Cf Part 2/3
Cf Part 3/3
This paper is dedicated to the memory of my brother Bernard with whom I did so many blind 'disc comps'.

A new complete discography, of one of my favorite works (sorry for my English). Composed for a large orchestra (with celesta and mandolin) in 1908-1909, it is an hybrid score, half lieder, half symphony (chamber style). It’s been written for alto and tenor, the alto being possibly replaced by a baritone if not available (we will find both cases in the discography, even one with a single singer: Kaufman / Nott – but Wunderlich did the baritone part with Klemperer and the alto one in a concert with Krips). And a singer became conductor (DFD).
I skipped the chamber version by Arnold Schoenberg (which he only began, completed by Rainer Riehn) and the original version with piano.

The “BMW” trio: Hans Bethge (1876-1946) who gathered and published old Chinese poems, Gustav Mahler who choose and modified some of them and Bruno Walter who created the work on 20 November 1911 in Munich, six months after Mahler’s death:

There are two legendary recordings: Walter / Wiener Philharmoniker / Patzak / Ferrier in 1952 and Klemperer / Philharmoniker / Wunderlich / Ludwig in 1967.
The first DLVDE recording had been made -live- by  Walter in 1936 in Vienna. Two other conductors who worked with Mahler never recorded it: Mengelberg and Fried. The studio recordings by Mahlerians from the 70′: Bernstein made two: for Decca – 1967, then CBS – 1974, Solti two for Decca: 1972 & 1994, Haitink one -1975 and Kubelík none.

There are at least 102 recordings published (both concert & studio) – see sleeves under – and I had access to 60 of them. It is difficult to compare versions and select some with the first song only: a bad baritone could hide a great alto and vice versa, so I will compare the first two movements (except for some in color) before abandoning some. Wonder if anyone will read all that stuff, but I enjoyed the exercise anyway…

The 60 versions with movement timings:

