"Im Abendrot-In Twilight" We've gone through joy and crisis Together, hand in hand, And now we rest from wandering Above the silent land. The valleys slope around us, The air is growing dark, And dreamily, into the haze, There still ascends two larks. Come here, and let them flutter, The time for sleep is soon. We would not want to lose our way In this great solitude. O vast and silent peace! So deep in twilight ruddiness, We are so wander-weary - Could this perchance be death? -eichendorff
...Eschenbach's conducting is superb and the orchestra play their socks off! The two piccolos at the end (Strauss and his wife ascending to heaven in death?) are guaranteed to make me cry every time I hear them. What a shame that the Proms audience's tradition of vying to be the first to applaud wrecks the atmosphere...
Critics were divided at the time (especially for her German, and it's true, Kiri et al are clearer), but for me, this is Strauss at the highest level. Fleming is fantastic - her control throughout, but particularly at 5:25 onwards is superb - and she is centre stage until the very end, even though she doesn't sing for the last two minutes.
i think one could say that strauss saved the best for the last; one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written and renee does it justice. i saw her perform it live in tanglewood.
I really think Renee's performances of Four Last Songs are some of the greatest I have ever heard. In fact if this is all she did was sing Four Last Songs I could sit and listen forever, especially "September" je taime Renee.
Esta pieza sólo tiene de lieder el nombre, pues es la expresión más alta de cualquier género musical escuchado por hombre alguno. La declaración anterior es absurda. Fleming llena de armonía esta pieza con tal candor, que es sobrecogedor. Lo más bello. La versión de De la Casa o Rothenberger son stacatas y melosas, son chirridos de aves moribundas.
This final statement on life, as his life drew to a close, is one of Strauss' most sublime pieces of music he ever composed and yet somehow Ms Fleming misses the mark completely! The Vier Lezte Lieder are really not for her and she should perform where she is sublime ..... in the opera. But to operafy lieder ..... it will never work. Check out Te Kanawa, Norman and Rothenberger if you would like to hear this music sung sublimely.
@singurheartout4 This is a recording from The Royal Albert Hall in London UK, one of the Proms concert season held every summer. There is a very small microphone several feet in front of Ms Flemming; her voice filled the hall holding 6000 people without any ampliphication, thje microphone is for the TV recording only.
Life can never be adequately captured or rendered by any art however exquisite. Death does not have such vigour, the instrumental at the end more closely reflects the approaching fade into sleep that is death to those who are taken slowly from this world, there is no vigour, there is but drift and sleep and waking and waiting and a searching into the past revealing nothing but hollows and sadness...and the beauty of the falling instrumental cannot tell of that infinite quality of a fading life.
We go through strife and joy hand in hand, from wandering we rest now above a quiet land,all around the valleys sink, the air darkens already, two larks are still climbing, dreamily into the sky, come here and let them soar ,soon it is time to sleep.so that we should not go astray in this loneliness.o broad quiet peace!so deep in dusk!how we are weary of wandering!is this perhaps death?
"Im Abendrot" Text: Joseph von Eichendorff Wir sind durch Not und Freude gegangen Hand in Hand; vom Wandern ruhen wir nun überm stillen Land. Rings sich die Täler neigen, es dunkelt schon die Luft. Zwei Lerchen nur noch steigen nachträumend in den Duft. Tritt her und laß sie schwirren, bald ist es Schlafenszeit. Daß wir uns nicht verirren in dieser Einsamkeit. O weiter, stiller Friede! So tief im Abendrot. Wie sind wir wandermüde-- Ist dies etwa der Tod?
@bencstorey I feel the same way! I only discovered Strauss' 4 Last Songs about 6 months ago and I've now heard many different interpretations but Renee's are, hands down, my favorite. She leaves me speechless and aching for more. It doesn't get any better than Renee singing Strauss, does it?
@RickManchester AH -- bent -- roht, with the primary accent on the first syllable, and the "r" pronounced rolled in the back, about where the long "o" sounds. If that conveys anything practical. . . :)
@Gabba02 This is one of the most wonderful pieces of music I've ever heard. I first heard this in the David Lynch movie; "Wild at Heart" which I only saw for the first time recently - looked it up and came to this video first.
Hard to hold the tears back no matter how many times I listen to it.
@Jussihx many many thanks for this hint :) - found Vier letzte Lieder at concert of the Finnish Radio symphony orchestra at Jan 12, 2005 at Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Finland, conductor Sakari Oramo - another must for all fans of these Lieder especial Im Abendrot
@PukKoleszka be glad to know definitely best singers of Im Abendrot :) - comparing all great singers I like to perform this Lied (here at YT) I'm not able to decide who would I like to listen at live performance if there will be only one chance...
Can't they just...enjoy that moment when the sound stops? Do they have to respond with clapping so quickly -- silence is a response, too, and at moments like that what is wrong with letting that silence last just a bit? Many times after listening to these glorious songs, I can barely MOVE, much less applaud!
@darkprose You have no idea how happy I am to see someone else articulate that! Surely a conductor can hold off the applause for a short time so we can enjoy the place that we have been transported to?
@merrywobs There's a video on here somewhere in which Daniel Barenboim literally winces after the last note of Tristan and Isolde because a group of people (it's always a small part that gets the rest clapping) just shattered that wonderful silence. There is a time for immediate clapping, even between symphonic movements, but silence is better here.
