up to its title, perhaps too well. It's a collection of arias and songs Fleming has sung for years that for some may be too much frosting and not enough cake. Surely, her performances are rich with interpretive nuances, wonder-filled portamentos and word colorings that reflect a long history with this repertoire, which ranges from Charpentier's "Depuis le jour" to Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise." Some may find Fleming a bit much, but agree with her or not, she's far more interesting than singers who keep a safe, discreet distance from the music. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

The best of the best........2007-04-11

I've given away at least a dozen copies of this CD. I'm running low, so I just refilled the stash. For people who haven't discovered Renee Fleming or who think they don't care for opera, this CD is the best possible way to blow down the walls. If you think there's nothing new to be heard in these old arias, you owe it to yourself to find out how wrong you can be.

Beautiful and creamy voice.......2006-02-28

I like so much Ren?e Fleming and this is special cd !

Renee Fleming;THE BEAUTIFUL VOICE.......2006-01-30

IT'S A FINE RECORDING THAT OFFERS A VARIETY OF SELECTIONS FROM OPERA, OPERETTAS AND FOLK SONGS, ALL WITH FLEMING AT HER BEST.

The most gorgeous soprano voice I've ever heard.......2006-01-02

I am a 19-year-old voice student at the University of Central Arkansas and I came across Renee by way of a soprano in my voice studio. She said it was her favorite soprano and that I should give her a listen. I was a little hesistant because I'm a baritone and my voice teacher told me that I should listen to men, but I just want to hear it all. So this past summer I first bought Renee's self-titled album with all of the lolipop arias on it and I was just amazed, not just because of how good she is but how easy she is to listen to. I loved her voice immediately. From the the moment the first tone passed through her throat on Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro." So I had to hear more. The Beautiful Voice is even better. It wasn't as easy to listen to at first because some of the songs on this album are not as famous as those on the other one, but these songs are all gems. The Korngold with the pianissimi B flats is my personal favorite. Even my mother who screams at me to turn down that "noise" when I listen to opera cds has grown to be quite fond of Renee Fleming. Sometimes her interpretations can be over the top, but the voice is beyond spectacular. It pours out like melted butter. It's vibrant, rich, expressive, free and always perfectly in tune. There is no hint of strain from any sound emitted from her body. She will undoubtedly be remembered like Callas & Sutherland and all the other great soprano voices before her. Not for the dramatic intensity of Callas or the coloratura & technical ease of Sutherland, but for the sheer unspeakable beauty of her voice. This is a must have for any vocalist seriously dedicated to classical training.

Wow!!!.......2005-09-28

This album is the album that introduced me to Renee Fleming. Every selection on this recording is a gem. Her voice is so gorgeous and her technique is so solid. I love her voice so much, her interpretations of J. Strauss, Jr.'s Csardas is incredible and Puccini's Chi il bel sogno di Doretta makes me cry everytime I listen to it. She is a true American treasure. Brava Renee!!!

Average customer rating: The Perfect Four Last Songs Absolutely Beautiful! Karajan really puts a damper on things Fantastic readings of some of Strauss's most beautiful work Gorgeous Gundula

Strauss: Four Last Songs / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss, Richard | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Janowitz, Gundula | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra, Don Juan / Karajan Strauss: Four Last Songs/12 Orchestral Songs Richard Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie Strauss: Four Last Songs; Songs with Orchestra; Rosenkavalier Suite Gundula Janowitz Songs: Strauss Liszt & Schubert ASIN: B000001GQF Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

1. Tod Und Verklarung Op. 24
2. Metamophosen: Metamorphosen
3. Veir Letzte Leider: Fruhling
4. Veir Letzte Leider: September
5. Veir Letzte Leider: Beim Schafengehen
6. Veir Letzte Leider: Im Abendot

Amazon.com

Gundula Janowitz had a very beautiful voice that critics like to describe as "creamy," whatever that means. Strauss had a life-long love affair with the soprano voice. He even married one--not just the voice, the whole woman, of course. His Four Last Songs constitute his dying tribute, and they are probably the most hedonistically gorgeous vocal works in existence. Herbert vo Karajan was a Strauss specialist, as was Janowitz, and together they contrive to perform the songs about as perfectly as they ever have been. The couplings, two orchestral works from the beginning and end of Strauss's career, are quite appropriate: the last of the Four Songs quotes the "Transfiguration" theme from the tone poem. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

