Kiri Te Kanawa's 1977 CBS recording of Strauss' Four Last Songs with
Andrew Davis leading the
London Symphony Orchestra was the performance of choice in its day, riding on the warm, honeyed tone of her voice. Since then, however, more idiomatic and insightful recordings by singers like
Lisa della Casa and
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf have become far better appreciated, and when compared with those,
Te Kanawa's performance suffers. What once sounded lush and luscious now sounds lugubrious, and what once sounded like soulful sensitivity now sounds conspicuously lacking in understanding. This is not to say that these performances don't have appeal.
Te Kanawa's voice is in its beautiful prime, and if these were the only recordings of
Strauss' songs one heard, one might still fall in love with them. Sony's remastered sound is surprisingly thick and heavy -- and not at all complementary to the soprano.