There's just no question that, along with Mahler, Strauss was the greatest symphonist of the late Romantic German/Austrian school. The last few bars of this particular song are so typical of Strauss's genius in creating tone poems. The modulation upward and the skylarks singing at the end of the piece was pure Strauss. We're left hanging, pondering if indeed "it perhaps is death."
I adore this piece of music.... saw it performed live at the manchester bridgewater hall and was just in tears by the end of it it was so moving.... truly a spectacular piece!
@MALHEBRE Variety is the spice of life. "To slow" gibt es also gar nicht. Das Stück hat seine Reize, ob es nun langsam oder schnell gespielt wird. Es hat auch seine Reize, dass Fleming mit Akzent singt und einge Worte einfach falsch ausspricht. Na und? Auch das ist "spicy".
Fleming actually followed the footsteps of Kiri Te Kenawa in that they both sang Mozart and later Strauss. Nonetheless, she is clearly aided by the slower paced music to give it the same "eternal" feeling that Jessye Norman gave it in her legendary album with Masur. I like Jessye Norman better than Fleming however I like Martina Arroyo's simple, pure, heart-felt version better than Price. These are difficult songs to sing but yes Fleming does a fine job
Ironic that this remarkable musical creation should come only at the end of his life, but then...this is Abendrot.
I've always had mixed feelings about Strausses body of work; moments of brillance surrounded by what I consider to be tunespinning, Nonetheless, a giant of 20th century music. The Four Last Songs, and this last especially, compensate for the deficits of prior works.
The Longmont Symphony is going to perform these 4 songs next year (at my suggestion/request) -- with a very talented soprano who's also performed with MahlerFest.. Pure heaven!
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf did at least two renditions, with the mid 1950s one being truly staggering. Yet, of the modern sopranos, Fleming stands out for me as being able to come close to Schwarzkopf in german and even Victoria de los angeles in Italian in several roles. She is a wonderful singer.
A friend of mine suggested this song was very sad. I dont find this painful at all. I think it is wonderful. A music laced with overwhelming love and sincerity; a dedication and love that transcends the boundaries of life, experience and death. It is simply inspiringly beautiful. I send my kind and warm egards,
Compare Leontyne Price's 1979 version--recently added to YouTube--for the beauty of real mezza voce singing, which is essential in this song about sunset and entering another world. However, I DO love Eschenbach's tempo and luftpausen!
Il ne faut jamais prétendre qu'un chanteur a la meilleure interpétation d'une oeuvre, car rendus a ce niveau, tous ces chanteurs sont de grands artistes. Ceci dit, je trouve cette interprétation de Renée Flemming très émouvante, elle qui d'ordinaire me laisse froid. Merci a toi Renée!
This feels like it is exactly half as fast as Karl Böhm conducted that piece, and probably it's considered totally wrong by those in the know, but I simply love the song done that way.
Every letter, word and comment must be given to Richard Strauss. To think that this music was within him only during his final days is without sight. He was,is,and will always be,seen and heard, as a musical genius.One must consider his composing of music whilst surrounded by the banal. We collectively salute you Richard Strauss, may no one ever know what you wanted to tell us, may we stay in ignorance striving to create and share your perfection and genius.
@SnapeEyes Speak for yourself, please. By his own admission he was a first rate, second rate composer. He was truly a great orchrestrator and managed changes in his musical style well throughout his life.
i love a great deal of his music, but I can do without an apotheosis. May I ask what you consider banal about Mahler, Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Stravinsky?
@SnapeEyes I agree completely . . . Regarding banality times, there was this Hanslick (who tryed to banish Wagner fans), a perfect sample of human/musical selfishness. . . He "educated" people with his critics towards an absurd of "pure music" detracting "Program-musik". Polarisation means loss of personality, which is escential to grasp any art, because it lacks creativity . . .
HappyWandy457, here we have an example of magnificent art. . . . We see a master of the batton, assisted by a singer who has technique of the finest: Renee´s air resources .seem not to end and she administrates it musically to a priviledged voice where all inspiration has room enough to develop an enchantment of unique charm. What a priviledge to hear musicians interpret such a difficult master piece, where the voice not merely sings a melody but integrates harmony all times . . .
We've gone through joy and crisis Together, hand in hand, And now we rest from wandering Above the silent land. The valleys slope around us, The air is growing dark, And dreamily, into the haze, There still ascends two larks. Come here, and let them flutter, The time for sleep is soon. We would not want to lose our way In this great solitude. O vast and silent peace! So deep in twilight ruddiness, We are so wander-weary - Could this perchance be death?
The 4 Last Songs of Strauss are so suggestive of Mahler's Das Lied Von Der Erde. Beautiful romantic reflections on life and death, wonderful melding of the muses. The dark colors in her voice so suit the sad sweetness in the theme of the soul's longing for peace and rest.
The F@#$*(@#$*(ing orchestra is WAY too loud AGAIN! And WHY does it sound like let's dig into the romantic period once again and see how much respite we can get from not letting go of resentments!? And I would really like to hear Renee sing more than the meager period that's allowed her with having to strain her voice to be heard, as once again is so apparent HERE! Oh but no, I meant fiddling orchestra...
i went to see the Halle perform this on sunday, it was AMAZING!! it bought tears to my eyes especially when you know what its about and the reasons they were composed... tragic but beautiful!
