This Teldec's 1994 recording of songs by Gustav Mahler remains a collection that merits a place in the library of every Mahlerite. Following the scholarly interests of performers Thomas Hampson and composer/conductor Luciano Berio this recording explores the aspect of Mahler's tendency to compose songs for voice and piano and later orchestrate them as cycles or incorporate them into his symphonies. Examples of this trait can be found in 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn', 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen', and 'Rückert Lieder'. But there remain a significant number of songs that remain for voice and piano alone and a number of those are part of this valuable collection gathered by Mahler scholars Thomas Hampson and Luciano Berio.
Wisely the 'recital' opens with the original version of 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen' and in the sensitive mind and voice of Thomas Hampson, collaborating with pianist David Lutz, this well-known cycle is conveyed with Hampson's beauty of tone, immaculate phrasing, sensitivity to Mahler's texts - one of the most beautiful interpretations in the recording library and certainly one that enhances appreciation for Mahler's orchestrated version. Following this cycle are '7 frühe Lieder', songs with texts by Mahler, Tirso de Molina's 'Don Juan', and Mahler's great source of poems 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn' - pearls each of which are echoed in later works.
The two cycles that conclude the recording are Luciano Berio's orchestrated songs - '5 frühe Lieder' and '6 frühe Lieder' - with texts derived from 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn', Richard Leander, and Mahler himself. The performances are full of invention and fine singing and orchestral playing (the Philharmonia Orchestra is conducted by Luciano Berio), and if some find the orchestrations too thick or less transparent than Mahler's other works, at least Berio has provided from the notes left by Mahler the composer's suggestions and ideas the closest semblance of what might have been!
This is a treasure trove of lesser known Mahler songs (both for voice and piano and for the composer's possible intentions for orchestration), and it also contains one of the most exquisite performances of 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen' Thomas Hampson has recorded. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, September 08