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Originally Posted by ecarroll Alex,
The Norman/Masur recording of Strauss' Four Last Songs (Philips) should have made my list as well. As Trent points out, it's an impossible task to make such choices.
Have you noticed the similarity between the color of Jessye's voice and that hornist? Spectacular. The quotes from earlier works, made at the apotheosis of a dying composer's career, go right through me as well (goosebumps right now hearing them in my head). |
Ah yes Ed. Not much can top this recording w/Jessye's incredible rich voice surrounded by such a rich-sounding orchestra....they were a perfect match. This recording is one of my most treasured. This work, I find, is one of the most painfully beautiful in the rep. It travels deeply emotionally and that is painful to experience. As you said about the quotes from earlier works made at such a time in Strauss' career.....the music goes right through you. Mahler 6 does that to me for similar reasons. When I performed this years ago with the Louisville Orchestra, there was not a dry eye in the orchestra after the heart-wrenching horn solo of the third movement. We had to get ourselves together quick to continue, but all of us were so deeply affected by this piece......the hammer blows finished everyone off emotionally. It still does every time I listen to it.....but I love it.