Absolutely stunning music, such vision and character. The singing is simply not beautiful...E.S does a remarkable job with this body of work. Thank you for posting..well done!!
Please don't be too hard on Reneé. Yes, certainly no one in the next 100 years will do Strauss' final songs within a mile of Jessye Norman. This music was made for Jessye. She will never be outdone.
But that is no reason to pick on Reneé. She has done great work, above all in her efforts in Russian and other Eastern music. Please don't pick on her just because of what critics say, and certainly not for the color of her skin!
Its insulting to me how Renee Fleeming can get the title of the "Great American Soprano" has any ever heard of Jessye Norman, What an insult! I guess to be an GREAT AMERICAN it helps to be white blue eyed and blonde, totally ludicrious
Stay factual, if you can, please. Racism has no place here. Both Ms Norman and Ms Fleming are great sopranos. Why must one be "better" than the other?
Bahia82, you've exposed more about yourself, than any 'conspiracy' on being a "Great American Soprano". Sounds like you're lugging a HUGE chip on your shoulder!
There are so many superb recordings of these songs, I'm afraid Renée is still not up to her competition. I really dislike the way she lags slightly behind the beat.
I think what makes me love Fleming so much in this rep. above so many others is the pure beauty and lush creamy tone of her voice. There is no other like it! She exudes so much warmth and passion, kinda like a fluffy down pillow. aaaaaaahhhhh
finalmente un direttore che rallenta inesorabolmente la parte iniziale del lied:nettare miele ambrosia per le mie orecchie! perchè karajan aveva così fretta di dare l'attacco a gundula janowitz?
Kirsten Flagstad en mi opinión, con su voz crepuscular, rojo oro del ocaso, es la más adecuada para cantar este tipo de canciones románticas. Yo la tengo im abendrot. Fleming tiene ese peso, varady es más liviana
I agree with you Homoclassicus. It is very slow but this music and artist can take it. It is meant to be elegiac and notstalgic. I think this is her best version, live or on cd. Caballe on Erato and Price on RCA are also enjoyable.
I love renee in these songs but the purest version I have heard come from Arllen Auger (Previn). She makes the music live and has such a beauty that has yet to be surpassed.
Actually, I now think she's not less involved. Her interpretation here is a little different from the one in Lucerne. It's in fact much more melancholic, nostalgic, even sort of sad. This was probably her choice, and the slower tempo does seem to contribute to a more intimate, mournful atmosphere. The way she finished the song was very deep, really moving.
The singing, of course, is very beautiful, but she sounds even more extraordinary in the Lucerne video. Here she looks a little less comfortable and involved into the melody. The voice, however, is at its lushest, richest shape. It's just that the complexity and depth of meaning she conveys to these songs/poems is more expressed in other versions.
But hey, this is the great Fleming! If you forget a few portamenti, there's SO much unique qualities to enjoy - whatever her performance may be!
the worst is when people think they need to clap the second a piece is finished. if you've really heard what just happened you'd be still for at least a few seconds out of respect for the music, the performers, and out of respect for stillness which is the place all music comes from.
Manchmal muss man einfach sofort applaudieren - gerade wenn es sich beispielsweise um eine Darbietung dieser Klasse handelt. Mir persönlich ist dieses Stück zu langsam interpretiert, aber R. Fleming ist fabelhaft! Besser als J. Norman, die mit ihrer Stimme einfach zu gewaltig für diese Lieder ist.
Even though this is not the maestro's home orchestra (that would be the Philadelphia) you have to wonder after this brilliant and astounding performance why the Philadelphia would not sign Mr. Eschenbach to a 10 year contract rather than looking for a replacement.
Yes, I'd say very much that level - and add E. Schwarzkopf under Georg Szell too!! Not too far behind is M. Caballé with Alain Lombard (at least as far as Caballé's concerned - Lombard leaves me colder, however...). Definitely, Jessye Norman with Kurt Masur is on the same top level.
Not to deny this rendition is likewise outstanding; however, each one so far here seen has its own beauty and viewpoint. Why must singers' fans be so much more vicious than those of instrumentalists??
I too love that Caballe version on erato (does that label exist anymore?) I didn't mind the accompaniment but it is not the Berlin PO. For creaminess and luxury, Caballe cannot be beat.
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. If you don't see visions of the Black Forest and a castle above the Rhine when Caballe starts in to wail you simply do not have a pulse.
Userdoe1560 2 weeks ago 2
...Eschenbach's conducting is superb and the orchestra play their socks off! The two piccolos at the end (Strauss and his wife ascending to heaven in death?) are guaranteed to make me cry every time I hear them. What a shame that the Proms audience's tradition of vying to be the first to applaud wrecks the atmosphere...
tbridge001 1 month ago
Critics were divided at the time (especially for her German, and it's true, Kiri et al are clearer), but for me, this is Strauss at the highest level. Fleming is fantastic - her control throughout, but particularly at 5:25 onwards is superb - and she is centre stage until the very end, even though she doesn't sing for the last two minutes.
tbridge001 1 month ago
i think one could say that strauss saved the best for the last; one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written and renee does it justice. i saw her perform it live in tanglewood.
