Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder

[aligreto]

It was only relatively recently that I was introduced to Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder and I liked them from the moment that I heard them. The background story also intrigued me but that is not the purpose of this post. I currently own only one version of the Wesendonck Lieder with which I am very happy....



However I would like to explore other versions and voices in theses Lieder. A quick trawl shows me that there are quite a few offerings. So do you have any favourite versions or singers performing the Wesendonck Lieder? Are there any recommendations that you would make? I look forward to recommendations with interest.

[(poco) Sforzando]

It was only relatively recently that I was introduced to Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder and I liked them from the moment that I heard them. The background story also intrigued me but that is not the purpose of this post. I currently own only one version of the Wesendonck Lieder with which I am very happy....



However I would like to explore other versions and voices in theses Lieder. A quick trawl shows me that there are quite a few offerings. So do you have any favourite versions or singers performing the Wesendonck Lieder? Are there any recommendations that you would make? I look forward to recommendations with interest.

Of the few I know, my favorite is Eileen Farrell with Bernstein. Sawallisch did a recording with someone or other using the Henze orchestration; I don't find it as successful as the standard version but have kept the recording for other pieces on it.

[aligreto]

Thank you for that. I must confess that I do not know of Eileen Farrell 

[Cato]

Thank you for that. I must confess that I do not know of Eileen Farrell 

Very worthwhile!

Here she is in her prime with Stokowski:

https://www.youtube.com/v/DS3_j12Zam8

This one has better sound perhaps, but the reviews are all over the place:

[asin]B003FMFMKS[/asin]

Anne Sofie von Otter is not to be missed:

https://www.youtube.com/v/LerHPfjA51U

[aligreto]

Very worthwhile!

Here she is in her prime with Stokowski:

https://www.youtube.com/v/DS3_j12Zam8

This one has better sound perhaps, but the reviews are all over the place:

[asin]B003FMFMKS[/asin]

Anne Sofie von Otter is not to be missed:

https://www.youtube.com/v/LerHPfjA51U

Great stuff. Thank you for those especially the YT clips. I will not get to listen to them until later. Much appreciated 

[Mandryka]

[aligreto]

Thank you very much for that but once again I must confess my ignorance; I have not come across Sylvia Sass before 

[kishnevi]

I have a couple of recordings, but the only ones I am sure I have are Jessye Norman and the Brueggergosman Cato suggested.  And no doubt this says I re about me than the songs....but invariably it is the rest of the music on the CD which draws my attention, and the Wesendoncks which recede into oblivion (in the case of Ms. Norman, the "rest" is Strauss:  Four Last Songs.)

[Todd]

[aligreto]

I have a couple of recordings, but the only ones I am sure I have are Jessye Norman and the Brueggergosman Cato suggested.  And no doubt this says I re about me than the songs....but invariably it is the rest of the music on the CD which draws my attention, and the Wesendoncks which recede into oblivion (in the case of Ms. Norman, the "rest" is Strauss:  Four Last Songs.)

Thank you for that. I like Jessye Norman but I have her singing the Strauss Four Last Songs already. The coupling work on a prospective CD purchase may be an issue for me with the Wesendonck Lieder.

[aligreto]

OK, thank you for those two interesting ones.

[Mandryka]

Thank you very much for that but once again I must confess my ignorance; I have not come across Sylvia Sass before 

Her voice is, for me, extremely erotic. Her style is not overbearingly operatic.

[aligreto]

Her voice is, for me, extremely erotic. Her style is not overbearingly operatic.

Both parts of that sound good to me