Electric Recording Co. writes: “The exquisite swansong of Richard Strauss (1864-1949) “Four Last Songs”, comprises “Spring”, “September”, “When Falling Asleep” and “At Sunset”. Posthumously named and published by Strauss’s friend Ernst Roth in 1950, the order of songs has differed between the order of composition, the premiere, and the publication, as Strauss never actually specified a preferred sequence.”
Composed in the final years of his life and based on Herman Hesse and Joseph von Eichendorff poetry contemplating death; Strauss conquers the morbid goodbye one might expect to hear and instead gracefully welcomes tranquility with an air of contentment. Effortlessly performed by legendary German-born Austro-British soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf DBE and conducted by one of the twentieth century’s greatest conductors George Szell; this recording will transfix you.Cut directly from the original analog master tapes, through our unique all valve 1968 Ortofon vinyl cutting system in stereo. All sleeve artwork authentically letter-pressed and hand made. The edition of 300 copies. Order here
Electric Recording Co. ERC074 Richard Strauss – Four Last Songs performed by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf with George Szell Conducting The Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Frühling (Hesse)
September (Hesse)
Beim Schlafenhegen (Hesse)
Im Abendrot (Eichendorff)
Muttertändelei, Op. 43, No. 2
Waldseligkeit, Op. 49, No. 1
Zueignung, Op. 10, No. 1
Freundliche Vision, Op. 48, No. 1
Die Heiligen Drei Könige, Op. 56, No. 6
The exquisite swansong of Richard Strauss effortlessly performed by legendary German-born Austro-British soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and conducted by one of the twentieth century’s greatest conductors George Szell.
Released: Early February 2023
Stereo LP – Catalogue Number. ERC074
Only 300 copies of each will be sold.
ERC will not undertake a repress of any release at any future point.