1218elmo 1 month ago
one of the best recordings available in youtube in my opinion!...
having said that, is that Voldemort conducting! ?
AlcaeusTnr 2 months ago
I really think Renee's performances of Four Last Songs are some of the greatest I have ever heard. In fact if this is all she did was sing Four Last Songs I could sit and listen forever, especially "September" je taime Renee.
rccowart 4 months ago in playlist Four Last Songs
i could even believe in god now.....
roby30 5 months ago
@roby30 well, this is pretty damn good, but i wouldn't go that far.....
spooksixsix 2 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
sublime
roby30 5 months ago
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Esta pieza sólo tiene de lieder el nombre, pues es la expresión más alta de cualquier género musical escuchado por hombre alguno. La declaración anterior es absurda. Fleming llena de armonía esta pieza con tal candor, que es sobrecogedor. Lo más bello. La versión de De la Casa o Rothenberger son stacatas y melosas, son chirridos de aves moribundas.
JERZIGROTOWSKI 5 months ago
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JERZIGROTOWSKI 5 months ago
This final statement on life, as his life drew to a close, is one of Strauss' most sublime pieces of music he ever composed and yet somehow Ms Fleming misses the mark completely! The Vier Lezte Lieder are really not for her and she should perform where she is sublime ..... in the opera. But to operafy lieder ..... it will never work. Check out Te Kanawa, Norman and Rothenberger if you would like to hear this music sung sublimely.
MrAndredekock 7 months ago
This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music i've ever heard. I can't stop listening to it.
Whiskeyfirst 8 months ago 2
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Whiskeyfirst 8 months ago
Stupid question, but where's the microphone? ._.
VictimOfBoredom 8 months ago
@VictimOfBoredom Classical singing doesn't use amplification. If she's singing this in a hall, she won't need one.
singurheartout4 8 months ago
@singurheartout4 This is a recording from The Royal Albert Hall in London UK, one of the Proms concert season held every summer. There is a very small microphone several feet in front of Ms Flemming; her voice filled the hall holding 6000 people without any ampliphication, thje microphone is for the TV recording only.
grizzelpuss 7 months ago
@grizzelpuss Yes, its not an amplification microphone, but receiving for recording and TV as you said.
1AdrianR 7 months ago
@VictimOfBoredom Opera singers aren't amplified in halls
1AdrianR 8 months ago
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LASHbyFrancesca 8 months ago
Das ist wahrlich wunderschön!
Und ist das nicht Maestro Eschenbach am Podium?
robertrstevens 8 months ago
Struass, Fleming! W'OW!
And isn't that Christoph Eschenbach directing?
robertrstevens 8 months ago
Beautiful music !!! As always, Strauss. He was the master of masters. this beautiful music Makes me think about whats going on in my life..
Thank you Mrs Renee Fleming for made this performance unique and magnificent
aaround 9 months ago 2
meine lieblingsversione dieses songs
twelvetwelve121 9 months ago
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Life can never be adequately captured or rendered by any art however exquisite. Death does not have such vigour, the instrumental at the end more closely reflects the approaching fade into sleep that is death to those who are taken slowly from this world, there is no vigour, there is but drift and sleep and waking and waiting and a searching into the past revealing nothing but hollows and sadness...and the beauty of the falling instrumental cannot tell of that infinite quality of a fading life.
dean12758 9 months ago
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dean12758 9 months ago
Wow! That was quite a ride.
bronxboy47 9 months ago
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We go through strife and joy hand in hand, from wandering we rest now above a quiet land,all around the valleys sink, the air darkens already, two larks are still climbing, dreamily into the sky, come here and let them soar ,soon it is time to sleep.so that we should not go astray in this loneliness.o broad quiet peace!so deep in dusk!how we are weary of wandering!is this perhaps death?
chihanontempo 10 months ago
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chihanontempo 10 months ago
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chihanontempo 10 months ago
now, strauss become my new favorite composer
danghoangbaotram 10 months ago
knutwh1 10 months ago
What Eschenbach does with the accompaniment.....amazing......like hearing it for the first time.
pawdaw 10 months ago
quienes seran esos 16 idiotas? jajaja
romyliric 11 months ago
I can't believe I have only just discovered this music. It turns me inside out.
bencstorey 11 months ago 11
@bencstorey seriously! who have you liked so far? :)
reinapayasa 9 months ago
@bencstorey I feel the same way! I only discovered Strauss' 4 Last Songs about 6 months ago and I've now heard many different interpretations but Renee's are, hands down, my favorite. She leaves me speechless and aching for more. It doesn't get any better than Renee singing Strauss, does it?
jawhitney25 3 months ago in playlist Renee (In Concert/Studio)
This is an amazing piece of music. Taking into account the words and when it was written it never fails to bring a lump to my throat.
Casio61 1 year ago
Quelle voix ..elle me donne des frissons Ces Lieder de Richard Strauss sont d'une beauté rare
GRAFINANNA 1 year ago
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is it a late romantic music...cuz our professor was asking for that
whateverzhang 1 year ago
is it a late romantic music...cuz our professor was asking for that
whateverzhang 1 year ago
Reneé's voice just keeps getting better and better as she mellows.
ytdsgdjgfueyxn537 1 year ago
Wonderful.
