 Audite has obtained access to the original tapes for these 1958 recording sessions that Elisabeth Schwarzkopf made with pianist Michael Raucheisen for RIAS Berlin. The monaural sound is quite good though rather dry, as was typical for the time. There are some moments of distortion to remind us that the Sources, though original, were not in perfect condition.
The song texts are in the original languages only (German, of course, for the Wolf, Schubert, and Strauss that make up the bulk of the program; English for the unexpected selections by Purcell, Arne, and Quilter). The notes dwell mostly on Schwarzkopf's career (a bit too indulgently), making reference to the program material only when it has a bearing on her artistic development.
Beyond this what can one say about an artist whose position is so firmly established? We hear the 43-year-old Schwarzkopf near the peak of her powers, which should be self-recommending to her admirers seeking to fill out their collections with as yet unheard performances. For the general collector, though, her commercial releases from that period will probably suffice.
|
Catalog
Orchestra
Genrenavigation