Boulez: Schoenberg – Gurre-Leider, 4 Songs op. 22 (2 CD, APE)

Composer: Arnold Schoenberg
Performer: Siegmund Nimsgern, Yvonne Minton, Jess Thomas, Kenneth Bowen, Gunter Reich, Marita Napier
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Pierre Boulez
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Sony
Size: 476 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc 1:
01. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Orchestral Prelude
02. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Nun dämpft die Damm’rung jeden Ton (Waldemar)
03. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/O, wenn des Mondes Strahlen leise gleiten (Tove)
04. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Ross! Mein Ross! Was schleichst du so träg! (Waldemar)
05. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Sterne jubeln, das Meer, es leuchtet (Tove)
06. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/So tanzen die Engel vor Gottes Thron nicht (Waldemar)
07. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Nun sag ich dir zum ersten Mal (Tove)
08. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Es ist Mitternachtszeit (Waldemar)
09. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Du sendest mir einen Liebesblick (Tove)
10. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Du wunderliche Tove! (Waldemar)
11. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Tauben von Gurre! Sorge quält mich (Stimme der Waltaube)

Disc 2:
01. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Herrgott, weisst du, was du tatest (Waldemar)
02. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Erwacht, König Waldemars Mannen wert! (Waldemar)
03. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Deckel des Sarges klappert und klappt (Bauer)
04. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Gegrüsst, o König, an Gurre-Seestrand (Waldemars Mannen)
05. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Mit Toves Stimme flustert der Wald (Waldemar)
06. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Ein seltsamer Vogel ist so’n Aal (Klauss-Narr)
07. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Du strenger Richter droben (Waldemar)
08. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Der Hahn erhebt den Kopf zur Kraht (Waldemars Mannen)
09. Gurre-Lieder for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra/Orchester – Vorspiel/Melodrama – Herr Gansefuss, Frau Gansekraut (Sprecher)/Seht die Sonne (Gemischter Chor)
10. Four Orchestral Songs, Op. 22/I. Seraphita
11. Four Orchestral Songs, Op. 22/II. Alle, welche dich suchen
12. Four Orchestral Songs, Op. 22/III. Mach mich zum Wächter deiner Weiten
13. Four Orchestral Songs, Op. 22/IV. Vorgefühl

A Magical Interpretation

Boulez, even being the genius that he is, has many recordings that are spotty or just not so good. This, however, has to be by far the best interpretation of the piece I have ever heard. Being my favorite piece of music, naturally I have all the recordings (that have been released on CD). The sound quality of the recording is also better than most of the others, however the editing is a bit funny, as though the orchestra wasn’t big enough. For example, all of the harp solos sound edited as if they only had one harp (instead of the four needed) and went back later and added them in. This recording being from a live performance, the over dubbing doesn’t sound too hot. With that being said, there are a few mistakes here and there, but over all the orchestra sounds absolutely unbelievable, and the singers/ soloist marvelous. Boulez and his orchestra will leave you in tears. This recording is an absolute must have for anyone who’s a fan of this piece.