The Perfect Four Last Songs.......2007-04-20

Of all the Straussians who have sung the composer's autumnal pieces, I think the best of the lot is Gundula Janowitz. Her ethereal, diaphanous, and floating voice fits these songs perfectly, and her natural sense of expression conveys that aura of old age, wisdom, and reflection radiated by these songs. Although hers is the kind of voice that wouldn't have the deep, low notes for Frühling, the rest of the songs sound like pearls falling off a string. In September and Beimschlafengehen, she has no rivals, and her Im Abendrot has that reflective sense of retirement that only she can bring to this glorious music. That said, I think that in addition to Janowitz, you must hear Lisa della Casa and Soile Isokoski in these songs. Janowitz is partnered by the orchestral forces of THE Straussian conductor, Herbert von Karajan. His feeling for the poetry in these pieces is unrivaled by any other conductor except Karl Böhm, and the Berlin forces play a ravishing account of this music. The balance is just right, and Karajan caresses the orchestral forces to a soft cushion of sound for Janowitz. All the resignment and wisdom of Strauss' final masterpieces can be found in this rendition of the music. The Metamorphosen and the Tod und Verklärung that precede these are also played with the finesse and the smoothness of the Berliners. Bravo!

Absolutely Beautiful!.......2006-07-19

Gundula Janowitz did an amazing job on the Four Last Songs by Strauss. Her tone is so beautiful with clarity, and her voice is so expressive. She also does not over sing these delicate songs which I heard oversung, and it ruins each piece. Of course, Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic are amazing and perfect for Richard Strauss. The violin solo in the "third" of the four last songs is amazing and heartbreaking. You dont even have to be a Strauss fan to love this cd. Anybody who loves music has to love Strauss's Four Last Songs which can be described as some of the most beautiful music written.

Karajan really puts a damper on things.......2006-07-14

There are fervent Herbert von Karajan fans out there and a lot of people love this album, but I just don't see what the fuss is all about. Karajan's interpretations here seem daft and un-comprehending. In the sleeve notes, the Berlin Philharmonic concertmaster is quoted to say that Karajan quickly gave the orchestra a clear idea of what he wanted in rehearsals, so that in performance he could largely "let the orchestra play itself," taking over to provide leadership and an interpretive touch "at key moments." And that's exactly the sense I get in so many passages here: that Karajan is simply letting everyone play, not guiding or directing or shaping things.

The playing of the Berlin Philharmonic---the orchestra that is, by many if not by general consensus, held to be the world's finest---is of course spectacular. In fact, the orchestra is so good that all a conductor has to do to bring things off pretty well is to start and stop them together, and frankly for a great deal of this disk that seems to be the extent of Karajan's involvement. So many expressive nuances in these scores go by without emphasis, as though Karajan isn't even aware of them.

In the Four Last Songs, I much prefer Schwarzkopf and Szell with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. There, the phrasing is astute and expressive, heightening the effect of these scores, where Karajan deflates everything and largely sabotages the effect these gorgeous orchestral songs ought to have. Furthermore Schawarzkopf is gentle and tender where Janowitz, for as much as she sings arching, elegant phrases, is often rather overblown by comparison.

The exception here, though, and the reason for a 3-star rating rather than only 2, is the Metamorphosen, Op. 142. This is a remarkable, complex work that reveals itself more and more with multiple listenings, and the reading here is a real masterpiece. Perhaps Karajan deserves the credit, or perhaps the smaller ensemble (23 strings) fosters an atmosphere of chamber playing so that the orchestral musicians themselves are primarily responsible for the interpretive contribution here... given just how much Karajan muffles the expressive content in the other two works, I tend to think the latter is probably closer to the truth.

Fantastic readings of some of Strauss's most beautiful work.......2005-10-29

What more can I say that other reviewers have not already said? Karajan's direction of the BPO remains unsurpassed for Strauss. The BPO from the 1960's through the mid-70's was at its absolute apex and it shows, especially in the electric and beautiful "Tod und Verklarung" and the reflective "Metamorphosen". These interpretations of those two major tone-poems remain the definitive recordings for me; I have heard other performances, but none have moved me in this way.
I have to be honest, I am not a huge fan of Lieder in general - vocal works are not my bag, really. Still, if you enjoy this medium, then these pieces must not be missed, as they certainly are beautiful, and Gundula Janowitz has one of the most gorgeous classical voices.
Overall, this disc is can't miss - fantastic sound and performance, affordable price and a huge runtime (77+ minutes). A must have for Straussians.