Thank you so much for uploading this great moment.
Priceless.
rainbarlow 1 year ago
@rainbarlow thanks for sharing.
UPTHElRS 1 year ago
SURELY strauss wanted to share his vision with us....
chihanontempo 1 year ago
Love Renee's rendition of Strauss!
norisv 1 year ago
the first time I heard this music it was in a ballet perfomance I winded up out of curiosity, I had a horrible seat and could not see half the stage.
as soon I possible I went again to see and hear this beautiful piece of art.
kamion53 1 year ago
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wunderbar...das streichelt die seele.
HamburgerIngo 1 year ago
wunderbar...das teichelt die seele.
HamburgerIngo 1 year ago 2
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As close as you will ever get to God whilst alive.
tdkanata 1 year ago
As close to God as you will ever get whilst being alive.
tdkanata 1 year ago 2
5:30 return to tonic, most beautiful moment!!
anthonyjakes 1 year ago
I had never listen to this piece until my grandfather died... he was a big fan of Strauss so we played the Vier Letzte Lieder at his funeral...
Tears come to my eyes every single time I listen this sublime piece of music...
Rehtor 1 year ago
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henleyfilms 1 year ago
Profound.
ubergeraldine 1 year ago
how is im abendrot pronounced ?
RickManchester 1 year ago
@RickManchester AH -- bent -- roht, with the primary accent on the first syllable, and the "r" pronounced rolled in the back, about where the long "o" sounds. If that conveys anything practical. . . :)
manthasagittarius 1 year ago
J'aime Strauss et j'adore Renée Fleming. Merci de ce partage.
fanfanchatblanc 1 year ago
I love the intro part from 1:10-1:13, 1:14-1:23, especially 1:24-1:30... Wow. It's so heavenly.
RadCQB 1 year ago
This was such a fitting closure for Strauss. To hear him revisit his theme from Tod und Verklarung at the end of this makes me feel complete.
roughnightrob 1 year ago
Oh vast tranquil peace.......
priskilly 1 year ago
Un chef d'oeuvre absolu, d'une rare intensité émotionnelle.
jupiteve 1 year ago
Sublime.
DWareFTW 1 year ago
@Gabba02 This is one of the most wonderful pieces of music I've ever heard. I first heard this in the David Lynch movie; "Wild at Heart" which I only saw for the first time recently - looked it up and came to this video first.
Hard to hold the tears back no matter how many times I listen to it.
Thanks for posting.
VirgilFoxMusic 1 year ago 10
@VirgilFoxMusic
That's also how I discovered it : )
askjiir 4 months ago
Listen to Soile Isokoski singing the same four Lieder, available on Youtube. You won't regret it. (Don't look at her singing, just listen...)
Jussihx 1 year ago
@Jussihx many many thanks for this hint :) - found Vier letzte Lieder at concert of the Finnish Radio symphony orchestra at Jan 12, 2005 at Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Finland, conductor Sakari Oramo - another must for all fans of these Lieder especial Im Abendrot
pega17pl 4 months ago
@pega17pl Vier letzte Lieder with Soile Isokoski
pega17pl 4 months ago
@pega17pl Jessye Norman and Renee Fleming are the best in this piece... e punto!
PukKoleszka 3 weeks ago
@PukKoleszka be glad to know definitely best singers of Im Abendrot :) - comparing all great singers I like to perform this Lied (here at YT) I'm not able to decide who would I like to listen at live performance if there will be only one chance...
pega17pl 3 weeks ago in playlist Lied (Mahler Strauss Wesendonck)
Can't they just...enjoy that moment when the sound stops? Do they have to respond with clapping so quickly -- silence is a response, too, and at moments like that what is wrong with letting that silence last just a bit? Many times after listening to these glorious songs, I can barely MOVE, much less applaud!
darkprose 1 year ago 2
@darkprose You have no idea how happy I am to see someone else articulate that! Surely a conductor can hold off the applause for a short time so we can enjoy the place that we have been transported to?
merrywobs 1 year ago
@merrywobs There's a video on here somewhere in which Daniel Barenboim literally winces after the last note of Tristan and Isolde because a group of people (it's always a small part that gets the rest clapping) just shattered that wonderful silence. There is a time for immediate clapping, even between symphonic movements, but silence is better here.
darkprose 1 year ago
There's just no question that, along with Mahler, Strauss was the greatest symphonist of the late Romantic German/Austrian school. The last few bars of this particular song are so typical of Strauss's genius in creating tone poems. The modulation upward and the skylarks singing at the end of the piece was pure Strauss. We're left hanging, pondering if indeed "it perhaps is death."
Wonderful. Fleming has a gorgeous pipe, too.
flylooper 1 year ago
I adore this piece of music.... saw it performed live at the manchester bridgewater hall and was just in tears by the end of it it was so moving.... truly a spectacular piece!
stephibobz 1 year ago
beautiful
TheGiswiler 1 year ago
Ms. Fleming adores this music, and it shows. I can't get enough of this.
nprvlwimp 1 year ago
To slow. L.Popp is better.
