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Four Last Songs | 
| Creators: Richard Strauss, Christian Thielemann, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Renee Fleming
Label: Decca
Category: Music
List Price: $17.98
Buy New: $10.99
You Save: $6.99 (39%)
Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 2210
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 001185102
UPC: 028947806479
EAN: 0028947806479
ASIN: B001D27GJM
Release Date: September 16, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
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| Tracks:
| • | Fruehling | | • | September | | • | Beim Schlafengehen | | • | Im Abendrot | | • | Ach! Wo war ich? Tot? ... | | • | Ein Schoenes war | | • | Es gibt ein Reich | | • | Verfuehrung, op. 33 no. 1 | | • | Freundliche Vision, op. 48 no. 1 | | • | Winterweihe, op. 48 no. 4 | | • | Zueignung, op. 10 no. 1 | | • | Zweite Brautnacht! |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Renee 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 aegyptische 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.
Album Description
Renee Fleming's 2008 album Four Last Songs highlighting Richard Strauss: Songs & Araia. Munchner Philharmonic. Christian Thielemann. Ren,e 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 „gyptische 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss - Renee Fleming, soprano November 9, 2008
Barbara Waldbillig (Qualicum Beach, BC Canada)
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!!!
 A powerful live recording November 9, 2008
K. MIURA (Japan)
The combination of Renee 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.
America's top soprano strutting her Strauss November 6, 2008
Abel (Hong Kong)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
 Love Fleming, most of the time.... October 21, 2008
Piano lover Bob (Houston, TX USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
Strauss singing at the highest level of achievement September 23, 2008
Santa Fe listener
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
It says something sad about the current state of opera recordings that Renee Fleming hasn't been given a complete Strauss role on disc beyond 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 leap in artistry. Fleming won a Guggenheim fellowship to study in Germany as a young singer, I believe, and her ability to find meaning in Hesse's poetry is impresive. I think only Schwarzkopf surpasses her in that regard. And Fleming can spin out a long pianissimo better than anyone since Caballe in her prime.
Thielemann is also a much finer conductor than Eschenbach. He and his soloist have crafted a thoughtful, highly nuanced interpreatation that touches the heart of the music as well as the lsitener's heart (I couldn't say that about her earlier account, where incredible vocalism was the whole show). What other reviewers call overacting is actually expressivity -- Fleming obviously feels this music deeply and has reached that blessed time in an artist's career when she can fully communicate anything she wants to. Her Ariadne excerpts are poignant and rival even Schwarzkopf in beauty.
My only criticism is that she starts a fraction off pitch and strained at the beginning of the Four Last Songs, no doubt because of the live concert setting. But soon everything is vocally in place. Contrary to what an e sour reivewr claims, there's little difference between Fleming's voice today and her voice 13 years ago. Time has been incredibly kind, and Fleming has repaid that gift by growing constantly in artistry.
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