Gorgeous Gundula.......2005-10-26

This is a must have CD for Janowitz's singing alone. Recently, many overpowered Wagnerian sopranos have attempted to perform the four last songs, but they are invariably miscast for these intimate works. Janowitz's singing here is precisely on the mark for the kind of atmosphere Strauss calls for. Karajan seems to fulfill every demand a signer could have here with gorgeous coloring, balance and pacing, always allowing Janowitz to breathe. These four last songs are part of my desert island collection.

Tod und Verklaerung likewise is an excellent rendition by Karajan. Death becomes palpable in a very naturalistic reading of this very naturalistic tone poem. The Metamorphosen on the other hand are the low spot on this disc and the reason for the "only" four stars rating. It seems emotionally overwrought and unconvincing as a whole. We have here unfortunately another example of excessively lush, chocolatey string overkill so common in later Karajan recordings. It seems wholly inappropriate for what is Strauss at his most experimental and non-romantic. A bit more clarity and emotional restraint would have helped.

Average customer rating: Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material! Beginner or Expert Very Informative and Enjoyable Frank's view Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

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Tracks:

1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
4. Hungarian Dance No.7
5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
10. Csardas Music
11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
18. Tzigane
19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
20. Caprice No.24
21. The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
27. The Violin Muted
28. Clair De Lune
29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
31. The Pizzicato Violin
32. Pizzicato Polka
33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
35. Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
37. The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
38. Hungarian Dance No.4
39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
42. Bolero
43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

1. Introduction To The Viola
2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
7. The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
9. The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
10. Cypresses (No.9)
11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
24. Elfentanz, Op.39
25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
28. Flamenco
29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
33. It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
39. The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
40. Capriccio Di Bravura
41. Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
42. The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
6. Sa'Dawi
7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
8. Chamber Music No.II
9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
13. A Variety Of Techniques
14. Chamber Music No.II
15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
20. Naelden, Naelden
21. The Bachian Oboe
22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
26. The Swan Of Tuonela
27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
30. Bolero
31. The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
32. Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
35. The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
38. ...And Quite Low.
39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
44. Introduction To The Saxophone
45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
49. Bolero
50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
53. Sax-O-Phun
54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
60. Bolero
61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
6. Fanfare For The Common Man
7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
11. The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
16. Billy The Kid
17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
21. The Birth Of The Trombone
22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
27. The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
28. Hosannah
29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
35. The Horn And The Hunt
36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
9. Den Hoboecken Dans
10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
12. No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
13. Gymnopedie No.2
14. The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
15. Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
18. Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
22. The Birth Of The Bongo
23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
33. The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
37. Ravel And The Xylophone
38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
40. Introducing The Vibraphone
41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
44. Folk Dances
45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
52. Introducing The Celeste
53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
57. A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

1. Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
2. Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
3. But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
4. Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
5. The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
6. An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
7. Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
8. Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
9. Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
10. Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
11. Mahler's Sleighbells
12. Symphony No.4 (Opening)
13. A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
14. Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
15. Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
16. Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
17. National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
18. And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
19. And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
20. The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
21. The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
22. The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
23. The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
24. The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
25. The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
26. The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
27. The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
28. There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
29. The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
30. Nocturnes
31. Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
32. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
33. The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
34. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
35. The Oboe As Duck
36. Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
37. The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
38. The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
39. The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
40. Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
41. Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
42. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
43. Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
44. The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
45. A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
46. Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
47. A Thunderstorm In A Million
48. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
49. the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
50. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
51. Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
52. The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
2. Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
3. A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
4. Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
5. Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
6. String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
7. The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
8. String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
9. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
10. String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
11. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
12. String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
13. The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
14. String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
15. The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
16. Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
17. Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
18. String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
19. The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
20. Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
21. Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
22. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
23. In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
24. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
25. In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
26. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
27. In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
28. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
29. Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
30. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
31. And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
32. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
33. The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
34. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
35. Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
36. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
37. A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
38. Octet In F (Mvt 3)
39. The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
40. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
41. Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
42. Canzon 28
43. Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
44. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
45. From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
46. Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
47. Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
48. The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
49. Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
50. When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
51. Images (Gigues)
52. A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
53. Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
54. The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
55. Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
56. Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
57. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
58. A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

Average customer rating: Movie Themes CD "three decades of film composers ~ Simply The Best"

Simply the Best Movie Themes Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Górecki, Henryk Mikolaj | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schifrin | Schifrin, Lalo | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Kamen | Kamen, Michael | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Variations | Forms & Genres | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Great Movie Love Themes: Five Star Collection Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores The Wings of a Film: The Music of Hans Zimmer ASIN: B0001CNRL6 Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

