Lied

Bernstein - the Complete Mahler Cycle on DVD
DVD 8/8: Das Lied Von Der Erde
DVD ISO | 3.63 GB | 2005 | PCM Stereo | NTSC 4:3 | Region 0
Cover: N/A | Label: Deutsche Grammophon | 65 minutes

Bernstein Collectors Edition & the Complete Mahler Cycle on DVD
Deutsche Grammophon remembers the legendary Leonard Bernstein

October 14, 2005 will mark the 15th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein's death. This lapse of time has only served to secure Bernstein's prominence as one of the most respected musicians of the 20th century and to affirm his reputation as a master conductor, composer, and teacher. Bernstein's sphere of influence extends past orchestral, operatic, and choral music to Broadway and beyond. His legacy is multiple, including that of a cogent writer, impassioned humanitarian, and engaging lecturer. In all of these capacities, Leonard Bernstein imparted his total enthusiasm for music and its importance in the life of every individual.

Gustav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde. Christa Ludwig (m-sop); Rene Kollo (ten); Berliner Philharmoniker; Herbert von Karajan
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 240 MB | FLAC+LOG+M3U | No cue | Full scans | RS and 4 shared links
Publisher: Deutsche Grammophon

Karajan's way with Mahler is smoother, less anguished or conflicted than many critics like, but he isn't glib or glossy–this is excellent, insightful conducting. I can't imagine why DG doesn't have more faith in this recording or why critics haven't discovered it. It's not as though Karajan is a hidden talent. After collecting Das Lieds from Rattle, Bernstein, Horenstein, Tennstedt, Kubelik, Giulini, Salonen, Sinopoli and Walter–the list goes on–I sitll rank this version almost as high as the Klemperer. Certainly no one has done it better since. - from Amazon.com

In this Carus release, Frieder Bernius leads soloists from Kammerchor Stuttgart in a selection of transcriptions by Clytus Gottwald and original compositions for chorus subdivided into multiple parts, in this case, up to 16 parts. The arrangements, here of songs originally for solo voice and piano, demonstrate Gottwald's mastery of this niche genre; he has also made remarkably effective choral transcriptions of chamber music and work for full orchestra. The arrangements, of songs by Ravel, Debussy, and Schumann, work beautifully as choral music, even as independent compositions, considered apart from their sources.

Mahler considered The Song of the Earth his most personal work, and indeed it is one of his greatest and most moving. Its six sections, sung alternately by the mezzo-soprano and tenor, are set to seven poems from The Chinese Flute, a collection of Chinese lyrics translated into German by Hans Bethge, which echo Mahler's love of nature and contrast the earth's renewal each spring with the transience of human life. Composed after he lost his beloved 4-year-old daughter and was diagnosed with a serious heart ailment, the music encompasses heart-rending anguish and sublime ecstasy; conceived in the shadow of death, it is suffused with a sense of sorrowful, reluctant leave-taking finally transformed into resigned renunciation.