First Pick: Mahler songs

[Brendan]

Just checked the recent thread on Mahler and the many fine recommendations for the symphonies and Das Lied. But I have been taken in recent times by Wunderhorn and Kindertotenlieder, so was looking for first picks for these.

[Ralph]

Quastoff for sure and also Thomas Hampson. Their CDs rate high with me.

[Corlyss_D]

What? No Ruckert Lieder?

[Corlyss_D]

My personal recommendations would be

Ludwig - which you can get in classic performances from the 50s for the princely sum of $7 new.

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau on reissues from EMI still in the catalog

The joint effort of Ludwig and Berry under Bernstein

The Janet Baker reading if you can find it anywhere.

Jennie Tourel with Bernstein from the 50s or early 60s

[MahlerSnob]

The Bernstein/Hampson/VPO recordings of Kindertotenlieder and Songs of a Wayfarer are absolutely gorgeous. Probably my favorite recording of the Kinder. There is also an excellent recording of Bruno Walter doing Wayfarer with the NY Phil that is probably the best recording I've heard of the cycle. I don't remember who the singer is.

[Corlyss_D]

There is also an excellent recording of Bruno Walter doing Wayfarer with the NY Phil that is probably the best recording I've heard of the cycle. I don't remember who the singer is.

Are you sure it isn't the Columbia Symphony Orchestra with Mildred Miller? The NYPO was on the same recording doing Sym #2, but the Wayfarer was not with the NYPO.

[pizza]

One excellent choice for des Knaben Wunderhorn is Forrester/Rehfuss/Prohaska/Wiener Festspielorchester on Vanguard Classics;

Another is Baker/Evans/Morris/London PO on IMP Classics;

You can't find better orchestral versions; Maureen Forrester and Janet Baker are both recorded at the peak of their careers and are in top form.

[GK]

Ludwig/Karajan is my first choice for both Kindertotenlieder and Ruckert Lieder.

[Niki]

I'll second pizza with Janet Baker. Wonderful performance.
Although I am a great fan of Bernstein ( specially with Mahler) and consider the Vienesse Berries among the best, for this song cycle LB with the Berrys ( Christa Ludwig and Walter Berry) is nothing extraordinary... just a nice performance.

[Brendan]

Thanks to all so far - even if I went and bought the Szell Wunderhorn with Schwarzkopf and Fischer-Dieskau. It was on special, and in the store I had a sudden recollection of a former poster raving about Schwarzkopf singing Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt with a unique, delicious humour. Can't find that to save myself, but I keep on buying these Mahler Lieder with Schwarkopf "by mistake".

I've put the Forrester, von Otter/Quasthoff and Baker recs on order. These are works I kinda feel I'm "almost there" with (particularly Wunderhorn) and just need the right performance/moment to nudge it all into place. Always the way with me and Mahler - I always seem to end up buying a dozen versions before finding the right one for me - then buying a dozen more.

[MahlerSnob]

Are you sure it isn't the Columbia Symphony Orchestra with Mildred Miller? The NYPO was on the same recording doing Sym #2, but the Wayfarer was not with the NYPO.

Very possible. When I typed the post last night I thought it was Columbia, but I double-checked my copy of the CD (a burned copy) and I wrote "Walter/NYPO" on it. I wouldn't be surprised if it's Columbia.