1. Theme From Mission Impossible - Schifrin
2. Theme From Gladiator - Zimmer
3. Hedwig's Theme - Williams
4. Harry's Wondrous World - Williams
5. Allegro Moderato - Symphony No. 8 'Unfinished' - Schubert
6. Suite From Shakespeare In Love - Warbeck
7. Out Of Africa - Barry
8. Requiem, Rex Tremendae - Mozart
9. Prelude In E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 - Chopin
10. Suite No. 3 In D, Air On The G String - J.S. Bach
11. I Will Always Love You - Parton
12. Symphony No. 40, Molto Allegro - Mozart
13. Finlandia - Sibelius
14. My Heart Will Go On - Horner

Tracks:

1. Theme From Lord Of The Rings - Shore
2. Overture To All That Jazz - Kander & Ebb
3. 'Trout' Quintet, Theme, Andantino And Variations - Schubert
4. Prelude No. 15 In D-Flat - Chopin
5. Windmills Of Your Mind - LeGrand
6. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You - KAMEN
7. Theme From Schindler's List - Williams
8. Also Sprach Zarathustra, Excerpt - Strauss
9. Symphony No. 3, Lento Cantabile - Semplice - Gorecki
10. Die Walkure, Ride Of The Valkyries - Wagner
11. Goldberg Variations, Aria Da Capo - J.S. Bach
12. Theme From License To Kill - KAMEN
13. Sonata No. 8, Op. 13, 'Pathetique,' Andante Cantabile - Beethoven
14. Die Another Day - Arnold
15. Symphony No. 9, Ode To Joy, Excerpt - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

Movie Themes CD.......2007-03-10

Very nice CD with beautiful music from past movies. Very relaxing music to listen to.

"three decades of film composers ~ Simply The Best".......2004-03-06

Rhino Movie Music presents "Simply The Best Movie Themes", featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and other various artists ~ within the realm of the following composers David Arnold, John Barry, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Wendy Carlos, Fred Ebb, James Horner, James Newton Howard, Michael Kamen, John Kander, Michel Legrand, Alex North, Basil Poledouris, Howard Shore, Wladyslaw Szpilman, Stephen Warbeck, John Williams and Hans Zimmer ~ each composer has created one or more of the scores in this twenty nine classic line up.

Film scores covering over three decades with "2001:SPACE ODYSSEY", "A CLOCKWORK ORANGE", "APOCALYPSE NOW", "THE BODYGUARD(I Will Always Love You)", "CHICAGO(Overture to All That Jazz), "DIE ANOTHER DAY", "EYES WIDE SHUT", "FEARLESS", "GLADIATOR(Theme)", "HANNIBAL", "HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE(Hedwig's Theme)", "HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE(Harry's Wondrous World)", "THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER", "JURASSIC PARK:THE LOST WORLD", "LICENSE TO KILL, "LIVING DAYLIGHTS", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS(Theme)", "MINORITY REPORT", "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (Theme)", "OUT OF AFRICA", "THE PIANIST", "ROBIN HOOD, PRINCE OF THIEVES", "SCHINDLER'S LIST", "SE7EN", "SHADOWLANDS", "SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE", "THE SIXTH SENSE", "THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR"and "TITANIC(My Heart Will Go On)" ~ a mixture of original compositions and classics of the old masters. Loaded with not just themes, but full of orchestral arrangements that are fresh and rewarding ~ sure to bring back those special moments from the film.

The presentation is superb with every cue inclusive with spectacular performances from suspense, romance and adventure all rolled into a two disc package. Rhino must be commended on doing such a great job and doing it well. Most serious "film-score-buffs" will welcome this compilation, has many cues available all under one banner ~ Rhino Records...gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Rhino/Warner Classics 78061 ~ (2/24/2004)

Average customer rating: This is just a review of the transfer and booklet A wiser Schwarzkopf in one of her best latter recordings HEAVENLY Schwarzkopf and Szell Team Up For An Incandescent Strauss Record A thing of beauty ...

Strauss: Four Last Songs/12 Orchestral Songs Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss, Richard | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth | ( S ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Schubert: 24 Lieder The Very Best of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Great Recordings Of The Century - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sings Operetta / Ackermann Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier / Schwarzkopf · Ludwig · Karajan Great Recordings Of The Century - Janet Baker Sings Mahler / Barbirolli, et al ASIN: B00000GCAE Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

