Mahler: Kindertotenlier / Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (with Schumann - Liederkreis) (Rec 1952-1955)

MusicWeb - Recording of the Year 2008

"Naxos have reissued a series of historic recordings which give the opportunity to hear again performers and recordings through whom many of us became familiar with the great classical works. They are lightly re-mastered and offer the convenience of CD format. This disc of the famous German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau singing lieder is from that series.

This selection is historic from a range of perspectives. The Schubert songs are from early in the singer's lengthy and successful partnership with the pianist Gerald Moore. The recording of Mahler was made at a time when this was a bold step, his work having been banned by the Nazis and being little-known at that time outside the German-speaking world. This disc gives the listener the feeling of a slice of musical history - as well as some very fine singing-all for the usual bargain price. …The Songs of a Wayfarer were recorded as time unexpectedly remained available after the recording of Fischer-Dieskau's first - and highly successful-major operatic recording, Tristan und Isolde (also available in this series, Naxos 8.110321-24). This short cycle is an early work, a setting for large orchestra and voice of poems by Mahler himself, written shortly after the break-up of a love affair. There is a progression of contrasting emotions as the work develops. Although there are other fine and enjoyable recordings, for me Fischer-Dieskau's voice is the quintessential one which I associate with this work, and it was a pleasure to hear it again. The voice of the singer as a relatively young man suits the work, written in the composer's early years. His first appearance at the Salzburg Festival, in 1951-a year before this recording, was to perform this work under this conductor.

Kindertotenlieder is for a smaller orchestra, without brass but with double woodwind (horns being particularly prominent), and sets verses by Rückert on the theme of the deaths of children. The composer recalls the loss of several of his brothers in childhood. This recording is from the first batch made after Rudolf Kempe was appointed to replace Furtwängler as conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, in 1955. The singer captures exquisitely the sense of loss and mourning. The quality of orchestral playing is also excellent, and this adds up to a really outstanding version-its sound simple, plaintive, moving and expressive.

Schumann sets a series of twelve poems by Joseph Eichendorff as a cycle. It starts with 'Far from Home' and ends with a brief love song, Fruhlingsnacht, including on the way one of Schumann's best known and loved songs Mondnacht ('Moonlight'). Fischer-Dieskau is accompanied by his long-time collaborator, Gerald Moore, at the piano. The more intimate sound-world here contrasts with Mahler's later treatment of similar thematic material in his own poems which have large orchestral accompaniment. This performance combines simplicity and clarity and is almost perfect despite the age of the recording.

Naxos are to be congratulated on this welcome series and the welcome opportunity provided to enjoy these performances again. However, the sound, although lightly and sensitively re-mastered, is still clearly that of a historic recording. …This caveat notwithstanding, this disc is historic, a bargain and enjoyable."
MusicWeb International, October 8, 2008