Customer Reviews

Mahler - Das Lied von der Erde & Kindertotenlieder / Debart, Du Clossel, De Rooser, Jossoud, Brua

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the worst vocal DVD released so far.

The Das Lied von der Erde is risibly dramatised, with performers who can neither sing nor act very well, and a reduced orchestration which hurts more than it helps. The Kindertotenlieder is a straight concert performance with somewhat better singing, but again the orchestra is reduced, sounding more threadbare than focused.

Buying this awful DVD is a priority only for those who can stand unintentional humor for more than a full hour at a time. If you think the joke will wear thin for you before the hour is up, stay away.

This DVD has no business in international distribution - it will be taken seriously only by family and friends of the performers.

Curiousity, to begin with. Many years ago I was asked to transcribe the dicarded "Blumine" movement from the first symphony for a dance presentation in NYC. I was to use the same forces that Schoenberg used to transcribe other Mahler works. (My transcription is available through the Theodore Presser Co.) Lacking the full weight of the large orchestra these pieces sound wonderful with these reduced forces, a testament to the greatness of the music above and beyond the orchestral garb that the composer chose. I am not a total Mahler nut as I find much of his symphonic work overblown and bombastic. These two works, however, are among his greatest achievments in my estimation. I could have done without the staging of the "Das Lied" as it appears on this DVD and so prefer the "Kindertotenlieder" which is nicely sung and beautifully played. The mezzo in "Das Lied" is all right but she seems not as confident musically as the tenor is. Had these two performers stood in front of this excellent chamber ensemble and just performed the works I would certainly have given this bargain DVD a full five stars.