Gustav MAHLER
Das Lied Von Der
Erde
Janet Baker (Mezzo
Soprano)
James King (Tenor)
Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam
Conducted by Bernard
Haitink
Eloquence 468 182-2
[65.04]
Crotchet
Eloquence has chosen this 1975 Philips recording of Mahler's late masterpiece
for reissue at bargain price and I am delighted. It's been among the finest
versions in the catalogue since it first appeared on LP. The presence of
Janet Baker, the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Bernard Haitink, all on top
form and matched with a superbly engineered recording, assured that. Even
the tenor James King, though here marginally lacking in the characterisation
that some of his colleagues bring to this work, is vital, lyrical and
distinguished. It was only the fact that these singers give even better of
themselves in other recordings (Baker with Leppard on BBC Classics, King
with Bernstein on Decca) that led me to largely leave this version out of
my survey elsewhere on this site of recordings of this work. However, now
issued on its own on this new label, it leads the field at bargain price.
Indeed there are some full-priced versions that are nowhere near as
distinguished.
The richness and the superb balance of the recorded sound is clear from the
start with both soloists placed in the aural picture just as they would be
in a concert hall. I don't want to disparage recordings that bring the singers
closer to the microphones. Quite the opposite, in fact. I've always believed
there are arguments to suggest that a recording should not try to mimic the
balance you would hear in a concert hall since listening in the home is a
different experience. However, it's always interesting when the concert hall
balance is tried and succeeds, as it does here. No producer or engineer is
credited but I suspect both functions were filled by Haitink's long time
Philips collaborator Volker Straus. Comparing the sound of this CD with the
original LP you can also hear the remastering engineers have used the latest
techniques to enhance the excellent original rather than change it in any
way, and for that we should be grateful.
James King sings out well and heroically in all his songs, which he needs
to do when placed by the engineers as I have outlined. A little more subtlety
and "word painting" would have improved his contribution, especially in the
third song, but this is really marginal. Janet Baker on the other hand does
bring the awareness of words that I felt James King just missed. Indeed her
response to every aspect of these wonderful songs should be an object lesson
for all singers coming new to this work. Sustained over the longest possible
span, her performance of the final song, "Der Abschied", is one of the most
moving interpretations that has ever been set down. Only Baker herself surpasses
it "live" with Raymond Leppard on BBC Classics a year or so later even though
the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra are no match for the Concertgebouw in
this recording. Bernard Haitink accompanies both singers superbly. I could
instance many passages that illustrate this but you can listen to the close
of the fourth song with Baker, Haitink and the orchestra in perfect accord
for as good an example as any. The Concertgebouw Orchestra plays right the
way through with effortless attention to detail and all their matchless knowledge
of this music covering Mahler's entire exquisite sound world.
This is one of the best recordings of this work and now at bargain price
it is irresistible. If you don't already have it, snap it up now.
Reviewer
Tony Duggan