Bruno Walter

Wiener Philharmoniker

Kerstin Thorborg

Charles Kullman

1936

00:08:33

00:08:41

00:03:37

00:06:23

00:04:17

00:26:57

Carl Schuricht

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Kerstin Thorborg

Carl Martin Oehman

1939

00:08:55

00:09:37

00:03:32

00:06:40

00:04:53

00:19:08

Bruno Walter

New York Philharmonic

Kathleen Ferrier

Set Svanholm

1948

00:08:17

00:08:43

00:03:02

00:06:16

00:04:10

00:27:33

Otto Klemperer

Wiener Symphoniker

Elsa Cavelti

Anton Dermota

1951

00:07:02

00:09:04

00:03:17

00:06:27

00:04:06

00:22:35

Bruno Walter

Wiener Philharmoniker

Kathleen Ferrier

Julius Patzak

1952

00:08:48

00:09:22

00:03:04

00:06:49

00:04:26

00:28:26

Bruno Walter

Wiener Philharmoniker

Kathleen Ferrier

Julius Patzak

1952

00:08:34

00:09:21

00:03:05

00:06:24

00:04:50

00:28:52

Bruno Walter

New York Philharmonic

Elena Nikolaidi

Set Svanholm

1953

00:04:22

00:08:25

00:03:04

00:06:15

00:04:08

00:27:29

Paul Kletzki

Wiener Symphoniker

Oralia Dominguez

Set Svanholm

1954

00:08:08

00:08:47

00:02:57

00:06:14

00:03:58

00:27:39

Eduard van Beinum

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Nan Merriman

Ernst Haefliger

1957

00:08:45

00:09:19

00:03:03

00:06:48

00:04:16

00:28:12

Fritz Reiner

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Christa Ludwig

Richard Lewis

1958

00:08:34

00:10:41

00:03:13

00:06:53

00:04:34

00:30:51

Fritz Reiner

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Maureen Forrester

Richard Lewis

1959

00:08:36

00:08:35

00:03:22

00:06:43

00:04:29

00:29:48

Rafael Kubelík

Wiener Philharmoniker

Hilde Rössel-Majdan

Waldemar Kmentt

1959

00:09:22

00:09:13

00:03:20

00:06:42

00:04:42

00:27:41

Hans Rosbaud

SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden

Grace Hoffman

Helmut Melchert

1960

00:08:41

00:10:48

00:03:29

00:06:36

00:04:32

00:28:47

Bruno Walter

New York Philharmonic

Maureen Forrester

Richard Lewis

1960

00:08:54

00:09:47

00:03:20

00:06:52

00:05:04

00:30:08

Bruno Walter

New York Philharmonic

Mildred Miller

Ernst Haefliger

1963

00:09:33

00:09:52

00:03:10

00:06:46

00:04:27

00:29:04

Paul Kletzki

Philharmonia Orchestra

Murray Dickie

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

1961

00:08:41

00:09:21

00:03:01

00:06:57

00:04:18

00:28:49

Eugen Jochum

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Nan Merriman

Ernst Haefliger

1963

00:08:51

00:08:50

00:03:11

00:06:29

00:04:29

00:26:54

Joseph Krips

Wiener Symphoniker

Fritz Wunderlich

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

1964

00:07:42

00:09:47

00:03:13

00:07:02

00:04:37

00:30:58

Otto Klemperer

Philharmonia Orchestra

Christa Ludwig

Fritz Wunderlich

1967

00:08:06

00:10:11

00:03:43

00:07:46

00:04:45

00:29:32

Carlos Kleiber

Wiener Symphoniker

Christa Ludwig

Waldemar Kmentt

1967

00:08:36

00:09:11

00:03:06

00:06:37

00:04:14

00:26:50

Leonard Bernstein

Wiener Philharmoniker

James King

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

1967

00:08:31

00:11:21

00:03:09

00:00:09

00:04:40

00:31:00

Rafael Kubelik

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Janet Baker

Waldemar Kmentt

1970

00:08:37

00:09:33

00:03:08

00:06:38

00:04:23

00:29:34

Joseph Krips

Wiener Symphoniker

Anna Reynolds

Jess Thomas

1972

00:08:01

00:09:38

00:03:13

00:07:05

00:04:43

00:29:36

Jacha Horenstein

BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra

Alfreda Hodgson

John Mitchinson

1972

Georg Solti

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Yvonne Minton

René Kollo

1972

00:08:37

00:09:39

00:03:07

00:06:56

00:04:20

00:31:42

Leonard Bernstein

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Christa Ludwig

René Kollo

1974

00:08:35

00:10:11

00:03:00

00:07:33

00:04:10

00:30:06

Herbert von Karajan

Berliner Philharmoniker

Christa Ludwig

René Kollo

1975

00:08:52

00:10:08

00:03:22

00:07:19

00:04:27

00:31:49

Bernard Haitink

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Janet Baker

James King

1975

00:08:18

00:10:28

00:03:11

00:07:37

00:04:29

00:31:15

Raymond Leppard

BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra

Janet Baker

John Mitchinson

1977

00:07:59

00:09:59

00:03:16

00:07:16

00:04:37

00:31:10

Walter Susskind

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Lili Chookasian

Richard Cassilly

1977

00:09:01

00:10:32

00:03:20

00:07:10

00:04:29

00:29:54

Lorin Maazel

Orchestra Del Teatro La Fenice Di Venezia

Christine Meyer

Richard Lewis

1982

00:08:31

00:09:47

00:03:05

00:06:18

00:04:32

00:27:54

Colin Davis

London Symphony Orchestra

Jessye Norman

John Vickers

1982

