Search - Gustav Mahler, Kurt Sanderling, Peter Schreier :: Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde

Schreier is outstanding

L. Johan Modée | Earth | 03/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A truly great performance of Das Lied von der Erde needs two excellent soloists. In my view, few recordings have that. Kubelik's (Audite) has Baker and Kmentt, and there are few who can match that team. Baker's voice simply "owns" this work and Kmentt... well, he is no Heldertenor like Wunderlich (EMI) or King (Decca), but this work should, preferably, not be performed by such hero voices - they fit like hand in glove in Wagner's music, but not in Mahler's. This work, in particular, needs a more desperate and "fragile" voice. Kmentt has it, overwhelmingly, and - regarding the present recording - Schreier has it too, overwhelmingly as well. In fact, his performance here is one of the very best ever. It's simply brilliant, beautifully nostalgic, sarcastic and expressive. If you only know this work from the legendary Klemperer recording (with Ludwig and Wunderlich), Schreier's performance will indeed shock you.



By contrast, Birgit Finnilä is not the best voice together with Schreier. As a team, they are uneven. Finnilä's performance is not too successful, at least not in Schreier's company: her pale voice makes a stark contrast to Schreier's violent, expressionist performance. Brigitte Fassbaender would have been the ideal match: her brilliant, moving performance in Giulini's 1984 interpretation (DG - unfortunately together with a terribly misplaced F. Araiza) is both razor sharp and vulnerable.



Further, Kurt Sanderling's interpretation is very good; sharply focused with dramatic presence, and the recording quality leaves almost nothing to wish. The orchestra is good too, one of the outstanding Berlin Orchestras, Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester. The recording was made during the end of the Cold War, in 1985, in East Berlin behind the Wall. Perhaps that weird condition added something to the drama of this very special recording.



In sum: this is an outstanding recording which provides a very fine, warm interpretation with somewhat uneven soloists. But Schreier's interpretation is first rate, second to none. Strongly recommended - and not only because of Schreier's memorable performance.

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