1. Four Last Songs, Op. Posth.: Fruhling
2. Four Last Songs, Op. Posth.: September
3. Four Last Songs, Op. Posth.: Beim Schlafengehem
4. Four Last Songs, Op. Posth.: Im Abendrot
5. 12 Songs: Mutterandelei, Op. 43, No. 2
6. 12 Songs: Waldseligkeit, Op. 49, No. 1
7. 12 Songs: Zueignung, Op. 10, No. 1
8. 12 Songs: Freundliche Vision, Op. 48, No. 1
9. 12 Songs: Die Heiligen Drei Konige, Op. 56, No. 6
10. 12 Songs: Rube, Meine Seele, Op. 27, No. 1
11. 12 Songs: Meinem Kinde, Op. 37, No. 3
12. 12 Songs: Wiegenlied, Op. 41, No. 1
13. 12 Songs: Morgen, Op. 27, No. 4
14. 12 Songs: Das Bachlein, Op. 88, No. 1
15. 12 Songs: Die Rosenbande, Op. 36, No. 1
16. 12 Songs: Winterweihe, Op. 48, No. 4

Amazon.com

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was one of those singers whom one either loves or hates. She was a "stylist," who inflected every phrase, every note in her urge to communicate what she considered to be the meaning of the text. Others feel that the only thing she communicated was her own need to impress people with her ability to communicate, and I believe she often forgot the difference between art and artfulness. Be that as it may, she was an outstanding Strauss singer, and her performance of the Four Last Songs, in particular, is legendary. Of course, having George Szell on the podium doesn't hurt either. He insures that the music shows the singer in the best possible light. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

This is just a review of the transfer and booklet.......2007-03-30

I have little to add to the excellent reviews here--I owned a previous transfer, and it was worth it to me to buy another, given its low cost at Amazon.

I think the transfer is excellent, removing a surprising amount of murk from a 1991 version (I think). In fact, I'm wondering if some distortion hasn't been removed as well, at least in the voice. As for Szell & his orchestras, their playing sounds fresher and lovelier than ever. Instrumental placement in the sound image seems more firm, and details are more clear.

As for the booklet, well, EMI is not one for documentation, and it should be ashamed of itself for wasting our time in the middle of the song texts with ads for their other recordings. However, yes, the texts for these songs are all there, and that is a minor miracle.

So yes, this is a no-brainer purchase. In my view, the improved sound quality does merit purchasing it if one's transfer is prior to 1997.

A wiser Schwarzkopf in one of her best latter recordings.......2006-11-04

One of the landmark opera albums of the 1960s', Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's recording of Strauss' "Four Last Songs"; and the twelve Lieder songs of Burger, Dehmel, Bierbaum and others, is beautifully-remastered here for compact disc.

Schwarzkopf was in her fifties when she recorded these works, and there is a lot to be said for the mature, knowing performance from a soprano voice of that age. It speaks of life's joys and heartaches, and a heart still longing for youthful romance. I seriously doubt that anyone will ever fully eclipse Elisabeth's sheer dramatic intensity in this recording. She transforms herself back into a young girl, yet still retains the dramatic use of her maturity.

This recording has been remastered using Abbey Road's Prism SNS system, which gives the recording a natural soundscape, free of annoying echo or reverb, allowing Schwarzkopf's voice to come forth with astonishing clarity. Simply, it's the best this recording has ever sounded. A bargain price too.

[EMI Classics 7243 5 66908 2 0]

HEAVENLY.......2006-09-14

The "Gramophone" magazine reviewer couldn't have put it better:- "a heavenly record, so beautiful that I find it goes against the grain to attempt to analyse it". A must-have for any self-respecting classical record collection.

Schwarzkopf and Szell Team Up For An Incandescent Strauss Record.......2006-09-09

Four decades later this remains one of the greatest recordings of this final, transcendent Richard Strauss masterpiece. Some have shown preference for the earlier Schwarzkopf sung, Otto Ackermann conducted EMI record. I can't imagine why someone would want that mono recording over this gorgeous stereo version. Schwarzkopf here is just as radiant if not more so, the speeds are perfectly judged by Szell and everything has an luminous glow about it. The fact that 12 extra Strauss songs are here too puts this CD over the top, a must buy.

There have been plenty of great versions of the Four Last Songs since Schwarzkopf, the likes of Gundula Janowitz with Herbert Von Karajan and especially the spectacular Jessye Norman with Kurt Masur, yet the Schwarzkopf account can still match any other version in the catalogue for sheer beauty, the tender articulation of words and deep understanding of the music. Jessye Norman surpasses Elizabeth Schwarzkopf for operatic splendour and voluptousness of sound so you definitely need to get that version too. Having several performances of this immortal masterwork is a must!