00:07:33

00:11:07

00:02:42

00:07:40

00:04:34

00:34:49

Carlo Maria Giulini

Berliner Philharmoniker

Brigitte Fassbaender

Francisco Araiza

1984

00:08:33

00:09:41

00:03:16

00:07:32

00:04:16

00:30:23

Kurt Sanderling

Berlin Symphony Orchestra

Birgit Finnila

Peter Schreier

1985

00:08:15

00:09:57

00:03:16

00:07:19

00:04:32

00:28:37

Anton Nanut

Radio Symphony Orchestra Ljubljana

Glenys Loulis

Zeger Vandensteene

1991

00:08:50

00:09:14

00:03:19

00:07:31

00:04:42

00:27:34

Klaus Tennstedt

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Agnes Baltsa

Klaus Konig

1992

00:09:48

00:09:59

00:03:12

00:07:34

00:04:50

00:31:28

Daniel Barenboim

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Waltraud Meier

Siegfried Jerusalem

1992

00:07:34

00:08:53

00:02:51

00:07:01

00:04:09

00:29:44

Michael Halasz

National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland

Ruxandra Donose

Thomas Harper,

1995

00:08:02

00:09:01

00:03:08

00:06:36

00:04:25

00:27:18

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

Yvi Janicke

Christian Elsner

1996

00:08:40

00:09:55

00:03:21

00:07:32

00:04:47

00:29:50

Giuseppe Sinopoli

Staatskapelle Dresden

Iris Vermillion

Keith Lewis

1997

00:08:42

00:09:47

00:03:16

00:06:52

00:04:44

00:30:25

Simon Rattle

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Peter Seiffert

Thomas Hampson

1997

00:08:29

00:09:43

00:03:14

00:07:02

00:04:32

00:30:29

James Levine

Berliner Philharmoniker

Jessye Norman

Siegfried Jerusalem

1998

00:08:38

00:10:27

00:03:16

00:07:19

00:04:39

00:32:15

Eiji Oue

Minnesota Orchestra

Michelle DeYoung

Jon Villard

1999

00:09:05

00:10:41

00:03:12

00:07:19

00:04:42

00:27:33

Esa Pekka Salonen

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Placido Domingo

Bo Skovhus

2000

00:08:33

00:09:06

00:03:14

00:07:17

00:04:36

00:28:16

Lorin Maazel

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Waltraud Meier

Ben Heppner

2000

00:09:00

00:09:13

00:03:00

00:06:32

00:04:53

00:29:52

Pierre Boulez

Wiener Philharmoniker

Violeta Urmana

Michael Shade

2001

00:08:32

00:08:35

00:03:02

00:06:52

00:04:35

00:28:56

Martin Sieghart

The Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra

Christiane Stottin

Donald litaker

2007

00:08:03

00:09:04

00:02:59

00:06:46

00:04:05

00:28:08

Michael Tilson-Thomas

San Francisco Symphony

Stuart Skelton

Thomas Hampson

2008

00:08:25

00:09:31

00:03:16

00:06:58

00:04:25

00:30:38

Hans Graf

Houston Symphony Orchestra

Jane Henschel

Gregory Kunde

2009

00:08:38

00:09:30

00:03:16

00:06:57

00:04:30

00:29:43

Kent Nagano

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

Klaus Florian Vogt

Christian Gerhaher

2009

00:08:29

00:09:38

00:03:11

00:06:48

00:04:10

00:29:07

Lan Shui

Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Ning Liang

Warren Mok

2009

00:08:57

00:10:11

00:03:09

00:07:30

00:04:58

00:28:16

Michael Gelen

SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden

Cornelia Kallisch

Siegfried Jerusalem

2011

00:08:19

00:10:13

00:03:02

00:07:15

00:04:35

00:30:04

Vladimir Ashkenazy

Sydney Symphony

Lilli Paasikivi

Stuart Skelton

2011

00:08:38

00:09:03

00:03:10

00:06:26

00:04:32

00:28:10

Eliahu Inbal

Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra

Iris Vermillion

Robert Gambill

2012

00:08:18

00:09:24

00:02:58

00:06:50

00:04:07

00:26:40

Marc Albrecht

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

Alice Coote

Burkhard Fritz

2013

00:08:18

00:09:41

00:03:01

00:07:40

00:04:29

00:29:50

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Sarah Connolly

Toby Spence

2013

00:08:05

00:09:34

00:03:02

00:07:21

00:04:18

00:31:43

David Zinman

Tonhalle Orchester Zurich

Susan Graham

Christian Elsner

2014

00:08:37

00:09:58

00:03:06

00:07:13

00:04:12

00:29:45

Norichika Iimori

Japan Century Symphony Orchestra

Kei Yonashiro

Kei Fukui

2015

00:08:02

00:09:43

00:02:59

00:07:00

00:04:05

00:28:03

Jonathan Nott

Wiener Philharmoniker

Jonas Kaufmann

Jonas Kaufmann

2017

00:08:06

00:09:57

00:03:08

00:06:56

00:04:26

00:28:33

Zubin Mehta

Münchner Philharmoniker

Peter Seiffert

Thomas Hampson

2017

00:08:30

00:09:10

00:03:09

00:06:51

00:04:23

00:26:31

Jonathan Nott

Bamberger Symphoniker

Stephen Gadd

Roberto Saccá

2017

00:08:02

00:10:18

00:03:05

00:07:15

00:04:15

00:28:29

Simon Rattle

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Magdalena Kozená

Stuart Skelton

2018

00:08:12

00:09:37

00:03:02

00:07:13

00:04:36

00:31:28

To begin with, comments on the work by Lenny:

I put some videos of featured artists – many recordings can be heard on YT.

