Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is not an acquired taste. Her tone is not precious, her vibrato is not unnatural, her delivery is not arch, and her interpretations are not affected. Schwarzkopf is simply the best soprano who ever sang Schubert and trying to argue otherwise isn't a matter of taste. It's a matter of record. Specifically, this record: Schwarzkopf's 1952 recital with pianist Edwin Fischer. Song for song, there are no better performances than these by a soprano. Indeed, to call them performances is to diminish them. So ...
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Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is not an acquired taste. Her tone is not precious, her vibrato is not unnatural, her delivery is not arch, and her interpretations are not affected. Schwarzkopf is simply the best soprano who ever sang Schubert and trying to argue otherwise isn't a matter of taste. It's a matter of record. Specifically, this record: Schwarzkopf's 1952 recital with pianist Edwin Fischer. Song for song, there are no better performances than these by a soprano. Indeed, to call them performances is to diminish them. So ideally does Schwarzkopf fit herself to the material -- so luminous is her An die Musik (D. 547), so transfiguring is her Ganymed (D. 544), so ethereal is her Auf dem Wasser zu singen (D. 774) -- that these are less performances than incarnations. Just try her Gretchen am Spinnrade (D. 118), with her wounded tone, her agonizing "sein kuss," her excruciating "ich ihn kuss." This isn't a performance of a song by Schubert; this is simply one of the greatest performances of anything ever...
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Add this copy of Schubert: Lieder to cart. $8.50, like new condition, Sold by Streetlight_Records rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Cruz, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1992 by EMI Classics.
Add this copy of Schubert: Lieder to cart. $9.49, very good condition, Sold by BayStateBooks rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Smithfield, RI, UNITED STATES, published by EMI.
Add this copy of Schubert: Lieder to cart. $10.39, like new condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published by EMI.
Add this copy of Schubert: Lieder to cart. $8.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Ruby rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1992 by EMI Classics.
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