robertwhite

Bravo Dohanian! Good to see you my friend.

These pieces are really special to me. I lost my Grandmother last May, and maybe it's a dumb conceit but I find I'm trying to listen to these songs with her ears now. What do these texts say to an 88 year old woman? The text of Beim Schlafengehen is something I've thought of alot - the idea of putting down all your life's work and labor and laying down to rest like a little baby, (followed by that violin solo!) just absolutely kills me.

Alex Yates

The irony Robert. I lost my grandmother in January and listening to Beim Schlafengehen, I ponder the same as do you and the same part gets to me. (She was 84 and her birthday is at the end of March.) Yeah, these songs go right through the heart, to the soul. Whew.

BTW, it is nice to see these suggestions popping up. I have to check out some of the ones mentioned so far. I am always looking for new interpretations of works I really like.

Mikey

If I was to get a recording of these songs, which one should I get?

After what you are saying, I am almost afraid to listen to them. But it will probably be good for me.......





Mike

robertwhite

Berlin/HvK is probably with Gundula Janowitz on DG. Previn/VPO is with Arleen Auger on Telarc.

Mikey, they're all good. Schwarzkopf with Szell/Berlin Radio-Sinfonie is kind of a classic, and is out on EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century" series. You can find it on Amazon for $8!

Richard Oliver

Great thread Alex.

Thanks for bringing it up.

Richard

ecarroll

Alex,

The Masur 4 Last Songs inquestionably would be on my list of desert island discs. The horn solo at the end of the third is perfect (as is the color of JN's voice)

Wowza bowza,
EC

Richard Oliver

Full Blast on the Stereo, eh Alex?

Just got my copy.

Wow. I can see what you mean by wanting to crank up the volume.

As I was practicing, I was thinking about that because I could hear some of the music wafting my way.

LOLOLO in Casper, WY if I did that, I could get in trouble.

Police: Sir, we've received a noise complaint.

Me: Huh? I can't hear you.

Police: The noise, Sir. The noise. Wha, wha, whaaaaaaat is that?!!!

Me: Sorry Sir, let me turn down the stereo.

Police: Boy, what in God's creation is that?!! We got complaints from your neighbours, and the cows and horses in the field across 21st Street have all gone to doing some wierd things. They be sorta' swaying not being right.

Me: Oh, the music. You like it?

Police: Sir, that is the most gawdawfulist noise I've ever heard to be honest, Sir.

Me: It's Strauss, Sir. He's Viennese. A Bulgarian singer, Ljuba Welitsch, she's singing it.

Police: Huh? Veineeeeze . . . Bulgrain . . . ??

Me: It's pretty intense isn't it? Check this out.

Police: No, no, no! Sir, back away from the volume control.

Me: Huh? I can't hear you. She's Bulgarian. Pretty cool, huh?

Police: (sotto voce to his partnet) Lewis, you better call Ralph at the water treatment plant and get one of the "Homeland" boys over here. This could one for them.

Well, it would go something like that I think. It's WONDERFUL! and I'll get Jessye Norman singing them it for sure.

Alex Yates

I am glad you enjoyed them Richard. They are magical indeed.

Yes Ed, definitely one of my desert island discs as well.

tromj

Damn, I am such a slug. I was just patting myself on the back for getting my Jimmy Durante CD onto my iPod.

Jordan

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