1 – The Drinking Song of Earth’s Misery – 2 – The Lonely one in autumn

No tempo indications. Selected versions range from 7′ to almost 10′. It’s indicated at the beginning Allegro pesante, nicht schnell.
4 main themes in this movement:
1 – Horns, mm. 1-3

2 – Two solo violins, mm. 179-185

3 – ‘Extasy’ melody – From Tristan mm. 121-125

4 – Refrain, tenor, mm. 81-89

The wine beckons in golden goblets
but drink not yet; first I’ll sing you a song.
The song of sorrow shall ring laughingly in your soul.
When the sorrow comes, blasted lie the gardens of the soul,
wither and perish joy and singing.
Dark is life, dark is death!

Master of this house,
your cellar is full of golden wine!
Here, this lute I call mine.
The lute to strike and the glasses to drain,
these things go well together.
A full goblet of wine at the right time
is worth more than all the kingdoms of this earth.
Dark is life, dark is death!

The heavens are ever blue and the Earth
shall stand sure, and blossom in the spring.
But you O man, what long life have you?
Not a hundred years may you delight
in all the rotten baubles of this earth.
See down there! In the moonlight, on the graves
squats a wild ghostly shape;
an ape it is! Hear you his howl go out
in the sweet fragrance of life.
Now! Drink the wine! Now it is time comrades.
Drain your golden goblets to the last.
Dark is life, dark is death!

The second movement‘s duration goes from 8’15 to 11’21…
1 – Oboe – mm. 3-21

2 – with a violin accompaniment – mm. 1-3:

3 – Arch shape vocal line – mm. 25-31
4 – Rocking figure – Cello – mm. 19-20

Autumn fog creeps bluishly over the lake.
Every blade of grass stands frosted.
As though an artist had jade-dust
over the fine flowers strewn.

The sweet fragrance of flower has passed;
A cold wind bows their stems low.
Soon will the wilted, golden petals
of lotus flowers upon the water float.

My heart is tired. My little lamp
expires with a crackle, minding me to sleep.
I come to you, trusted resting place.
Yes, give me rest, I have need of refreshment!

I weep often in my loneliness.
Autumn in my heart lingers too long.
Sun of love, will you no longer shine
to gently dry up my bitter tears?

Bruno Walter (1876-1962) – Wiener Philharmoniker – Kerstin Thorborg (1896-1970) – Charles Kullman (1903-1983) – 1936

1 – Old sound of course, difficulties at the violins at the beginning (live recording), very Viennese otherwise. Charles Kulman is generally quoted as a tenor though he could sing heavier roles – his voice sounds like one of an older man (he was then 33), a little bit like Patzak ; thus it is very well sung – a little sprechgesang style – all indications very well followed. 7.5
2 – Kerstin Thorborg is rather prim, beautiful conducting though. 7.5 This is the first complete recording (excerpts exist by Talich (1934) & Fried (1936)).

Carl Schuricht (1880-1967) – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – Kerstin Thorborg  – Carl Martin Oehman (1887-1967) – 1939

1 – Wagnerian voice, a little heavy, but at ease in this rather slow tempo; more tones and clarity at the orchestra than the previous, better articulations too (Mengelberg?). 8
2 – Orchestra not really clean (live) , same remark for the singer. 7.5

Bruno Walter (1876-1962) – New York Philharmonic – Kathleen Ferrier (1912-1953) – Set Svanholm (1904-1964) – 1948

1 – A live recording, a little hesitant sometimes as for the singer. A document. 7

Otto Klemperer (1885-1973) – Wiener Symphoniker – Elsa Cavelti (1907-2001) – Anton Dermota (1910-1989) – 1951

1 – Faster tempo. Beautiful voice -maybe a little light- and singing line. The tempo makes you think a little of cabaret music, which is not so much off topic… Tense and beautiful end. 8
2 – Superb motive 2, pace and atmosphere, but a rather placid singer. 7.5

Bruno Walter (1876-1962) – Wiener Philharmoniker – Kathleen Ferrier (1912-1953) -Julius Patzak (1898-1974) – 1952

1 – Glowing orchestra – very lively orchestral sound, the most powerful lecture so far. I didn’t recall Patzak was so ‘singing’. A little tunnel in the middle though. 8.5
2 – Distorded sound. You hardly recognize Ferrier. 6.5

Bruno Walter (1876-1962) – Wiener Philharmoniker – Kathleen Ferrier (1912-1953) – Julius Patzak (1898-1974) – 1952

