Four Last Songs (Vier Letzte Lieder) 1 Frühling 3:29 2 September 4:10 3 Beim Schlafenhegen 4:32 4 Im Abendrot 7:16 Cappriccio 5 Closing Scene: Morgen, Mittag Um Elf! 17:44 Arabella 6 Act 1: Ich Danke, Fräulein 8:21 7 Act 1: Mein Elemer! 7:54 8 Act 2: Sie Woll'n Mich Heiraten 8:52 9 Act 2: Und Jetzt Sag' Ich Adieu 8:54 10 Act 3: Das War Sehr Gut, Mandryka 5:58

Here are pretty good short poems; given a very good setting-to-music by Strauss ("I am not a first-class composer, but I am a first-rate second class composer"); performed to perfection by Schwartzkopf, her voice at age 38(?) still capable of anything. If you've heard her wonderful variety of personas (sometimes two at the same time!) in Brahms' "Deutsche Volkslieder" with Dieskau, also highly recommended, you'll know the distinctive timbre she can impose, almost note-by-note, and her magical, unerring choice of the right one. She owns these songs, making others sound hypnotized or athletic or uncaring. If "Beim Schlafengehen" doesn't bring you close to tears, it will when you're older! Don't miss it, life is too short.

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