A thing of beauty ..........2006-02-06

... is a joy forever, John Keats wrote, referring to the unending beauty of the things in Nature. The same can be said for the music making as captured for eternity on this recording, which seems to have been touched by a muse of fire, making it truly ascend the highest heaven of invention ... and art. The interpretations of all of these songs by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is ever intelligent and astute, but always deeply human. Her singing is finely intimate, I believe, revealing her unrivaled mastery of invoking every single syllable with deepest possible meaning. The same can be said for the orchestral playing, so very intelligent, utterly complementing Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's gorgeous, deeply human, deeply moving singing. A marvel!

Average customer rating:

Strauss: The Complete Songs - 2 Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Strauss: The Complete Songs, Vol. 1 Strauss: Four Last Songs; Wagner" Excerpts from Tristan und Isolde & Götterdämmerung R. Strauss - Salome Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem Julia Varady [DVD Video] ASIN: B000OQDV2O Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

1. Die Nacht Op.10 No.3
2. Geduld Op.10 No.5
3. Mein Herz Ist Stumm Op.19 No.6
4. All' Mein Gedanken Op.21 No.1
5. Du Meines Herzens Kronelein Op.21 No.2
6. Ach Lieb, Ich Mub Nun Scheiden Op.21 No.3
7. O Warst Du Mein Op.26 No.2
8. Ruhe, Meine Seele! Op.27 No.1
9. Traum Durch Die Dammerung Op.29 No.1
10. Schlagende Herzen Op.29 No.2
11. Nachtgang Op.29 No.3
12. Blauer Sommer Op.31 No.1
13. Weiber Jasmin Op.31 No.3
14. Das Rosenband Op.36 No.1
15. Waldseligkeit Op.49 No.1
16. In Goldener Fulle Op.49 No.2
17. Wiegenliedchen Op.49 No.3
18. Wer Lieben Will, Mubb Leiden Op.49 No.7
19. Ach, Was Kummer, Qual Und Schmerzen Op.49 No.8
20. Blindenklage Op.56 No.2
21. Wie Erkenn' Ich Mein Treulieb?
22. Guten Morgen, 'S Ist Sankt Valentinstag
23. Sie Trugen Ihn Auf Der Bahre Blob

Average customer rating: Mill. Classical review classical music for the unitiated Some little gems there that I had forgotten! A very helpful collection Excellent!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set] Manufacturer: Delta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. 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Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Airs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rhapsody in Blue - Ultimate Piano Collection [20 CD Set] Masters of Classical Music (Box Set) Little Night Music - Ultimate Mozart Collection [20 CD Set] Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set] Rendezvous of Angels - Concert Collection [20 CD Set] ASIN: B00000K1C9 Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

1. Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
2. Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
3. Violin Concerto In E First Movement
4. Prelude In C minor
5. Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
6. Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
7. Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
8. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
9. Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
10. Easter Oratorio - Overture
11. Minuet In D minor
12. Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
13. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
14. Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
15. Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
16. Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
17. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
18. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
19. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
20. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
21. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
22. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
23. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
24. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
25. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
26. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
27. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
28. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
29. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
30. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
31. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
32. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
33. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
34. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
35. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
36. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
37. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
38. Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
39. Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
40. Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
41. Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
42. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
43. Water Music - Air
44. Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
45. Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
46. Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
47. The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
48. Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
49. Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
50. Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
51. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
52. Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
53. Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
54. Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
55. Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
56. Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
57. Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
58. Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
59. String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
60. Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
61. Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
62. Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
63. String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
64. Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
65. Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
66. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
67. Piano Concerto in A - second movement
68. Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
69. Serenade - Minuet
70. Violin Concerto - first movement
71. Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
72. Clarinet Concerto - second movement
73. Turkish March
74. Divertimento - Minuet
75. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
76. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
77. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
78. Overture
79. O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
80. Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
81. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
82. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
83. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
84. Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
85. Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
86. German Dance No. 1 In C
87. Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
88. Heidenroslein
89. Ave Maria
90. Der Lindenbaum
91. Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
92. Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
93. Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
94. German Dance No. 2 In G
95. Piano Sonata In B-Flat
96. Nachtgesang Im Walde
97. Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
98. German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
99. Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
100. Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
101. Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
102. Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
103. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
104. Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
105. Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
106. Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
107. Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
108. Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
109. Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
110. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
111. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
112. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
113. Violin Concerto - second movement
114. The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
115. Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
116. Swan Lake - Waltz
117. Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
118. The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
119. Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
120. Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
121. Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
122. Hungarian Dance No.5
123. Lullaby
124. Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
125. Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
126. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
127. Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
128. Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
129. String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
130. Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
131. Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
132. Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
133. German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
134. Die Fledermaus - Overture
135. Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
136. Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
137. Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
138. AnnenPolka, Op. 117
139. Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
140. Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
141. Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
142. On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
143. Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
144. Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
145. Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
146. Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
147. The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
148. The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
149. Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
150. Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
151. Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
152. Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
153. Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
154. Don Juan, Op. 20
155. Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
156. Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
157. Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
158. Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
159. Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
160. Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
161. Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
162. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
163. Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
164. Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
165. Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
166. Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
167. Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
168. Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
169. Angelus
170. Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
171. Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
172. Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
173. Les Préludes
174. Boléro
175. Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
176. Rhapsodie Espagnole
177. Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
178. Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
179. Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
180. La Valse
181. Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
182. Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
183. Humoresque, Op. 101
184. Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
185. Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
186. Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
187. Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
188. Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
189. Carneval Overture, Op. 92
190. Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
191. Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
192. Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
193. Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
194. Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
195. String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
196. Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
197. Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
198. Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
199. Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
200. String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
201. Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
202. Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
203. Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
204. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
205. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
206. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
207. Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
208. Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
209. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
210. Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
211. The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
212. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
213. Nordic Melody Op. 63
214. Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
215. Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
216. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
217. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
218. Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
219. Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
220. Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
221. Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
222. Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
223. Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
224. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
225. Frühlingsgruss
226. Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
227. Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
228. Manfred Overture, Op. 115
229. Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
230. Die Rose stand im Tau
231. Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
232. Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
233. Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
234. Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.