1 – Given apprently a day after the recording session (see http://gustavmahler.net.free.fr/daslied.html). Voice is closer, less refined, the orchestra, is about the same, beautiful timbres. 8
2 – Beginning less stunning than Klemperer, it is funny, I thought I was knowing this by heart and I am almost disappointed by Ferrier’s voice. I’ll keep it though. 7.5

Bruno Walter (1876-1962) – New York Philharmonic – Elena Nikolaidi (1909-2002) – Set Svanholm (1904-1964) – 1953

1 – One wonders how many times Walter conducted this work… Set Svanholm sounds much more ‘à l’aise’ than 5 y. before. A steady voice, but again a little exterior. Walter is efficient as usual. 7.5

Paul Kletzki (1900-1973) – Wiener Symphoniker – Oralia Dominguez (1925-2013) – Set Svanholm (1904-1964) – 1954

1 – The conducting is more metronomic here, nicely detailed in the central section though (mm. 201-252), Svanholm the same as above, with some effects he didn’t do before. 7

Eduard van Beinum (1901-1959) – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – Nan Merriman (1920-2012) – Ernst Haefliger (1919-2007) – 1957

1 – Mengelbergs’ successor in Amsterdam. The best orchestra heard to now, all indications followed. Haeffliger much more persuasive than Svanholm. The whole is vivid and almost dramatic. 8.5
2 – A deception, the conducting lacks of warmth, great voice though. 7.5

Fritz Reiner (1888-1963) – Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Christa Ludwig (1928*) – Richard Lewis (1914-1990) – 1958

1 – This a live recording. I guess C. Ludwig didn’t participate at the official recordiing for contractual reasons. Distant sound, good conducting, a little straight, good singing too but everything is far away. 7

Fritz Reiner (1888-1963) – Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Maureen Forrester (1930-2010) – Richard Lewis (1914-1990) – 1959

1 – The same ones, of course a much better sound in studio. It’s not very moving, both rather cold, but it is very well sung and the orchestra is superb -brass almost too much-,  implacable conducting. 8
2 – Slow tempo – large voice, superb orchestra and conducting, a sensation of ‘too much’ though. 8

Rafael Kubelík (1914-1996) – Wiener Philharmoniker – Hilde Rössel-Majdan (1921-2010) – Wlademar Kmentt (1929-2015) – 1959

1 – Orchestra a little hesitant at the beginning, then very detailed and beautifully phrased. Kmentt is good. A peaceful reading at a very slow tempo. 7.5
2 – It is lacking of inner tension, singer vibrates a lot. 7
(Kubelík did Der Abschied with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in 1963, in a concert in memory of Ferenc Fricsay).

Hans Rosbaud (1895-1962) – SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden – Grace Hoffman (1925-2008) – Helmut Melchert (1910-1991) – 1960

1 – A rather expressionist singer, with many modulations, appealing. Lively conducting, rather good orchestra – invasive glockenspiel. 8
2 – One of the slowest version. Maybe the most satisfying alto up to now…  Big relief at the orchestra. 8.5

Bruno Walter (1876-1962) – New York Philharmonic –
Maureen Forrester (1930-2010) – Richard Lewis (1914-1990) – 1960

1 – Live – given few days before the following and last Walter’s studio recording. Orchestral playing not completely clean. Lewis again a little distant. 7.5
2 – Many noises. Though I recall stunning Bach cantatas with Scherchen, the voice is here annoying. 7

Bruno Walter (1876-1962) – New York Philharmonic – Mildred Miller (1924*) – Ernst Haefliger (1919-2007) – 1960

1 – Orchestra a little reverberated and distant. Sensible singing, soft side. A rather placid lecture at a (too much?) slow tempo. 7.5
2 – Big voice, great style, animated and phrased playing. 8.5

Paul Kletzki (1900-1973) – Philharmonia Orchestra – Murray Dickie (1924-1995) – Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925-2012) – 1961

1 – Detailed orchestra, but a rather harsh lecture, strings emphasized, good singing. Impressive but not moving. 7.5

Eugen Jochum (1902-1987) – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – Nan Merriman (1920-2012) – Ernst Haefliger (1919-2007) – 1963

1- DG did not dare to make Kubelík record it, since they had this version in their catalogue already. Ernst Haefliger is more engaged here, best appearance so far with Patzak and Melchert if not the best one. Superb orchestra, the best for this work? (always thought the Concertgebouw and the Bavarian radio were the most suitable for Mahler’s music). Drive and sense of architecture from Jochum. 9
2 – Not my favorite singer, but she is better here than with Beinum. Superb orchestra, a little extrovert maybe. 8.5

Joseph Krips (1902-1974) – Wiener Symphoniker – Fritz Wunderlich (1930-1966) – Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925-2012) – 1964

1 – Live – Fast tempo, steady singing from Wunderlich, of course one of the most beautiful tenor voice ever. Not the best orchestral timbres to say the least. 7.

