[DavidMahler]

What is your favorite recording of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth)?

 

[zumaro]

Like any Mahler, it is hard to recommend a best version, because there are so many interpretive standpoints you can take. So for instance I grew up on the old Haitink/Baker/King version, which is meant to be one of the peerless releases from the past, but I think it is matched by Tennstedt or more recently Boulez. My preference for less histrionic Mahler shows through in these choices I guess.

 

[Facade19]

Fritz Reiner-Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Maureen Forrester, and William Lewis on RCA (SACD). Absolutely love it!!!

 

[vcoheda]

there are so many and so many i have not even heard, but here are some of my favorites.

Performer: Fritz Wunderlich (Tenor), Christa Ludwig (Mezzo soprano)
Conductor: Otto Klemperer

Performer: James King (Tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone)
Conductor: Leonard Bernstein

Performer: Kathleen Ferrier (Alto), Julius Patzak (Tenor)
Conductor: Bruno Walter

Performer: Alfreda Hodgson (Alto), John Mitchinson (Tenor)
Conductor: Jascha Horenstein

Performer: Dame Janet Baker (Mezzo Soprano), James King (Tenor)
Conductor: Bernard Haitink

 

[DarkAngel]

We went through a DLVDE phase in main Mahler thread several months ago and I definitely prefer the Klemperer/EMI among all the best known competition. The tenor part by Wunderlich really stands out as best I have heard and Ludwig's mezzo is among the very best, Klemperer has orchestral parts in perfect harmony with Mahler's vision for me.

I think MB was eventually converted to the Klemperer version as well......

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMahler /img/forum/go_quote.gif What is your favorite recording of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth)?

Are you on the record for choosing the Haitink/Baker DLVDE?

 

[DavidMahler]

Vocally I feel no one competes with Baker, but I'm more fond of Wunderlich than James King, and I'm very impressed with Klemperer's reading of the score. I don't really know. I guess ultimately I have to go with Baker and Haitink, but Klemperer's is a close second, and actually Oue with DeYoung is a very close third.

 

[mbhaub]

For performance, Reiner on RCA.
For sound, Oue on Reference.
For tradition, Walter on EMI.

 

[tev]

Haintink. I heard him do it live back in the late 80's or early 90's and it was so packed with emotion! I'll never forget it. Haintink is not known for his emotionally charged Mahler, but he really understands the full depth of this piece.