MAHLER

 

Des Knaben Wunderhorn / Adagio from Symphony No. 10

 

Pierre Boulez, Magdalena Kozena, Christian Gerhaher, Cleveland Orchestra

 

1.         Der Schildwache Nachtlied [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

2.         Verlor'ne Müh [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

3.         Trost im Unglück [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

4.         Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht? [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

5.         Das irdische Leben [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

6.         Revelge [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

7.         Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

8.         Rheinlegendchen [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

9.         Lied des Verfolgten im Turm [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

10.        Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

11.        Lob des hohen Verstandes [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

12.        Der Tamboursg'sell [Mahler: Songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"]

13.        Adagio [Mahler: Symphony No.10 in F sharp (unfinished)]

 

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)

 

Deutsche Grammophon 4779060