Average customer rating: Fine anthology but still prefer her "Four Last Songs" recording RIP DAME ELIZABETH (1915-2006) SCHWARZKOPF ----- ONE OF THE GREATS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ¡PERFECT! PERFECTA INTERPRETACIÓN

The Very Best of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Smetana | Smetana, Bedrich | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolf | Wolf, Hugo | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Lehar, Franz | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Schubert, Franz | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Strauss, Richard | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Wagner, Richard | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Weber, Carl Maria von | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Wolf, Hugo | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Smetana, Bedrich | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Wolf, Hugo | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth | ( S ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Great Recordings Of The Century - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sings Operetta / Ackermann Strauss: Four Last Songs/12 Orchestral Songs Schubert: 24 Lieder Mozart: Opera Arias Mozart: Lieder & Concert Arias ASIN: B0000AF1SC Release Date: 2003-09-02

Tracks:

1. Ach War Ich Schon (Fidelio)
2. Non So Piu (Le Nozze Di Figaro)
3. Porgi, Amor (Le Nozze Di Figaro)
4. E Susanna Non Vien!...Dove Sono (Le Nozze Di Figaro)
5. Mi Tradi Quell'Alma Ingrata (Don Giovanni)
6. Come Scoglio (Cosi Fan Tutti)
7. Leise, Leise, Fromme Weise (Der Freischutz)
8. Dich, Teure Halle (Tannhauser)
9. Einsam In Truben Tagen (Lohengrin)
10. Wie Fremd Und Tot (Die Verkaufte Braut)
11. Bruderchen, Komm, Tanz Mit Mir (Hansel Und Gretel)
12. Da Geht Er Hin (Der Rosenkavalier)
13. Es Gibt Ein Reich (Ariadne Auf Naxos) - Richard Strauss
14. Das War Sehr Gut (Arabella)

Tracks:

1. Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen
2. Bist Du Bei Mir
3. Ridente La Calma
4. An Die Musik
5. Der Musensohn
6. Nachtviolen
7. Der Musensohn
8. Auch Kleine Dinge
9. Mein Liebster Ist So Klein
10. Verschling' Der Abgrund
11. Ich Hab' In Penna
12. Wiegenlied Im Sommer
13. Mausfallenspruchlein
14. In Dem Schatten Meiner Locken
15. Mignon (Kennst Du Das Land?)
16. Gsatzli (Swiss Folksong)
17. Fruhling
18. Im Abendrot
19. Muttertandelei
20. Zueignung
21. Klange Der Heimat (Die Fledermaus)
22. Es Lebt'Eine Vilja (Die Lustige Witwe)
23. Im Chambre Separee (Der Opemball)
24. Wien, Du Stadt Meiner Traume

