Rita Streich - The Last Rose of Summer

[normancanter1]

Oh those high pianissimos.......

[SamllWonda]

Heart-wrenching beauty...

[marykaye35]

Haven't heard Rita Streich's lovely voice in many years. Thank you for posting.

[yingdat]

A cry for help!

Years ago I had an LP set (Nonesuch or Turnabout, I think) of Brahm's Ein Deutsches Requiem with Streich singing Ihr hebt nun Traurigkeit. The LP set is long gone. I have sung the Requiem 4 times with 3 different groups and have 4 different versions on CD and I still sorely miss Streich's singing in the work. If anyone has it, please please please tell me how to get it or post it here. Thank you.

[yingdat]

This was first issued in 1955 and reissued in DG's "The Originals" in 1998. I heard this recording in the eraly 60's on aTaiwanese LP with no attributions whatsoever. Imagine my joy when I bought this CD in '98 and played it for the first time. I think she had the sweetest, cleanest, most effortlessly beautiful voice of all sopranos I have heard. The CD's first track will change your mind about singing in Strauss waltzes and the Song to the Moon (from Dvorak's Rusalka) will break your heart.

[MrNikodemus2]

what year was this wonderful recording made?

[lanzanut]

I think I must have spent half my life listening to great sopranos and tenors and once again I have listened to perfection,did she ever sing a wrong note?I have known of her for many years but not in any great depth that is until this evening, for the last hour or so I have been totally enraptured. Comparing singers from different eras is always very interesting on you tube, so lets just say she compares with the best of any era,my current favourite is Anna Netrebko for her singing and beauty.

[MORKOS621]

Lovely.

[Pernocuhep]

Superb. The definitive "Last Rose".

[Montmirail1er]

What a fantastic voice ang gorgeous control... Beautiful and musical.

[ccdg1066]

Great! and thankyou for introducing me to this wonderful singer!

[bearcub33]

Wonderful Voice. She sings like an Angel from Heaven

[gerryzzz]

Thank you for posting this. I'd previously heard her only in Handel operas. BTW The shrub rose "Maiden's Blush" was said to be the variety Thomas Moore had in mind when he wrote the lyrics.

[voicemad]

Please let us not just mourn passing greats. Let us celebrate them as well. I used to think that great singing stopped when Callas died. Not so. There are a few new singers who are making life worth while.

Please have a look at a marvelous opera entertainer on YouTube:

Proms - Anna Netrebko - Meine Lippen sie Kussen so heiss

[SeamasFloinn]

SeamasFloinn: In 1956 I was first enraptured by this voice. This is still the best renditon of the air that I have heard.

[SeamasFloinn]

It was 1956 when I fell in love with rendition. I cannot think of its being sung better.

[anabarza07]

perfect =D

[terrym601]

i think moore described loss so well - loss of love, family, country and hope - a truly great poet that touches us all as your comments show. But there is always hope, and as a certain lady said, tomorrow is another day! god bless

[Imarirose1]

To TJYPark and LadyRavenhaire I became a fan of this song when Celtic Women did it. I had never heard of Rita Sterich. Yes, I miss my mom , but in a weird way...she "abandoned" me, so to speak, when my dad passed away in 1978. I was only 12 years old, a fragile time in a young gir'ls life. She seemed more concerned about my sisters than she was with me. I never had the chance to let her know how I felt and how it impacted my life. I actually miss my dad more. Does that sound selfish?

[voicemad]

Such girlish sweetness, like spring water trickling gently down a mountain stream on a lovely summer's day.

[utongchan]

How can even one person dislike this.This is what we call real music.

[Imarirose1]

I dedicated this song to my mom who passed away coming up on 2 years ago.  She was the last of her generation...unfortunately the generations after that are questionable...except for myself of course

[tjypark]

@Imarirose1

It is so proper to dedicate this particular piece sung by R.S.

Your mom will love it just as my mom would. She suddenly passed away in 2005.

We miss them very much. Don't we?

Sept.

Magnum TJ

[LadyRavenhaire]

@Imarirose1

The best rendition ever sung of this song. Moving & Touching. When I reflect on my mother's death, I not only mourn her loss, but what she represented: A generation that is for the most part gone. Hearing musicians like Striech from the past, it brings a sad note to think that such beauty, deep expression of feeling, and love of the arts, the family, community, and the world has been replaced with mindless, tasteless music, film, and self-centeredness.

[OEDBrowser]

This rendition by Rita Streich has got to be the definitive version with such purity of voice and such sweetness !! There are a number of other great singers who are up there with her but I believe that she shines that shade brighter !! I know we all have our own personal tastes and make subjective comparisons !! but truly gifted singers will always last and be appreciated !!

[dermotafan]

Her voice fills me with happines and content in all she sings. Thank you for posting it..