Otto Klemperer – Philharmonia Orchestra – Christa Ludwig (1928*) – Fritz Wunderlich (1930-1966) – 1967

1 – From the horns theme you feel it  will be ‘aristocratic’. Wunderlich is a little less expressionist than in concert. Superb fusion solo / orchestra (and balance). Wonderful interlude, the overall is a little bit cold maybe but you are stuck towards the end. 8.5
2 – Slow. Superb articulations, balance soloist / orchestra, wonderful timbres, great singing. 9

Carlos Kleiber (1930-2004) – Wiener Symphoniker – Christa Ludwig (1928*) – Waldemar Kmentt (1929-2015) – 1967

1 – Rather bad sound, thick orchestral image. The orchestral part sounds more like an accompaniment. 6.5

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) – Wiener Philharmoniker – James King (1925-2005) – Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925-2012) – 1967

1 – A very decided and dynamic lecture, singer integrated to the orchestra, exactly the contrary of the Kleiber live. Very good singing – orchestra sometimes too loud. 8.5
2 – The first male singer. Very slow tempo. It works very well, appealing, indications followed to the max if not exagerrated. 8

Rafael Kubelik (1914-1996) – Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks – Janet Baker (1933*) – Waldemar Kmentt (1929-2015) – 1970

1 – Rather global sound. Kmentt here more meaningful. Warm and poetic lecture (interlude!), in contrast with Bernstein’s. 8
2 – Superb, not any excess here, just poetry and beautiful singing. 9

Joseph Krips (1902-1974) – Wiener Symphoniker – Anna Reynolds (1931-2014) – Jess Thomas (1927-1993) – 1972

1 – Affected singing – Rather prosaic lecture. 6

Jacha Horenstein (1898-1973) – BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra – Alfreda Hodgson (1940-1992) – John Mitchinson (1932*) – 1972

1 – (Live – YT) – Vivid lecture, good singer, not a first class orchestra. Balance problems. 7.5

Georg Solti (1912-1997) – Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Yvonne Minton (1938*) – René Kollo (1937*) – 1972

1 – Curiously rather bad sound from Decca, Kollo is far away. Straight and exterior conducting. 6

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) – Israel Philharmonic Orchestra – Christa Ludwig (1928*) – René Kollo (1937*) – 1974

1 – Rather bad sound again – treble emphasized, average orchestra. Kollo is here better than with Solti. If Bernstein gets some animation, we don’t feel any conception. 6.5

Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) – Berliner Philharmoniker – Christa Ludwig (1928*) – René Kollo (1937*) – 1975

1 – Again René Kollo and the first recording with Berlin. Good alliance soloist/orchestra. Hedonist, automnal, softer than dramatic but beautiful passages. 7.5
2 – The Fliessend m. 33 is too soft and slow. Good singing from Ludwig, less concerned than with Klemperer. Rather annoying. 7.5

Bernard Haitink (1929*) – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – Janet Baker – James King – 1975

1 – Much more engaged lecture: back to Mahler after HvK… Good singing but not really appealing. Definitely the best orchestra. 8
2 – Beautiful atmosphere, Baker better recorded than with Kubelík, tempo a little slow for my taste. 8

Raymond Leppard (1927*) – BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra – Janet Baker (1933*) – John Mitchinson (1932*) – 1977

1 – A curiosity (Marinner didn’t do it…).  Singer far away, Nothing happens in this rather prosaic lecture. 6

Walter Susskind 1913-1980) – Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra – Lili Chookasian (1921-2012) – Richard Cassilly (1927-1998) – 1977

1 – Slow tempo, rather bad sound recording, good singing but the result is boring. 6

Lorin Maazel (1930-2014) – Orchestra Del Teatro La Fenice Di Venezia – Christine Meyer (?) – Richard Lewis (1914-1990) – 1982

1 – Old sound, bad orchestra. 5

Colin Davis (1927-2013) – London Symphony Orchestra – Jessye Norman (1945*) – John Vickers (1926-2015) – 1982

1 – One of the fastest tempi. Vickers does what he can, but interests which is not the case of the orchestra, rather flat. 6.5

