Composer: Gustav Mahler
Performer: Magdalena Kožená, Christian Gerhaher
Orchestra: Cleveland Orchestra
Conductor: Pierre Boulez
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Catalogue: 4779060
Release: 2010
Size: 316 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Des Knaben Wunderhorn (1899 version)
01. Der Schildwache Nachtlied
02. Verlor’ne Müh
03. Trost im Unglück
04. Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?
05. Das irdische Leben
06. Revelge
07. Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt
08. Rheinlegendchen
09. Lied des Verfolgten im Turm
10. Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen
11. Lob des hohen Verstandes
12. Der Tamboursg’sell
Symphony No. 10 in F-Sharp Major (Unfinished)
13. Adagio
Pierre Boulez adds the two last missing bricks to complete his Mahler discography on Deutsche Grammophon. Recorded live in concert with the Cleveland Orchestra the program brings together the early orchestral song cycle from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, featuring mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and baritone Christian Gerhaher with the late Adagio of Mahler’s fragmentary Symphony No. 10
The concert took place only a few months before Gustav Mahler’s 150 Birthday. The concert is also part of the celebrations of Pierre Boulez’ 85 birthday this year.
“The undoubted star of the “Wunderhorn” songs was Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozená, whose plush voice and dramatic flair handily captured the essences of scenes steeped in the miseries of war, poverty, and ephemeral love.” (Plain Dealer, Cleveland)
“The reading under Boulez was one of extremes, marked by crushing softness, biting dissonance, and throat-grabbing peaks. Yet it was also cool and insightful, elucidating how the score’s modest themes unfold and accumulate weight to magnificent effect over time.” (Plain Dealer, Cleveland)
“This performance had the hallmarks of the great Boulez/Cleveland Orchestra collaboration: precision of sound and tuning, transparency of texture with details being elucidated, flexibility of rhythm appropriate to this last of the great Viennese symphonists, but without being overwrought.” (ClevelandClassical.com, Cleveland)