[keydet72]

My God, what a magnificent voice! I cannot imagine a more perfect rendition of this beautiful song.

[eleanoreann]

Thank you for this! It is too long since I last heard this precious voice.

[543693The]

voix comme le cristal de Baccarat ...le .plus beau, plus pur du monde ...sublime Rita STREICH ! et si fragile ...aussi !

[bundubill]

certainly the voice of an angel

[tjypark]

@bundubill

Certainly, it is.

Sept. 2010

Magnum TJ

[Mcennedymuffin]

i love this song ... its a song ofe the soundtrack of endless ocean 2

[MARKSVIGIL]

I am convinced that Rita Streich is an Angel sent to us here on Earth from above.

[MARKSVIGIL]

Being 50% Irish myself this Thomas moore Irish Melody always brings tears to my eyes. I miss Ireland!

[pict18]

This is the first time that I have heard this singer, but it most certainly will not be the last - her voice is wonderful!!

[DerWestwind]

Was für eine wunderbare Stimme!

[The99Gambo]

A remarkably clear voice. Superb. Thank you for posting this.

[classicalman114]

This makes me want to drift away to dreamland!! :D

[keydet72]

So this is what Heaven sounds like.

[bachzzz]

HEAVENLY VOICE

[gerardm]

Beautiful voice for one of my favorite songs

[Tannhauser111]

Wunderschön! Vielen Dank für das Hochladen.

[Lamfada]

Lovely! Thanks for posting. The lyrics I believe are by the Irish poet Thomas Moore.

[CanadaPisces]

What a wonderful voice-----purity of tone and marvelous expression! TY!

[fairlytaleofnewyork]

@CanadaPisces

I totally agree with you. It is like a delicate bell... I love her singing this piece.

It is a shame that it stops, I wish if has coninued...

Rumwa10, many thanks for uploading.

[tjypark]

@CanadaPisces

Your description is exact.

Don't we love her especially on this piece?

Sept. 2010

MagnumTJ

[vexanalasea]

Subarashi ne! Hontou ni sugoi dayo ne!

I seldom comment on vids, but I could not let this pass by unnoticed. I get vids to see on opera's, soprano's etc often from a friend, and I skip through them at mostly the start, then 2 seconds from 1/3, 2/3 and the last 10 seconds.But this is one I just really WANT to listen too! Really B-E-A-UTIFUL

[hamstra1111997]

Elke keer weer als je dit lied hoort krijg je een brok in je keel, Prachtig

[smenkare27]

Let us also not forget the great Irish poet Thomas Moore, who penned the beautiful lyrics to this wonderful old Irish air.

[FERENCEFF]

The Irish air is called "The Groves of Blarney".

[bojack1937]

Really, unblievably beautiful. What a gift this woman has left us.

[opelske]

Haunting! What a voice!

[Carusogigli]

Esta voz é como uma petala de rosa!!!

[kate18234]

This is the sweet, pure sound that these Irish songs demand. Lovely.

[Janibeva]

Que voz mas encantadora, creo que nunca habìa oìdo una mas limpia y delicada.

[billyguns2]

OMG, this is a voice from heaven completely and effortlessly on the breath at all times!

[CanadaPisces]

How can mere words describe such beauty of voice! TY!

[Glenmed]

Truly gorgeous with her silvery voice - and moving. Have not heard Rita doing anything in English before so that is an extra bonus. I wonder whether Lucia Popp with her silvery voice and equally lovely accent ever did this in English.

[preruminator]

... no flower of her kindred, no rose bud is nigh, ...

Thank you for blooming, Rita!

[Katiuszkasanda]

Une leçon de musicalité et de voix accrochée dans les résonateurs.Merci.

[lorgain2]

There may be better renditions, I am sorry to say I have not heard any, truly brilliant, the old Irish composer would have been proud.

[judyanddavid]

What I like so much about Streich is that she seems to me (who knows little about opera) to be a real artist and musician who cares too much about what she is singing to play vocal tricks for the sake of applause. Listening to her, I seem to get the meaning of what she is singing because I am not distracted by any obvious technique and tricks.

[smenkare27]

Sorry, bad typing. what I meant was that this is the most beautiful rendering of one of my favorite pieces.

[smenkare27]

The most beatiful rendering of one of my favotires. amazing!

[Lapazia]

...E io che credevo che in quest'aria Erna Berger non avesse competitrici...

[561423]

Remind: great Erna Berger was the teacheress who led very young Rita Streich in her first steps on the after-war german stages and studios. Obviously, Rita Streich was a congenious pupil.

[DrumcarsFinest]

A most beautiful and moving rendition of a beautiful song. The was something very special about her voice - something so pure and sweet.

[borlange11]

Can't imagine a more beautiful interpretation! Many thanks!

[twizzle99]

Thank you!