Four Last Songs by Gundula Janowitz

1959 | Classical

Formidable value, no question about it, with Karajan's towering 1959 account of Ein Heldenleben (the first of three he set down with the great Berlin orchestra) perhaps the jewel in the crown. It's a simply fabulous performance, with BPO leader Michel Schwalbe unforgettably eloquent in his characterisation of Strauss's wife, Pauline. The sound, too, remains pretty stupendous given its early stereo vintage. Karajan's hugely imposing 1972 BPO recording of Also sprach Zarathustra always was something of a show-stopper, and in the Four Last Songs the same partnership provides a headily opulent backcloth for Gundula Janowitz (in radiant voice throughout, and yet another desert-island display). Norbert Hauptmann makes a velvet-toned, nimble soloist in the easy-going Second Horn Concerto. For Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel, Karl Böhm takes over at the helm. Both performances show this estimable maestro at his very best; indeed, this 1958 Till is surely one of the most endearingly warm-hearted ever committed to disc (wonderfully nimble horn playing at the start), while Don Juan positively surges with thrusting ardour. As Strauss starter-packs go, you won't do much better than this. --Andrew Achenbach

Gundula Janowitz (Artist/Musician)