Mahler Lieder: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Great Recordings of the Century) [Original recording remastered]

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Performer), Gustav Mahler (Composer), Wilhelm Furtwängler (Conductor), Rudolf Kempe (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Daniel Barenboim (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Daniel Barenboim
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra of London, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Wilhelm Furtwängler, Rudolf Kempe
• Composer: Gustav Mahler
• Audio CD (April 10, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00005AVMM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,602 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage perfection, October 16, 2001

By 

Robert Bezimienny (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mahler Lieder: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

The Philharmonia Orchestra under Furtwangler accompany Fischer-Dieskau in the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, and these performances alone make this CD treasurable. The singing is fresh and involving, but the orchestral work really stands out - just perfect, and this from a conductor who allegedly didn't think too much of Mahler! The Kindertotenlieder are also beautifully done, this time with Kempe and the Berlin Philhamonic. The sound in both these vintage sessions (1953 & 1955) is simply phenomenal - the mellifluous tone and lack of digital harshness put no barriers between the listener and the performers. In fact, the later (1980) selections, where Fischer-Dieskau is accompanied by Barenboim on piano, are less pleasant in this respect as well as being, for mine, less memorable generally. Nevertheless for over forty minutes of sheer musical wonder this disc deserves its place in EMI's self-declared pantheon of great recordings.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shattering version of Kindertotenlieder, August 5, 2006

By 

Don M. Hulbert (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mahler Lieder: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

This is the version of "Kindertotenlieder" that I first heard while in college, and so far it remains my favorite (in my opinion the definitive) recording. All those involved -- Fischer-Dieskau, the orchestra and Maestro Kempe -- catch every nuance, but it is Mr. Fischer Dieskau's rendering of the text that makes it especially poignant. For example, in the third song "Wenn Dein Mutterlein Tritt Zur Tur Herein," the steadiness of the orchestra's rhythm contrasts exquisitely with the anguished English horn solo, and Fischer-Dieskau vivid protrays a grieving father, reminded at the most mundane moments in daily life of his child's absence. I actually can't listen to this recording too often, since on of my sisters died (many years ago) and it simply hits too close to home. The other pieces recorded, "Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen," excerpts of "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" and the "Ruckertlieder" are equally well performed.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Sublime, especially for the price!, February 3, 2007

By 

B. Marold "Bruce W. Marold" (Bethlehem, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mahler Lieder: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

This CD reissue of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau doing three of Mahler's suites of 'orchestral songs' is one of the finest side effects of the advent of the CD medium. To get these important works done by such a stellar performer for less than $12 is a wonder. At this price, one can easily have more than one performance of these pieces, even more than one by Fischer-Dieskau. I like Herr Dietrich doing Mahler much more than I like his Schubert or other earlier 'lieder' composers.