Mahler-Das Lied

[richardfinegold]

Since I've been on this site I have seen many threads about the Mahler Symphonies, but it always seems as if a discussion of Das Lied seems to never develop. I have been spending a lot of time listening to the Fritz Reiner and Bruno Walter recordings recently, both dating from the late 1950s in stereo. For years my only recordings were Haitink's and Klemperer but I have recently added the 2 aforementioned, MTT, and Lenny's in the Sony box. All different, and all shedding different lights on a truly fascinating piece. Any other favorites?

[BBMmk2]

I love the Fritz Wunderlich and Christa Wunderich has always been a favourite of mine. I also have Brigitte Fassbaender and Franceso Araiza, with Giulini conducting. I must spin this again soon, as I havnt heard this for a long time.

[Richard Tarleton]

I love the Fritz Wunderlich and Christa Wunderich has always been a favourite of mine. I also have Brigitte Fassbaender and Franceso Araiza, with Giulini conducting. I must spin this again soon, as I havnt heard this for a long time.

or Christa Ludwig even! My favourite too. I recorded a performance from Sky Arts 2 with Anne-Sophie von Otter and Jonas Kaufmann with BPO/Abbado which is glorious - Kaufmann seems born to sing this. Has he recorded it on CD? I don't know. I of course have Walter/Ferrier/Patzak, but don't play it these days.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

of course have Walter/Ferrier/Patzak

No "need" for any other. But Alfreda Hodgson and John Mitchinson with the BBCNSO under Horenstein achieves the miracle of matching them. Of course this is a ridiculous statement; the versions by Reiner, Klemperer, Bernstein and Karajan also provide superb insights of this astonishing work. But the Ferrier was with me at a particularly distressing time of my life, consoling me, strenghthening my fractured psyche, helping me to shore myself - and there is no question but that it is "the one disc I would save" should a tidal wave carry off all the other seven from my desert island.

but don't play it these days.

I, too, rarely play that Ferrier version; perhaps once a year - or even every other year: such intensity demands careful rationing.

[Julien Sorel]

I have
Iris Vermillion / Keith Lewis / Staatskapelle Dresden / Sinopoli (DG)
Violeta Urmana / Michael Schade / VPO / Boulez (DG)
Cornelia Kallisch / Siegfried Jerusalem / SWRSO / Gielen (Hänssler)
and the baritone version Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Fritz Wunderlich / VSO / Krips (DG)

The Gielen is put together from two separate performances (Kallisch and Jerusalem weren't ever an item, as it were ). It's not obvious from the patched recording, and it's a fine performance but not perhaps Gielen at his considerable best in Mahler. Boulez and Sinopoli are both, IMV, superb. The Krips is well worth hearing, a performance of great, un-melodramatic, intensity. The sound isn't great, though, and you don't hear Mahler's wonderful darkly glittering sonorities all that well.

[Nick Armstrong]

I've tried many but none imho approaches Janet Baker in the last movement under Haitink (I've never warmed to her live one under Leppard).

The orchestra under BH is just as stunning as she is, in that central funeral march between the two 'halves' of Der Abschied.

[Roehre]

I've got two recordings, both Concertgebouw orchestra:
Jochum/Merriman/Haefliger (my favourite, 1963)
Haitink/Baker/King (1975, nearly matching the Jochum)

[BBMmk2]

or Christa Ludwig even! My favourite too. I recorded a performance from Sky Arts 2 with Anne-Sophie von Otter and Jonas Kaufmann with BPO/Abbado which is glorious - Kaufmann seems born to sing this. Has he recorded it on CD? I don't know. I of course have Walter/Ferrier/Patzak, but don't play it these days.

I think they have.

[umslopogaas]

I have Baker and King, cond. Haitink, and also one that hasnt been mentioned so far: Minton and Kollo, Chicago SO cond. Solti. I havent played it for ages, but recall it has very fine sound (vintage Decca stereo). Its on LP, I dont know if it got to CD. I seem to remember the critics were a bit sniffy about Kollo, and of course not everyone likes Solti's conducting - but I do.

[Parry1912]

Karajan is my favourite. Bertini is also worth a mention.

[AmpH]

I have always loved Janet Baker in this work and this is the recording for me.

One of Kubelik's wonderful live Mahler recordings on Audite.

[Nick Armstrong]

I have always loved Janet Baker in this work and this is the recording for me.
One of Kubelik's wonderful live Mahler recordings on Audite.

Wow... a new one on me. Thanks, I shall investigate.

[ostuni]

That Kubelik Audite is a cheapish (£4.14) download from the tax dodgers. I must listen to it again: can't remember much about it. I know that for many, Ferrier can do no wrong (and her health adds a dreadful poignancy to the Abschied, of course), but voices are such a personal thing, and I don't really get hers.

For me, the ultimate mezzo in dLvdE is Fassbaender. Brilliantly harrowing. And no tenor matches Schreier (he might not have the vocal heft of some of the more Helden types, but no-one matches the scariness of his moonlight graves in the Trinklied). Orchestrally, Boulez illuminates places that nobody else touches. Sadly, they're on three different recordings...

[BBMmk2]

Dame Janet Baker is superlative in this recording. However, her partner in crimes, james King, doesn't seem as strong as she is?

[Nick Armstrong]

Dame Janet Baker is superlative in this recording. However, her partner in crimes, james King, doesn't seem as strong as she is?

His singing is a bit criminal, Bbm, I agree.... If I want to hear the tenor songs, especially the first, I'll put on the Wunderlich.

But DLvdE is 95% about the last movement, for me.

It seems from the reviews I've read that in the Kubelik recording, Waldemar Kmentt really nails his songs though - so if JB's performance is up there with the studio version, it sounds like a winner!