MALHEBRE 1 year ago
@MALHEBRE Variety is the spice of life. "To slow" gibt es also gar nicht. Das Stück hat seine Reize, ob es nun langsam oder schnell gespielt wird. Es hat auch seine Reize, dass Fleming mit Akzent singt und einge Worte einfach falsch ausspricht. Na und? Auch das ist "spicy".
bratenrock 1 year ago
Fleming actually followed the footsteps of Kiri Te Kenawa in that they both sang Mozart and later Strauss. Nonetheless, she is clearly aided by the slower paced music to give it the same "eternal" feeling that Jessye Norman gave it in her legendary album with Masur. I like Jessye Norman better than Fleming however I like Martina Arroyo's simple, pure, heart-felt version better than Price. These are difficult songs to sing but yes Fleming does a fine job
MastersoftheOpera 1 year ago
@MastersoftheOpera
Agreed. Each of these diva have a distinctive interpretation of these immortal pieces.
tarantellaonline 1 year ago
Ironic that this remarkable musical creation should come only at the end of his life, but then...this is Abendrot.
I've always had mixed feelings about Strausses body of work; moments of brillance surrounded by what I consider to be tunespinning, Nonetheless, a giant of 20th century music. The Four Last Songs, and this last especially, compensate for the deficits of prior works.
MingnonDunn 1 year ago
The Longmont Symphony is going to perform these 4 songs next year (at my suggestion/request) -- with a very talented soprano who's also performed with MahlerFest.. Pure heaven!
001Tara1 1 year ago
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf did at least two renditions, with the mid 1950s one being truly staggering. Yet, of the modern sopranos, Fleming stands out for me as being able to come close to Schwarzkopf in german and even Victoria de los angeles in Italian in several roles. She is a wonderful singer.
The99Gambo 1 year ago 2
Heavenly...
VideosAlcides 2 years ago 3
I'm an early music lover mostly but this and the music of Brahms is exquisite!
janeym 2 years ago
the conductor is amazing as well. was it mentioned who he is?
bachboy111 2 years ago
I think he's Christoph Eschenbach, director of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
azntanan 2 years ago
Yes, that´s right, it is Eschenbach!
nikodemus7777 1 year ago
Renee ... you are a goddess ... this is beyond heaven. Yummy!
001Tara1 2 years ago 3
A friend of mine suggested this song was very sad. I dont find this painful at all. I think it is wonderful. A music laced with overwhelming love and sincerity; a dedication and love that transcends the boundaries of life, experience and death. It is simply inspiringly beautiful. I send my kind and warm egards,
TheWisemonkey8 2 years ago
Compare Leontyne Price's 1979 version--recently added to YouTube--for the beauty of real mezza voce singing, which is essential in this song about sunset and entering another world. However, I DO love Eschenbach's tempo and luftpausen!
liedersanger1 2 years ago
makes me cry every time i listen...the best voice, the veryvery best conductor..!
jadran1959 2 years ago 3
Il ne faut jamais prétendre qu'un chanteur a la meilleure interpétation d'une oeuvre, car rendus a ce niveau, tous ces chanteurs sont de grands artistes. Ceci dit, je trouve cette interprétation de Renée Flemming très émouvante, elle qui d'ordinaire me laisse froid. Merci a toi Renée!
jeamphe 2 years ago 5
Renee when I saw your performace... I just cry! Wonderful!
vagpostshosta 2 years ago 2
only Renee can sustain such a tempo. Her breath control is just amazing...
jhvorotin 2 years ago 2
The greatest music ever written for the human voice.
cuboglach 2 years ago 59
This has been flagged as spam show
@cuboglach Lady Gaga comes a close second.
sabbersolo 10 months ago
Comment removed
rikmetz 2 years ago
This feels like it is exactly half as fast as Karl Böhm conducted that piece, and probably it's considered totally wrong by those in the know, but I simply love the song done that way.
bibliopolist 2 years ago 2
Thank you for this tempo ..way to go, chris & renee ..(you too, rich
culturehorse 2 years ago
magnifique!!!
cedric4243 2 years ago
Every letter, word and comment must be given to Richard Strauss. To think that this music was within him only during his final days is without sight. He was,is,and will always be,seen and heard, as a musical genius.One must consider his composing of music whilst surrounded by the banal. We collectively salute you Richard Strauss, may no one ever know what you wanted to tell us, may we stay in ignorance striving to create and share your perfection and genius.
SnapeEyes 2 years ago 53
@SnapeEyes
beautifully written, my fellow music lover
brettbw1 1 year ago
@SnapeEyes Speak for yourself, please. By his own admission he was a first rate, second rate composer. He was truly a great orchrestrator and managed changes in his musical style well throughout his life.
i love a great deal of his music, but I can do without an apotheosis. May I ask what you consider banal about Mahler, Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Stravinsky?
Greg07623 1 year ago
@SnapeEyes I agree completely . . . Regarding banality times, there was this Hanslick (who tryed to banish Wagner fans), a perfect sample of human/musical selfishness. . . He "educated" people with his critics towards an absurd of "pure music" detracting "Program-musik". Polarisation means loss of personality, which is escential to grasp any art, because it lacks creativity . . .
