BaL 20.05.23 - Mahler: Rückert-Lieder

[Bryn]

My discovery in HK of a new-to-me record shop included a number of Esoteric SACDs (Japanese re-mastering at its very considerable and respectful best), among which were the Bruno Walter/Kathleen Ferrier/Julius Patzak "Das Lied" plus the three Rückert Lieder. The remastered "Um Mitternacht" is, simply, wonderful. A performance which is hors concours and where the exigencies of the mono recording have been mitigated as best as is possible.

I have just been listening to (and casually watching) the Kožená/Abbado Sorry, but what an anticlimax after listening to the Ferrier/Walter for the three they recorded or, for the full five, the Baker/Barbirolli.

[Nick Armstrong]

....lovely programme....for me -excellent Saturday morning hour....I echo Wolfram's first line...

Yes - while not necessarily agreeing with the final ‘single selection’ (forced by the format), I think Flora W is one of the best BAL presenters: knowledgeable, articulate with an unmannered ideal radio voice, and the confidence to steer the ship through the narrow passage of the inadequate slot given to BAL and minimise the AMcG interruptions. A very good listen

Janet Baker - so far ahead that the record is going on the moment the review is over. The way Barbirolli held that rit ..

Exactly…

[Sir Velo]

Just listened to the podcast which I enjoyed, despite the limitations of the format. Hampson's is a version I must check out. Disappointed though that Fassbaender/Chailly was not mentioned although BF's is not one for repeated listening. Even in the lighter pieces her mezzo is harrowing! To be pedantic for one moment, did anyone else consider it odd that Barbirolli was described as an "eminence grise" at one point? I suspect Flora Wilson was intending to refer to JB's age and grey hair but those are the pitfalls of using a flashy foreign phrase on the spur of the moment!

[smittims]

Had it been Katie Derham goodness knows what the phrase would be. She referred to Simon Rattle and his soloist as 'partners in crime', and described Arnold Schoenberg as 'incestuous' because he married his friend's sister!.

[Barbirollians]

Yes - while not necessarily agreeing with the final ‘single selection’ (forced by the format), I think Flora W is one of the best BAL presenters: knowledgeable, articulate with an unmannered ideal radio voice, and the confidence to steer the ship through the narrow passage of the inadequate slot given to BAL and minimise the AMcG interruptions. A very good listen



Exactly…

Can't agree with you about Flora Willson - her style is good but the content often glib and full of unreasoned dismissals . The Das Lled von Der Erde Bel was dire ( Patzak just dismissed ) and as for the Magic Flute when she preferred the hideously hammy Papageno/Papagena duet from Jacobs ....

[Kingfisher]

Can't agree with you about Flora Willson - her style is good but the content often glib and full of unreasoned dismissals . The Das Lled von Der Erde Bel was dire ( Patzak just dismissed ) and as for the Magic Flute when she preferred the hideously hammy Papageno/Papagena duet from Jacobs ....

I agree with Nick.

Excellent edition, and a brave choice to go with Gerhaher and Huber - the safe choice would have been Janet Baker.

Having recently seen them in Recital for the first time - in Salzburg - I endorse her choice wholeheartedly.