Search - Richard [1] Strauss, Malcolm Martineau, Barbara Bonney :: Strauss: Four Last Songs, 15 Lieder / Bonney

Wonderful recording of Richard Strauss

09/16/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this CD because there are many wonderful lieder by R.Strauss and Ms. Bonney is one of my favorite sopranos. Well, I like the version of Scwalzkopf/Szell, but this version is fresh and sung them beautifully. I think this is a must buy for Bonney's fan as well as that of R. Strauss!Now this is one of my favorite albums. Brava, Ms. Bonney!"

Only if you have listened to an orchestra version.

Sen Peng Eu | Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 04/04/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"R. Strauss's Four last songs are among my most favorite repertoire. This work is so celestial that almost on facing the death it becomes immortal. R.Strauss always loved orchestra and soprano, and in his last work he dedicated himself to both. So, this piano-accompanied version is very special and strange, it even sounds like a new work of R.Strauss. Although piano gives us a large room for imagination, it in fact lacks vibration, lacks lasting note, lacks rich tone color. Bonny and Martineau indeed did a good and hard performance in 'Four last songs'. But I still found this not a successful attempt. Besides, Bonney took a relatively fast tempo than other version, therefore some contemplative essence in R.Srauss's long sentence is marred. A suggestion: Only if you have listened to the orchestra version, then listen this cd. Or you will get a very distorted image of R.Strauss's great "Four last songs". Other songs in this recital are well selected and good enough."

An elegant partnering

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 07/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Convinced that Renee Fleming, Susan Graham, and Barbara Bonney are the trio du jour for Richard Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier", it was with great anticipation that I listened to this CD consisting of all Strauss songs. I am very impressed with the level of sophistication of this fantastic collaboration between Bonney and Martineau. Exquisite music making as a true partnership between piano and voice and with with sensitivity to the texts....refreshing. A fine addition to the growing discograghy that Fleming, Graham, and Bonney are gifting us!"