Gifted with a powerful yet beautifully flexible lyric-dramatic soprano voice, Norwegian Lise Davidsen is the youngest singer—32 years old at this album’s release—to have recorded Richard Strauss’ valedictory quartet of orchestral songs. She captures their gentleness as well as their mood of quiet resignation, and her voice blossoms fabulously in the lush garden setting of “September.” The other Strauss songs are wonderfully done—“Morgen!” glows with hope. The three opera arias make an impressive calling card for a singer in the ascendancy. Sensitive accompaniments are provided by the orchestra that premiered the Vier letzte Lieder back in 1950—the classy Philharmonia, under Esa-Pekka Salonen.