Hans Fröhlich - Germany
froehlicherelter 8 months ago
HappyWandy457, here we have an example of magnificent art. . . . We see a master of the batton, assisted by a singer who has technique of the finest: Renee´s air resources .seem not to end and she administrates it musically to a priviledged voice where all inspiration has room enough to develop an enchantment of unique charm. What a priviledge to hear musicians interpret such a difficult master piece, where the voice not merely sings a melody but integrates harmony all times . . .
froehlicherelter 8 months ago
Majestic!
gringogo 2 years ago 3
soundxip 2 years ago
really nice music to my ears lol
ComedyGamerFilms 2 years ago
beautiful piece :)
xxXyaygirl95Xxx 2 years ago
Superb!
jbf1941 2 years ago
The 4 Last Songs of Strauss are so suggestive of Mahler's Das Lied Von Der Erde. Beautiful romantic reflections on life and death, wonderful melding of the muses. The dark colors in her voice so suit the sad sweetness in the theme of the soul's longing for peace and rest.
soundxip 2 years ago 6
The orchestral intro the Im Abendrot is quite possibly the most beautiful minute and a half--give or take--ever composed.
mwalsh2008 2 years ago 4
The F@#$*(@#$*(ing orchestra is WAY too loud AGAIN! And WHY does it sound like let's dig into the romantic period once again and see how much respite we can get from not letting go of resentments!? And I would really like to hear Renee sing more than the meager period that's allowed her with having to strain her voice to be heard, as once again is so apparent HERE! Oh but no, I meant fiddling orchestra...
josephdelgesu 2 years ago
The Last Songs of the Last Strauss. And what a pathos of interpretation that of Renee Fleming! This is also ein Art des Gesamtkunstwerk.
geswald 2 years ago
Absolutamente indescritível. Poder vivenciar uma estética desse teor já é tudo.
geswald 2 years ago
i went to see the Halle perform this on sunday, it was AMAZING!! it bought tears to my eyes especially when you know what its about and the reasons they were composed... tragic but beautiful!
thanks for putting them up xoxox
stephibobz 2 years ago
Remember watching this on live t.v, brilliant performances all round, went and bought the Strauss C.D
thedarksideBJ 3 years ago 2
Absolutely stunning music, such vision and character. The singing is simply not beautiful...E.S does a remarkable job with this body of work. Thank you for posting..well done!!
gmichaelhall 3 years ago
please join The Richard Strauss' Viet letzte Lieder / Four last Songs fan club on facebook
giandoroma 3 years ago
Please don't be too hard on Reneé. Yes, certainly no one in the next 100 years will do Strauss' final songs within a mile of Jessye Norman. This music was made for Jessye. She will never be outdone.
But that is no reason to pick on Reneé. She has done great work, above all in her efforts in Russian and other Eastern music. Please don't pick on her just because of what critics say, and certainly not for the color of her skin!
Listen to her version of Ave Maria.
znamrennug 3 years ago
Its insulting to me how Renee Fleeming can get the title of the "Great American Soprano" has any ever heard of Jessye Norman, What an insult! I guess to be an GREAT AMERICAN it helps to be white blue eyed and blonde, totally ludicrious
Bahia82 3 years ago
Stay factual, if you can, please. Racism has no place here. Both Ms Norman and Ms Fleming are great sopranos. Why must one be "better" than the other?
mrsexy300 2 years ago 4
Bahia82, you've exposed more about yourself, than any 'conspiracy' on being a "Great American Soprano". Sounds like you're lugging a HUGE chip on your shoulder!
krukenkreuz 2 years ago
superb...
songblam 3 years ago
There are so many superb recordings of these songs, I'm afraid Renée is still not up to her competition. I really dislike the way she lags slightly behind the beat.
wally5353 3 years ago
a little bit too slow to my taste, but still in a great shape. My favourite recording is done by Janowitz/Karajan/BPO
mingweicello 3 years ago
One of the greatest joys of being alive is having the chance of listening to this! God bless Flemming!
orfeo2003 3 years ago
I think what makes me love Fleming so much in this rep. above so many others is the pure beauty and lush creamy tone of her voice. There is no other like it! She exudes so much warmth and passion, kinda like a fluffy down pillow. aaaaaaahhhhh
edgabo2 3 years ago
6:40 - 7:20 is amazing...what a mood..
Feels like flying
sebaunicum 3 years ago
molto interessante!
finalmente un direttore che rallenta inesorabolmente la parte iniziale del lied:nettare miele ambrosia per le mie orecchie! perchè karajan aveva così fretta di dare l'attacco a gundula janowitz?
suggello 3 years ago
Is the conductor Christophe Eschenbach?
JEP177777 3 years ago
yes.
daOperahunk 3 years ago
SO ELEGANT MUSIC
GOOD JOB RENEE
AGNOSFALTSOS 3 years ago
After having heard Jessye Norman's interpretation of these songs, every other version I've listened to leaves me wanting more.
JessyeNormanFan 4 years ago
As exquisitely beautiful as this and many others are, I have to agree with you.
DaretobeDivine 3 years ago
4.Strophe
O weiter, stiller Friede.
So tief im Abendrot,
Wie sind wir wandermüde -
Ist dies etwa der Tod?
