Customer Reviews

Mahler Lieder: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Great Recordings of the Century)

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This is a great failure and unsuccessful remastering by UK EMI of this very important chunk of European culture.

One should compare this CD with the GERMAN Electrola HMV Long-Play record brought out in the seventies and with the golden label marked as "Stereo".

The sonic differences are HUGE...!

On the Electrola, the orchestral sound is akin to a true modern stereophonic recording, in that, that it is wide spread behind the singer (D. Fisher-Dieskau) but not too far away. All the orchestra nuances are audible in a very harmonious manner - on both, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Berlin Orchestra, and every vowel sung by D. Fischer-Diskau is clear and in focus.

UK EMI should have asked their German filial, Electrola, to send them the tape which they so excellently mastered in Germany and from that tape they should have produce the CD.

I have found (again) this Electrola LP (golden label marked stereo) on the internet - you know where - and garbed it presto; now I am in a position to tell you that the UK EMI CD is a total flop; it sound just like an old cleaned-up mono record from the fifties; narrow and tunnel-like in sound (not referring here to the artistry by which these lieder are executed).

My advise; if you really want to enjoy these lieder with Fischer Dieskau /Furtwangler and Kempe, search for the Electrola LP, the one with the golden Stereo label.