Jim Saunders wrote:

>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
>>Hello all I noticed that what is, (to me), a very special and lyrical
>>performance of Strauss' "Four Last Songs," performed by Lucia Popp and
>>Klaus Tennstedt, is available once again.
>
>How is the performance? I have the Sinopoli/Studer recording, which I
>thoroughly enjoy (esp.  the additional orch lieder by Strauss und Wagner).
>However, sometimes Studer's voice develops something of a hard edge, to
>my ear.  I'd love to get some other people's thoughts on this.

For me, the Jessye Norman recording with the Gewandhaus and Masur is the
Valhalla of this music.  I absolutely cannot endure Sheryl Studer singing
anything, let alone music that I love as much as the Four Last Songs.
For the life of me I don't see what people find pleasing in the slurping,
sliding, affected, portamento laden slop that she tries to pass off as
singing.

Kevin