I have just been listening again to the version by Arleen Auger with the VPO and Andre Previn.
It occurs to me that this is one of the very best renditions of this work, but it is quietly passed over whenever there is a comparative study. I wonder why? No one sings it better or enunciates the text as well, the VPO under Previn are in wonderful form and Previn's conducting is exquisite.
When I think of my favourites among all the versions, I would certainly place this in my top three.
1 Flagstad Furtwängler
2 Della Casa Karl Böhm
3 Auger Previn
4 Janowitz Karajan
Flagstad had Trouble with the tessitura of the "Beim Schlafengehen", but she still sounds wonderful .
I always thought that Della Casa's voice was the ideal for these lieder but having listened again to Auger, I am almost convinced to elevate her to pride of place.
It occurs to me that this is one of the very best renditions of this work, but it is quietly passed over whenever there is a comparative study. I wonder why? No one sings it better or enunciates the text as well, the VPO under Previn are in wonderful form and Previn's conducting is exquisite.
When I think of my favourites among all the versions, I would certainly place this in my top three.
1 Flagstad Furtwängler
2 Della Casa Karl Böhm
3 Auger Previn
4 Janowitz Karajan
Flagstad had Trouble with the tessitura of the "Beim Schlafengehen", but she still sounds wonderful .
I always thought that Della Casa's voice was the ideal for these lieder but having listened again to Auger, I am almost convinced to elevate her to pride of place.