Morgen

My best version? O.K., it's unobtanium AFAIK, but here it is, since you asked.

Very politically incorrect. I have a BASF vinyl recording of Roberta Peters(!) with Leonard Hokanson at the 'Flugel' (piano). Unbelievable, and you really need someone with the right touch/sensibility at the piano. This is it. If anybody knows of this on CD, please let me know. Copyright is 1972.

Don't know Isokoski. Lott and Schwarzkopf are both fantastic, but very much in the 'old diva' style. I haven't heard those particular recordings, but Bonney's version is simple and lush. I would guess that the other two are not, but I could be wrong. That's not a knock on them, I'm just guessing that it's a completely different style.

Certainly one of them - I enjoy the Last Four Songs as well. So far I have Felicity Lott - I love the combination of the Songs with the Orchestral pieces by Jarvi on Chandos - one orchestral piece by Strauss is enuf and Lotts singing is just rapturous. I've got Schwarzkopf and Szell on EMI and Isokoski on Odine. I prefer the former.

Now the $64 question - am I missing anything if I don't hear Bonney? I'm really not familar with her voice.