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GoldLyrics.com - Four Last Songs
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List Price: $17.98
Our Price: $13.99
Your Save: $ 3.99 ( 22% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Decca
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0028947806479
Label: Decca
Manufacturer: Decca
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Decca
Release Date: 2008-09-16
Studio: Decca
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Editorial Reviews:
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Renée Fleming, the world's preeminent lyric soprano, is joined by Christian Thielemann, internationally acclaimed for his performances of Strauss works, for this recording of the exquisitely beautiful Four Last Songs. These enduringly popular works have become signature pieces for the soprano and she was delighted for the opportunity to work with the gifted Thielemann. In addition, Fleming performs a selection of lieder with orchestra as well as arias from Ariadne auf Naxos and Die ägyptische Helena. Also available in a special, deluxe edition! In addition to the Strauss program, a second disc which highlights Fleming's signature roles at the Metropolitan Opera is included. These extended scenes are drawn from her highly-regarded Decca discography. On September 22, Fleming will open the Met Opera Season with a Gala featuring her in her most acclaimed roles. This one-night-only performance will be broadcast live in HD to movie theaters throughout the US.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Some beautiful songs
Comment: I have several recordings of Strauss's Four Last Songs and I expected this recording to be far and away the front runner, but it's not. The most disappointing is the first song, Fruhling, which seems rough and uncharacteristic of Fleming. I compared it with Kiri Te Kanawa's 1979 recording with the London Philharmonic and found that much more pleasing. However, the other songs on Fleming's album are wonderful, and in general her Strauss is captivating.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss - Renee Fleming, soprano
Comment: This recording is sublime; Renee Flemings interpretation is outstanding and her German totally understandable. I've ripped this CD to my computer, downloaded to my MP3 player so I can listen as I'm Nordic walking and have a CD in my car!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A powerful live recording
Comment: The combination of Renée Fleming and Christian Thielemann is unique. Their performance has peculiarities, and is hot and strong. It will make pros and cons, that is, divide the evaluation.
I found it is live, after I heard the audience cough when I was listening to this album.
Recorded April 2008.
Customer Rating:
Summary: America's top soprano strutting her Strauss
Comment: Having heard Ms. Fleming singing 'the Last Four Songs' in live concert early last year, I am dying to hear her again in discography, and this album of Strauss including those four songs is indeed a most welcome offer.
Fleming has a voice of good range with beautiful hues in ALL registers. The lower register is dark, with a shimmering quality that sets it apart from other dark but monotonic ones (I would name no names, but discerning listeners would all know). Her upper register is ample and full. On top of these qualities, she is able to use her breath in divers ways to convey emotions and add on expressiveness.
All these qualify her as a top Strauss interpretor.
Of course, comparing with Gundula Janowitz's Last Four Songs would show that the two top sopranos each has her own differing approach to these songs. Janowitz's is a silvery tone, thinner but more lyrical, while Fleming's tone is more golden and full, with great expressiveness. So, as for the question of which one is better, it is more a matter of taste than straightline comparison. In terms of breath control, Fleming is very very near to perfection, and the only singer that could be drawn to benchmark on these songs in this respect is Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.
Yes, Fleming's Four Songs comes very close to Scharzwkopf's, if not surpassing her.
There are some other lieder by Strauss that Monsserat Caballe and others have recorded. And am glad to say that here again, Fleming compares favourably with those top interpretors.
As for operatic arias, being a top diva, Fleming's powers of interpretations need not be doubted.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Love Fleming, most of the time....
Comment: First of all, I think Renee Fleming's voice is one of the great wonders in the world of operatic voices. My first reaction to this recording was displeasure. I could not figure out what was upsetting me. Then I realized it was the sound of her voice and its lack of balance with the orchestra. Her sound is almost too 'bright', and does not blend with the orchestra. I do not know the German operatic literature like some of the other interesting reviewers, but I do know what I like in "The Last Four Songs". I still prefer the Kiri Te Kanawa recording - where her pianissimi just melt into the orchestra. I don't know if this is an engineering problem or what - it sounds like the mike is too close to her - but good sound techs should be able to adjust it.
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