This is one of the more desirable issues in the BBC Radio Classics series, not least because it adds to the all-too-short discography of the irreplaceable Elizabeth Harwood. Caught here in her thirtieth year with the full bloom on her pearly soprano, she sings five of the orchestral settings of Strauss’s songs under the benevolent eye of that eminent Straussian, Del Mar. The results are poised readings of all five with particular praise due to the eloquent account of the always welcome “Befreit” and the soaring version of that ardent love-song “Cacilie”.
Harper recorded the Four Last Songs with Hickox for EMI in 1987 (3/88 – nla), a shade late in her career. In 1981, she still commanded the rich tone and secure high notes demanded by the set. As in the more recent reading, her singing is straightforward and unaffected, she and Del Mar rightly choosing speeds rather faster than those on some much-admired rival versions. In between the vocal items comes a glorious performance of the Oboe Concerto, recorded in Korea of all places during a BBC SO tour of the Far East. Actually, the sound-picture here is more favourable than in either of the other performances, which want presence. As a whole this is a happy combination of Strauss repertory, well worth investigating.'