EMI's classic recording made in 1968 more or less puts all rivals out of court.
Even those who find Schwarzkopf's singing mannered will be hard pressed to find more persuasive versions of the female songs than she gives, while Fischer-Dieskau and Szell are in a class of their own most of the time. Bernstein's CBS version, also from the late 1960s but with less spectacularly improved sound than EMI now provide, is also very fine, but for repeated listening Szell, conducting here with the kind of insight he showed on his famous Cleveland version of the Fourth Symphony, is the more controlled and keen-eared interpreter. Also, few command the musical stage as Fischer-Dieskau does in a song like 'Revelge' where every drop of irony and revulsion from the spectre of war is fiercely, grimly caught. Strongly recommended.

The superb singing of Schwarzkopf and Fischer-Dieskau is underpinned by wonderfully sensitive playing from the LSO under Szell

the songs are divided between baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, who both give characterful performances. Highlights for me are Schwarzkopf's spirited account of Lob des hohen Verstandes, and Fischer-Dieskau's poised singing in Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen.