Mahler-Das Lied

[BBMmk2]

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!

indeed! I quite agree with you that DLvdE, is all about the last movement, Der Abschied. I havnt heard this Kublik recording though?

[Nick Armstrong]

I havnt heard this Kublik recording though?

I don't know the answer to your question, Bbm. I imagine you'd have a better idea whether you'd heard it or not than us!!

[verismissimo]

I've tried many but none imho approaches Janet Baker in the last movement under Haitink...

The one I reach for on the (infrequent) occasions that I listen to Das Lied is Janet Baker with Richard Lewis and the Cleveland/Szell from February 1970. (Never been generally available, I think...)

Today... This afternoon!

[Richard Tarleton]

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

This was the case on the occasion when I heard Janet Baker perform it live, with Solti/LPO - on that occasion Rene Kollo had a doctor's note and Robert Tear stood in - I've mentioned this before, on famous no-show threads.

[Nick Armstrong]

This was the case on the occasion when I heard Janet Baker perform it live, with Solti/LPO - on that occasion Rene Kollo had a doctor's note and Robert Tear stood in - I've mentioned this before, on famous no-show threads.

Was it painful, Richard?

[Bryn]

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.

If and when you do, please let us know whether the February 1970 recording is in mono or stereo. I guess the former is more likely, but maybe the Bavarian were early radio implementers of stereo.

[From the samples on amazon.co.uk it appears to be stereo, but with a fairly poorly defined sound stage. Have not purchased the download.]

[Richard Tarleton]

Was it painful, Richard?

You couldn't hear him over the orchestra - and to make matters worse he had to sing Psalmus Hungaricus before the interval and so was knackered before he'd started. Kollo being a heldentenor would not have found it a stretch at all, I daresay

[Nick Armstrong]

You couldn't hear him over the orchestra

Might have been a bonus.... At least you could enjoy the orchestral introduction and interludes, interspersed with the mezzo songs...

[gurnemanz]

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

Don't forget Janet Baker's live performance with John Mitchinson on BBC Legends. Marvellous singing even if the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra cannot be said to be up there with the greatest. We had previously seen them in good form in this work at the Proms in 1976 under Andrew Davis. I remember standing quite close to Mr Mitchinson in the Arena and being riveted by an electrifying performance of a work i didn't yet know that well.

[ostuni]

If and when you do, please let us know whether the February 1970 recording is in mono or stereo.

Yes, as you later found out, it is stereo. I've just had a quick listen, on headphones: the sound is pretty good for a 1970s radio recording, I'd say, though obviously not as spacious as the best recent ones. Big plusses for me: the colourful woodwind sound of the BRSO in those days and, especially, Kubelik's divided violins. These are a bit of a hobby horse of mine - I'm glad to say that more and more conductors are coming round to it.

Tony Duggan's Musicweb review thinks that this is Baker's best - indeed, he puts the recording 'at the top of my list'.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Don't forget Janet Baker's live performance with John Mitchinson on BBC Legends. Marvellous singing even if the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra cannot be said to be up there with the greatest.

Not so much "forgotten" on my part as "didn't know existed"! Many thanks for this nudge, gurnemanze - but I feel compelled to remark that Horenstein made it possible to claim that the BBCNSO is "up there with the greatest" (also with Mitchinson, but Alfreda Hodgson at her radiant greatest).

[Nick Armstrong]

Not so much "forgotten" on my part as "didn't know existed"! Many thanks for this nudge, gurnemanze - but I feel compelled to remark that Horenstein made it possible to claim that the BBCNSO is "up there with the greatest" (also with Mitchinson, but Alfreda Hodgson at her radiant greatest).

Not at all forgotten on my part - see my #6: it is the Leppard performance I refer to

I've never thought it a patch on the Concertgebouw reading, but others disagree (I seem to recall it won the Building a Library crown some years back)

[Bryn]

Not so much "forgotten" on my part as "didn't know existed"! Many thanks for this nudge, gurnemanze - but I feel compelled to remark that Horenstein made it possible to claim that the BBCNSO is "up there with the greatest" (also with Mitchinson, but Alfreda Hodgson at her radiant greatest).

There's a "Used - Very Good" copy (in a earlier manifestation without the Brahms) available right now via amazon.co.uk for £3.29 (including p&p).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Not at all forgotten on my part - see my #6: it is the Leppard performance I refer to

<doh>! Then I did know about it - from the version Bryn mentions! I'd read the Amazon blurb too quickly and thought the Mahler was conducted by Boult!

It's at times like these that I feel such a fool!

[Nick Armstrong]

It's at times like these that I feel such a fool!

We've all been there, old sport...