Four Last Songs
 | By Antonin Dvorak, Jules Massenet, Richard Strauss, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Giuseppe Verdi, Christian Thielemann, Christoph Eschenbach Decca, 2008, Audio CD |
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This is the 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. 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.. 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.
Disc 1Disc 2
- Frühling
- September
- Beim Schlafengehen
- Im Abendrot
- Ach! Wo war ich? Tot? ...
- Ein Schönes war
- Es gibt ein Reich
- Verführung, op. 33 no. 1
- Freundliche Vision, op. 48 no. 1
- Winterweihe, op. 48 no. 4
- Zueignung, op. 10 no. 1
- Zweite Brautnacht!
- Eugene Onegin--Letter Scene
- Rusalka--Song to the Moon
- Otello--Willow Song...Ave Maria
- Thaïs--Ah! Je suis seule...Dis-moi que je suis belle
- Capriccio--Moonlight Music & Final Scene
Title: Four Last Songs
Sales Rank: 1960 in Music
Creator: Antonin Dvorak, Jules Massenet, Richard Strauss, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Giuseppe Verdi, Christian Thielemann, Christoph Eschenbach, Georg Solti, Yves Abel, Bordeaux Aquitaine National Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Renée Fleming, Larissa Diadkova, Walter Berry
Label: Decca, 2008-09-16, Audio CD, 2 Discs
Format: Deluxe Edition, Extra tracks
Package Dimensions: 5.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches, 0.25 pounds
- sempre meglio
- This set of glorious performances by Renee Fleming, both the older ones included on the bonus disk and the new ones, especially the new versions of Strauss's Vier Letzte Lieder, seem to me so fine as to be nearly beyond praise. Listening to them, especially after reading some of the more critical comments here, has taken me back some 50 years to when I was a young… More reviews
- A triumphant collaboration between Fleming and Thielemann
- It says something sad about the current state of opera recordings that Renee Fleming hasn't been given a complete Strauss role on disc besides Daphne, not the Marschallin or Ariadne. As evidenced here, she is uniquely gifted to assume those roles, as well as to sing Strauss's orchestral songs. Compared to her 1995 version with Eschenbach (BMG), the new one marks a quantum… More reviews
- 'Habe dank!'
- This very generous two disc release has so many positive aspects that it hopefully will manage to garner the attention of music lovers around the world despite the negative comments being published in some quarters. Fame of an artist is accompanied by that very public eye and ear that references previous performances and recordings of repeated works as being superior to a new… More reviews
- Overheated
- I felt that I could have written bert1761's review. From the opening lines of Four Last Songs, I was struck by Fleming's overwrought phrasing. If you are used to the liquid, soaring versions by Norman or other sopranos, you will find this almost post-modern interpretation jarring. She is surely going for acting the poetry instead of just presenting the listener with… More reviews
- Stunning
- This is a must have for Renee fans. It is different from the original 10 years ago, but this CD was recorded live. She stands alone in the world with the most glorious and intoxicating voice. I have seen her live 3 times and she was totally AMAZING. I have been waiting for a live recording of the Four Last Songs since… More reviews
