Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde

Read About This Recording

Mahler has come a long way in the last 100 years. Considered initially to be a conductor with compositional aspirations, he is regarded more and more as possibly one of the greatest composers of the Romantic style. There are two conductors of the modern era that actually worked with Mahler, one being Bruno Walter and the other Otto Klemperer. Mahler recommended Klemperer for his first important conducting post and, while Bruno Walter conducted the posthumous first performances of this work, Klemperer remained one of its greatest champions.

The story behind the music is very tragic. His beloved daughter had just died at age four and he had just learned he had a terrible heart condition. During this difficult period he was able to find consolation in Chinese poetry. He then created this work which, arguably, can be considered a symphonic as well as a vocal work. The score is emotional and melancholy and gorgeous. Mahler told Bruno Walter it was the most personal work he had ever composed.

The vocals by Christa Ludwig and Fritz Wunderlich need no introduction. This recording is one of the proudest moments of the recorded era with Otto Klemperer allowing us to hear this beautiful, magnificent work.

—Jeffrey R. Nissim

Quotes

"Not likely to be outshone for a long time … the most accomplished account vocally and the orchestra is on superb form." —Gramophone

Contents

Christa Ludwig, Mezzo-Soprano; Fritz Wunderlich, Tenor; Philharmonia Orchestra; New Philharmonia Orchestra; Otto Klemperer, Conductor.