Album

If one comes to these performances of Mahler's three songs cycles without prior knowledge or experience of the music, one might well think them definitive. Each singer is wonderfully suited to the texts. Thomas Quasthoff brings virility and sensitivity to the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. Violeta Urmana brings vivacity and sensuality to the Rückert Lieder. Anne-Sofie von Otter beings gravity and profundity to the Kindentotenlieder. Pierre Boulez brings clarity and lucidity to his conducting and the Vienna Philharmonic brings grace and beauty to its playing. Deutsche Grammophon's sound is fresh, bright, and clean. If one already knows other performances of Mahler's song cycles, one might prefer Fischer-Dieskau, Prey, Hampson, Ludwig, Baker, or Ferrier with Furtwängler, Klemperer, Barbirolli, Böhm, or Haitink. If one does, however, come to the music without prior knowledge or experience, one should probably start with an earlier recording. If one already knows the music, these superlative performances are well worth hearing. But if this is the first time one hears Mahler's endless soulful and infinitely moving song cycles, try Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau or Christa Ludwig.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Gustav Mahler Composer Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen ('Songs of a Wayfarer'), for low voice and piano (or orchestra) Work 16:49 Thomas Quasthoff Bass-baritone, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Pierre Boulez Conductor
1	1.Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht	4:11			$0.99
2	2.Ging heut' Morgen übers Feld	3:52			$0.99
3	3.Ich hab'ein glühend Messer	3:09			$0.99
4	4.Die zwei blauen Augen	5:37			$0.99
Gustav Mahler Composer 7 Lieder (includes 'Rückert Lieder'), for voice and piano (or orchestra) Work 19:36 Violeta Urmana Soprano, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Pierre Boulez Conductor
5	5.Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder! (Rückert Lieder No.1)	1:18			$0.49
6	3.Ich atmet' einen linden Duft (Rückert Lieder No.2)	2:37			$0.99
7	4.Liebst du um Schönheit (Rückert Lieder No.5)	2:45			$0.99
8	6.Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (Rückert Lieder No.3)	7:02			$1.49
9	7.Um Mitternacht (Rückert Lieder No.4)	5:54			$0.99
Gustav Mahler Composer Kindertotenlieder (song cycle) Work 24:39 Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Pierre Boulez Conductor
10	1.Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgehn	5:44			$0.99
11	2.Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen	4:50			$0.99
12	3.Wenn dein Mutterlein tritt zur Tur herein	4:56			$0.99
13	4.Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen!	3:01			$0.99
14	5.In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus	6:08			$0.99