Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner - Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (2007) [SACD]

Great orchestra & conductor in their prime October 4, 2007
By Lawrence A. Schenbeck
I just finished listening to this for the first time. It’s hard to believe this has never been issued on cd. The engineering, as revealed on the three-channel SACD track, is simply phenomenal. The Chicago Symphony is spread out ideally in a wide, deep soundstage and both the tutti and solo passages (of which there are many here — Mahler was a genius at chamber-like scoring) are captured to stunning effect. And this was recorded in 1959!
The vocal soloists may not be the greatest in the world, but I was perfectly happy listening to Richard Lewis make his way through the tenor numbers. Those who have only heard him in Handel may be blown away by the brazen romanticism he displays here; he’s fully up to the task. Forrester was a little less persuasive. Her lower range could get woofy, and at times the orchestra covers her, but once she floats upward she’s better. Both are expressive performers within the limits that Reiner sets. It’s wonderful how the individual members of the CSO produce such character-filled music with every phrase they play! The combination of conductor’s restraint and players’ fire makes the music come alive (and is still a quality possessed by the CSO today). Strongly recommended.
A Gripping Performance, But…
By David Schwan
I gave this new SACD version a five-star rating, but would really like to give it something like four-and-a-half. The only reason is no text is included. Louis Biancolli’s notes, apparently from the original issue are here, but it would have been wonderful to have had the poems Mahler used as the basis for this extraordinary music. If that would have ended up making the CD booklet too thick, why didn’t RCA/BMG set up a Website to download the text, like they did with their SACD opera reiusses? This is my only reservation about this recording, however. I found it to be absolutely riveting and the DSD/SACD remastering is superb. In fact, you can almost feel the presence of the performers, especially in the final section, “Der Abschied”.
While Fritz Reiner isn’t generally recognized as one who tirelessly promoted Mahler’s music, he had a perfect feel for it and performed it throughout his career. His Mahler 4th (also on SACD) with the Chicagoans and Lisa Della Casa as soloist is marvelous. There are also stories circulating that Reiner almost recorded the Mahler 1st in Chicago, but the plans were scrapped for some reason. Back in his days in Pittsburgh he recorded the “Songs of a Wayfarer” in the 78rpm era. I don’t think Reiner ever did a “bad” recording in his life. Every one I’ve heard has never been less than excellent and some are definitive. So, despite my disappointment that there’s no text in this latest from RCA’s great SACD series, I do highly recommend this CD.
Mahler from a Master Conductor
By Virginia Opera Fan
First, Amazon’s headnote on this new issue is incorrect. The tenor is the late Richard Lewis, not William Lewis. OK – Reiner was not a Mahler acolyte, in contrast to his near contemporaries Walter and Klemperer, and Mahler does not constitute a large portion of his discography. In common with his Chicago recording of Symphony No. 4, his Lied is objective and finely detailed. He allows the music to speak for itself and the Chicago Symphony of 1959 is in great form. If you like Klemperer’s austere EMI version with Ludwig and Wunderlich, I think you will like this one as well.
Based on a couple of listenings, I think this recording takes a backseat Klemperer’s rare combination of interpretation, orchestral excellence and not least, unbeatable soloists in Ludwig and Wunderlich. Having said that, the re-issued RCA is a wonderful memento of the artisty of Maureen Forrester and her many decades service to this music. Richard Lewis is also outstanding, with something of an edge in the two drinking songs. No texts or translations are provided.