Amazon.com

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was certainly one of the greatest singers of her own, or indeed any other time. An obsessive perfectionist, her flawless technique and intonation over a huge range, vocal flexibility, breath control, phrasing, stylistic versatility, and above all her focused, radiantly beautiful sound were matchless and incomparable. All these are on full display on this generous 2-CD set, which features over a dozen arias, songs by Schubert, Wolf and Richard Strauss, and some lighter fare. The recordings were made between 1950 and 1967, and the singing becomes better and better, the voice richer and more varied, the expression deeper and more immediate. Not surprisingly, the peaks come in the arias from her signature roles in Mozart's Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi fan tutte; Richard Strauss' Ariadne, Rosenkavalier, and Arabella, which rise to real ecstasy; and arias from Weber's Freischütz and Smetana's Bartered Bride, which are wonderfully intimate and touching. She is less convincing in roles she never sang on stage, and the "childish" voice she cultivated especially for Hänsel and Gretel is unnatural and contrived. The same is true of the last two "popular" numbers, which sound condescending and artificial. The songs, however, have all her customary finesse and inwardness; the Wolf group, perhaps chosen for its gentle humor, is charming, while Strauss' "Four Last Songs" (represented by two) shimmer and soar. Schwarzkopf's singing had instantly recognizable characteristics: a tendency to hold back both vocally and emotionally, giving a sense of noble restraint, but also of cool detachment; excessive use of color and nuance, creating a fussy, calculated and somewhat artificial air. Only rarely does she "let go" with full voice and spontaneous feeling. However, as these recordings show, she invariably inspires admiration and captures ear and heart through the inimitable, glorious beauty of her voice. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Fine anthology but still prefer her "Four Last Songs" recording.......2006-11-06

The engineering and audio quality of these 1960's performances are surprisingly good. The songs are wonderfully peformed and cover a range of periods and styles, but I find myself returning to her recording (also re-released on CD) of Strauss' "Four Last Songs", which I would give 6 stars -- my favorite recording of all time.

RIP DAME ELIZABETH (1915-2006).......2006-08-04

This set is a fine tribute to this extraordinary singer and musician. I was saddened to read about her passing. She had a long life (90 years) and inspired a whole generation of singers and music lovers throughout the world.

SCHWARZKOPF ----- ONE OF THE GREATS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.......2006-01-29

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's career is what legends are made of. She is every bit as fundamental to classical singing in the twentieth century as is Maria Callas. Schwarzkopf sang with refinement, polish, beauty of voice, and meticulous articulation. She was the greatest Mozart and Strauss soprano of her day; her ability to sing the operetta music of Lehar, Suppe', and Johann Strauss has not been equalled; she performed with distinction orchestral compositions of Mahler, Brahms, Bach, and Handel; her Schubert, Schumann, Wolf, and Mahler lieder were exemplary. She sang many operatic roles, far more than many people realize, and was certainly the definitive Marshallin in "Rosenkavalier" throughout the 1950's and 1960'. I saw her many times in recital in Chicago, and even at the time of her farewell (which I was fortunate enough to see), she was sublime. All of the superlative qualities of Schwarzkopf are generously demonstrated throughout these two wonder CD's. Virtually every item is magnificent (though obviously some will prefer some to others) and has the detailed Schwarzkopf imprint stamped right into the music. This CD, great as it is, represents only a very small part of the greatness of Schwarzkopf. I already own tons of her operas and recitals, from which many of the items here come from. But for the sake of completeness, I will probably add it. A person who loves great singing can never have too much of the art of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. She's a vocal icon.

¡PERFECT!.......2005-02-10

I only want to say that you can hear, in this double cd, one of the great singers of all time. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Why? Because she sings all the arias and lieder with pure of tone, brilliance, perfect inflexion, modulation, excellent control breath, measured vibrato, and, all above, great emision of colours. She is master in this art.

PERFECTA INTERPRETACIÓN.......2005-02-09

La mejor recopilación de la discografía de Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Su belleza de voz, la impecable hilación de frases, y, sobre todo, su expresiva interpretación son algunas de las sorpresas que se podrán escuchar en estos dos discos. Sin duda, UNA DE LAS MEJORES SOPRANOS DEL SIGLO XX.

Track Listings:

1. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3; Andante & Finale, Op. 79
2. Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio, Op. 50
3. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Beethoven: Symphony in Cm No5, Op67
4. Tchaikovsky: The Snow Maiden
5. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto/Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1
6. The Music of Simon & Garfunkel
7. The World's Finest Requiem
8. Ullmann: Slawische Rhapsodie/Der zerbrochene Krug
9. Violin Sonatas 1 & 2
10. Bach: Alto Cantatas

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Set

Stravinsky & Berg: Violin Concerti

Sugar Mama

Modern Chant: Inspiration from Gregorian Chant

Supersnazz

This Ain't a Game [Import]

The Complete Decca Studio Master Takes 1940-1949 [Import]

The Young Lotte Lehmann [Box set]

The Return of Wayne Douglas

The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio [Live]

Survival Sickness

Supercharged

Tweakers [Import]

Dying to Live

The Man With the Horn