It’s an interesting idea for a CD; couple the well known (and original) orchestral version of Richard Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder with the less well known piano version (the first three songs are arranged by Max Wolff and Im Abendrot by John Gribben).  It’s exactly the sort of bold, slightly off the wall idea one might expect from Asmik Grigorian.  So how well does it work?

I’m just not convinced by the piano version; where Gregorian is partnered by Markus Hinterhäuser.  The vocal part, especially when compared with Strauss’ other songs for voice and piano just seems to be written for singing with an orchestra.  It’s not as intricate and subtle as some of the other songs and with piano it seems a bit one dimensional and over dramatic.  It’s not helped on this record by very slow tempi (for example, the piano version of Im Abendrot here runs 8m44 versus 7m16 for the orchestral version) and a “boomy” acoustic.  The singing is OK but the overall effect is ponderous.

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