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Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder

Richard Strauss (Composers)

George Szell (Conductor)

  Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Soprano)
London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)

Audio CD (1991)

Number of Discs: 1

Label: EMI 7 47276 2

SPARS Code: ADD

Strauss completed his late, lovely masterpiece, the Four Last Songs between May and September 1948. A fifth song was started but not finished. Sadly, barely a year later, the composer died without ever hearing them in performance. Throughout his life Strauss had shown a distinct penchant for the soprano voice - one only has to recollect the three magnificent but demanding soprano roles in Der Rosenkavalier for instance. It is therefore fitting that this sublime last work with its fine vocal writing and opulent orchestrations (with glorious string parts), should be given to the soprano.