Carlo Maria Giulini (1914-2005) – Berliner Philharmoniker – Brigitte Fassbaender (1939*) – Francisco Araiza (1950*) – 1984

1 – Besides DLVDE, Giulini made only M1 & M9. Back to Berlin. A tenor with a small projection. Beautiful orchestra but it lacks of drive. 7

Kurt Sanderling (1912-2011) – Berlin Symphony Orchestra – Birgit Finnila (1931*) – Peter Schreier (1935*) – 1985

1 – Still East-Berlin at that time. Reverberated and a little distant sound. A very good tenor this time, animation, plenty of atmosphere. 8.5
2 – Rather fast tempo. Big and expressive voice, Rather dark and cold. 7.5

Anton Nanut (1932-2017) – Radio Symphony Orchestra Ljubljana – Glenys Loulis [Linos ?] (1941*) – Zeger Vandensteene (1940*) – 1991

1 – Though frequently appearing on cheap labels, Nanut was a great conductor, not well known in western countries. Good tenor, a little mannered. A rather restful lecture. 7.5
2 – Operatic singing, vibrato, good conducting though. 7.5

Klaus Tennstedt (1926-1998) – London Philharmonic Orchestra – Agnes Baltsa (1944*) – Klaus Konig (1934*) – 1992

1 – Slow tempo. Too slow for me: singing lacks of impact, stretched phrasing at the orchestra. Interesting though. 7.5
2 – A little fluctuating, as for HvK, m. 33 too slow, low tension singing. 7

Daniel Barenboim (1942*) – Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Waltraud Meier (1956*) – Siegfried Jerusalem (1940*) – 1992

1 – Fast tempo. Singer distant and mellow, Not very exciting despite interesting details at the orchestra. 7

Michael Halasz (1938*) – National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland – Ruxandra Donose (1964*) – Thomas Harper (?) – 1995

1 – Dull sound. Sung like Schubert, rather ugly tones. 6

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925-2012) – Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR – Yvi Janicke (1959*) – Christian Elsner (1965*) – 1996

1 – Live – The conductor doesn’t hold the tempo, uninteresting. 5

Giuseppe Sinopoli (1946-2001) – Staatskapelle Dresden – Iris Vermillion (1960*) – Keith Lewis (1950*) – 1997

1 – Nervous conducting, brass emphasized, made you think of Das klagende Lied, good singing. Original. 8
2 – Animation, same style as N° 1. Warm and concerned singing. 8.5

Simon Rattle (1955*) – City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra – Peter Seiffert (1954*) – Thomas Hampson (1955*) – 1997

1 –  Animated orchestra, big slow down before the interlude, good singing, almost like joyful. A pleasant version. 7.5

James Levine (1943*) – Berliner Philharmoniker – Jessye Norman (1945*) – Siegfried Jerusalem (1940*) – 1998

1 – Siegfried Jerusalem is better recorded than with Barenboim. Animated conducting, it is lively and well agenced, with soft but beautiful tones. 8
2 – Like Ferrier, a voice far away from the standards. The orchestra sounds small in comparison… Beautiful though. 8

Eiji Oue (1956*) – Minnesota Orchestra – Michelle DeYoung (1968*) – Jon Villard (?) – 1999

1- No information about the singer. Big voice, slow tempo, very well conducted with a great sense of musical lines. 8
2 – Strings a little soft, voice not very clear, good conducting and nice atmosphere anyway. 7.5

Esa Pekka Salonen (1958*) – Los Angeles Philharmonic – Placido Domingo (1941*) – Bo Skovhus (1962*) – 2000

1 – Good idea to cast Domingo. Some tunnels, conducting rather febrile. 7

Lorin Maazel (1930-2014) – Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks – Waltraud Meier (1956*) – Ben Heppner (1956*) – 2000

1 – Tense singing, tempo fluctuations, but altogether a rather powerful and interesting version. 7.5
2 – Great conducting (yes), a German soprano, altogether convincing. 8.5

Pierre Boulez (1925-2016) – Wiener Philharmoniker – Violeta Urmana (1961*) – Michael Shade (?) – 2001

1 – Recording a little distant, no reproach to make, it just doesn’t concern much the listener. 7

Martin Sieghart (1951*) – The Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra – Christiane Stottin (?) – Donald Litaker (?) – 2007

1 – Not the best orchestra, some details perfectible, nothing very good as for the soloist or the orchestra. 7

