Friday 28 January 2011

I've always had mixed feelings about the music of Richard Strauss and have never taken to his orchestral music, nor to the operas except for Rosenkavalier. His vocal music for soprano is another matter, and the collection of 24 Lieder for soprano and orchestra sung by Diana Damrau is unalloyed delight -- especially when accompanied by the Munich Philharmonic (conducted by Christan Thielemann, an all-Bavarian Strauss celebration). All one can say about Damrau is: she is just so exactly right singing this music. Her technique is exemplary, her sound beautiful, her diction superb, her feeling for the music innate. Another gold disc.

2 comments:

Lee said...

I love Morgen & Weigenlied. Any fine comparison with Schwarzkopf in those songs?

Harry Collier said...

Both Schwarzkopf and Damrau are superb singing Strauss. Both have beautiful voices and excellent vocal technique. Both (of course) speak excellent German. There is not much to choose between them here, though if I much prefer Damrau it is because I often find Schwarzkopf's singing somewhat arch and calculated. With Damrau, the songs just pour forth.