Precisely why BMG has repackaged this recent release and lowered the price is a mystery. Whatever the reason, it’s great for Fleming fans and Strauss fans alike. Renée Fleming has all the attributes one needs for Strauss: seemingly endless breath, a beautiful, unbroken tone, easy top, a keen intelligence, and a sense of legato that seems inborn. In fact, at times Fleming’s legato comes dangerously close to scooping and her reading of the text a bit over-pronounced; but in general, we shouldn’t expect to hear the Four Last Songs and the other five songs better sung for a long, long time. Christoph Eschenbach is clearly listening to his soloist and he indulges her at every turn, and his Houston forces sound wonderful. The Rosenkavalier Suite is a bonus. [12/10/1999]