Michael Tilson-Thomas (1944*) – San Francisco Symphony – Stuart Skelton (1968*) – Thomas Hampson (1955*) – 2008

1 – Nice details, rather metronomic, Tenor far away and lacks of presence. 7

Hans Graf (1949*) – Houston Symphony Orchestra – Jane Henschel (1952*) – Gregory Kunde (1954*) – 2009

1 – Everything sounds very light; off topic, agreable though. 7

Kent Nagano (1951*) – Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal – Klaus Florian Vogt (1970*) – Christian Gerhaher (1969*) – 2009

1 – I heard them live in Paris at that time and got bored. Same here. The tenor seems singing some Lortzing… 6

Lan Shui (1957*) – Singapore Symphony Orchestra – Ning Liang (?) – Warren Mok (?) – 2009

1 – The version sung in Chinese – since Hans Bethge collected the poems mostly from French collections, maybe once a French version?
Good tenor though and elegant conducting. 7

Michael Gielen (1927*) – SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden – Cornelia Kallisch (1956*) – Siegfried Jerusalem (1940*) – 2011

1 – Happy to listen to a great conductor. It’s animated, detailed but with wit; just Jerusalem was more present with Levine. 8
2 – Again great conducting, rather placid singing. 7.5

Vladimir Ashkenazy (1937*) – Sydney Symphony – Lilli Paasikivi (1965*) – Stuart Skelton (1968*) – 2011

1 – Recorded in a station hall? Languid. 6

Eliahu Inbal (1936*) – Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra – Iris Vermillion (1960*) – Robert Gambill (1955*) – 2012

1 – Animated conducting, slows down at the tenor’s entries.  Rather muffled sound. 7.5 
2 – Superb introduction, singing a little overarticulated but expressive. 8

Marc Albrecht (1964*) – Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra – Alice Coote (1968*) – Burkhard Fritz (1970*) – 2013

1 – Not a very steady conducting. Tunnels. 6

Yannick Nézet-Séguin (1975*) – London Philharmonic Orchestra – Sarah Connolly (1963*) – Toby Spence (1969*) – 2013

1 – Imaginative conducting, tenor not really convincing. 7.5
2 – Again a fast tempo. Nothing remarquable, but no critic either. 7.5

David Zinman (1936*) – Tonhalle Orchester Zurich – Susan Graham (1960*) – Christian Elsner (1965*) – 2014

1 – Sound lacks of presence. It’s not very exciting, they all should have had a drink before? 7

Norichika Iimori 1963*) – Japan Century Symphony Orchestra – Kei Yonashiro (?) – Kei Fukui (1963*) – 2015

1 – Japanese singers. Rather inconsistant. 6

Jonathan Nott (1962*) – Wiener Philharmoniker – Jonas Kaufmann (1969*) – 2016

1 – It is not an error: Jonas Kaufmann sings alone the whole thing. I liked many of M symphonic recordings by Jonathan Nott at Bamberg. Beautiful atmosphere, animation, integration singer / orchestra; violins divided, beautiful orchestral image. 8
2 – So the same singer… It works less well than with DFD, sounds both heavy and prim. Beutiful orchestra. 7.5

Zubin Mehta (1936*) – Münchner Philharmoniker- Peter Seiffert  (1954*) – Thomas Hampson (1955*) – 2017

1 – Pleasant conducting, rather global, Seiffert a little distant. A good version, lacks of tension. 7

Jonathan Nott (1962*) – Bamberger Symphoniker – Roberto Saccá (1961*) – Stephen Gadd (1964*) – 2017

1 – Faster than in Vienna. The orchestra is not at the same level. Tenor not convincing. 7

Simon Rattle (1955*) – Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks – Magdalena Kozená (1973*) – Stuart Skelton (1968*) – 2018

1 – Not a steady conducting, many intentions, soft tones, but poetic. 7.5
2 – Some hardnesses in the voice, but with presence. The conductor seems to be more concerned by local – and beautiful – atmospheres than with the global structure. 7.5

So for the following movements, I will keep:
Eugen Jochum, Otto Klemperer 1, Rafael Kubelik 2, Hans Rosbaud, Leonard Bernstein 1, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Eduard van Beinum, Fritz Reiner, Bruno Walter – NY, Bernard Haitink, Kurt Sanderling, James Levine, Lorin Maazel, Jonathan Nott 2, Carl Schuricht, Otto Klemperer 2, Bruno Walter – Vienna, Eiji Oue, Michael Gelen & Eliahu Inbal.

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