-Joseph von Eichendorff-
booox123 4 years ago
Kirsten Flagstad en mi opinión, con su voz crepuscular, rojo oro del ocaso, es la más adecuada para cantar este tipo de canciones románticas. Yo la tengo im abendrot. Fleming tiene ese peso, varady es más liviana
nicotacha 4 years ago
My favorite goes to Janowitz/Karajan
yangxb 4 years ago
my favourite voice for this song is Varady's
141407078989 4 years ago
Please listen to Arleen Auger in these songs....pure beauty.
GARYDEE52 4 years ago
I agree with you Homoclassicus. It is very slow but this music and artist can take it. It is meant to be elegiac and notstalgic. I think this is her best version, live or on cd. Caballe on Erato and Price on RCA are also enjoyable.
michaels7 4 years ago
I love renee in these songs but the purest version I have heard come from Arllen Auger (Previn). She makes the music live and has such a beauty that has yet to be surpassed.
GARYDEE52 4 years ago
Actually, I now think she's not less involved. Her interpretation here is a little different from the one in Lucerne. It's in fact much more melancholic, nostalgic, even sort of sad. This was probably her choice, and the slower tempo does seem to contribute to a more intimate, mournful atmosphere. The way she finished the song was very deep, really moving.
Homoclassicus 4 years ago
The singing, of course, is very beautiful, but she sounds even more extraordinary in the Lucerne video. Here she looks a little less comfortable and involved into the melody. The voice, however, is at its lushest, richest shape. It's just that the complexity and depth of meaning she conveys to these songs/poems is more expressed in other versions.
But hey, this is the great Fleming! If you forget a few portamenti, there's SO much unique qualities to enjoy - whatever her performance may be!
Homoclassicus 4 years ago
Fleming (from Rochester NY, Chili) knows this well with Eschenbach (re. Houston recording). Eschenbach is a great Straussian.
michaels7 4 years ago
the worst is when people think they need to clap the second a piece is finished. if you've really heard what just happened you'd be still for at least a few seconds out of respect for the music, the performers, and out of respect for stillness which is the place all music comes from.
jm960 4 years ago 3
Manchmal muss man einfach sofort applaudieren - gerade wenn es sich beispielsweise um eine Darbietung dieser Klasse handelt. Mir persönlich ist dieses Stück zu langsam interpretiert, aber R. Fleming ist fabelhaft! Besser als J. Norman, die mit ihrer Stimme einfach zu gewaltig für diese Lieder ist.
teebee2411 4 years ago
Wow! she totally drew me into the story.
pianoboyo 4 years ago
i Agreed with all od you she is the best,somebody has the video from Lucerne ? is magnificent.
joanabanyeres 4 years ago
The great American soprano from Chile, New York gives the greatest performance of this song.
michaels7 4 years ago
Have you heard Norman?
yesblanche 3 years ago
I was there in that concert,at the very front, it was like in heaven it was so Amazing,everyone is breathing with that music,that's moment, tears....
divasunny 4 years ago
The part that goes since 6:30 to the end is just increbible, and the beauty of that chord at 6:37 is inmense. Masterful music and magic perfomance.
dion82 4 years ago
Maestro Eschenbach, any interest in conducting the Toronto Opera Comnpany? Our director, Richard Bradshaw, died today.
michaels7 4 years ago 2
I wish you'd left the applause in- this was an outstanding interpretation.
pawdaw 4 years ago
Even though this is not the maestro's home orchestra (that would be the Philadelphia) you have to wonder after this brilliant and astounding performance why the Philadelphia would not sign Mr. Eschenbach to a 10 year contract rather than looking for a replacement.
michaels7 4 years ago
It was Eschenbach and the Philarmonia Orchestra (London), not the Philadelphia Orchestra.
michaels7 4 years ago
Superb! Another great rendition is Jessye Norman's. Does anyone have THAT on video? The album is her finest work.
stevenwryan 4 years ago
THE FLAME BURNS BRIGHTEST AS IT DIES
GWMD 4 years ago
Who is the conductor and the orchestra?
violonista 5 years ago
christoph eschenbach - philadelphia
pworg 4 years ago
great video! thanks!
greatmusicvideos 5 years ago
may I add
E. Schwarzkopf ( Ackermann) G.Janowitz ( Karajan) and
Kiri te Kanawa ( Solti)!?
pworg 5 years ago
Yes, OK. But not this level!!
fredvogels 5 years ago
" hm,perhaps you're right" -( L.Bernstein to the question -if there was only one song in world- Isolde Liebestod.)
pworg 5 years ago
Yes, I'd say very much that level - and add E. Schwarzkopf under Georg Szell too!! Not too far behind is M. Caballé with Alain Lombard (at least as far as Caballé's concerned - Lombard leaves me colder, however...). Definitely, Jessye Norman with Kurt Masur is on the same top level.
Not to deny this rendition is likewise outstanding; however, each one so far here seen has its own beauty and viewpoint. Why must singers' fans be so much more vicious than those of instrumentalists??
LJBSasha 3 years ago 3
I too love that Caballe version on erato (does that label exist anymore?) I didn't mind the accompaniment but it is not the Berlin PO. For creaminess and luxury, Caballe cannot be beat.
michaels7 3 years ago
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. If you don't see visions of the Black Forest and a castle above the Rhine when Caballe starts in to wail you simply do not have a pulse.
cobaltjones 3 years ago