Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Arranged by Arnold Schoenberg
Audio CD was issued July 6, 2010
On this new CD, the Manchester Camerata, conducted by Douglas Boyd and joined by mezzo-soprano Jane Irwin and tenor Peter Wedd, give an enjoyable performance of Arnold Schoenberg’s chamber transcription of Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde”.
The sadness and poignancy of Mahler’s “Song of the Earth” is in some way accentuated by the reduced number of players: There are just 16 performers, including the distinctive sounds of the harmonium, celeste and piano.
This chamber arrangement came about through Schoenberg’s Vienna-based Association for Private Musical Performances, founded in 1918. This group was dedicated to exploring new music; but, always short of funds, they made a number of chamber versions of larger works, of which Das Lied was one.
Conducted by Douglas Boyd, the Manchester Camerata’s performance of this transcription allows us to gain new insight of the original – an ideal way to further understanding of the music of Mahler.
Here are several live stream recordings by the Manchester Camerata:
Tags: Manchester Camerata, Gustav Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde