Customer Reviews

Mahler: Songs of a Wayfarer / Kindertotenlieder / Ruckert Lieder

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

 

 

This is one of my desert island recordings. The communication between Barbirolli and Dame Janet Baker was at an unbelievably high level. The Rueckert songs are almost unbearable in their intensity and beauty. If you never hear another Mahler performance in your life outside of "Ich bin der Welt Abhanden gekommen" interpreted by these two sublime artists, then you will have experienced all there is to know about Mahler, the spiritual power of music and the dedication of two artists. Shattering....

This is an absolutely sublime, deeply moving recording. I was hooked the first time I heard it, and my appreciation of it keeps growing. I've been sitting here at the computer trying to write down why I think this is a good recording, but I can't express it in words. The combination of Mahler and Baker produce something that is profound and compelling. That's the best that I can describe it.

I usually order good quality used items on purpose, because that is the green thing to do. When I received my CD, there were some unexpected library tags on the case and booklet. It's not a big deal but since I was giving this CD as a gift, I would like to have known in advance. They were a bit tricky to pull off and I did have to damage the booklet a little bit. However the music is lovely so it will all be good.

Somehow until today, I think, I had managed not to have ever heard Janet Baker's "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen" of Mahler. It is very touching and brings out what a gorgeous voice she had, as she makes this transcendentally sad music speak of deep peace. I suppose it is only because she has never been one of my favorites, especially in lieder recital, that I missed this very lovely musical apotheosis. The arch, studied quality of some of her readings, to my ears, is absent here, to great effect. I recently have listened to Margaret Price's incredible Toronto recital of 1984, which I downloaded from the the wonderful file-sharing group, where she gives a very different, but equally transcendental performance of the piece. And of course, I always have Christa Ludwig in mind with this great reflective music . All her performances of it were great, but the video they play on Classic Arts Showcase is just the most world-affirming thing in the world for me. Be in the world, but not of it.