Mahler: Das Klagende Lied

[aligreto]

This is an early work written when he was a young man but, I think, it still had quite a maturity about it and one can hear the embryonic voice of Mahler emerging in it. It is quite a large scale and musically insightful work for one so young and even its form is something different from the norm. There seems to be a number of different versions of the work available which includes the original three movement work, a revised two movement work with the deleted first movement and performances which include various combinations of the previous two versions. Mahler wrote the text himself and apparently based the story on an amalgamation of Das klagende Lied by Ludwig Bechstein and Der singende Knochen [The Singing Bone] by the Brothers Grimm.

The versions that I own are:

Chailly + Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin [Decca]
Morris + New Philharmonia Orchestra [Nimbus]
Rattle + City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra [EMI]
Tilson Thomas + San Francisco Symphony & Chorus [RCA]   

Is this a work that you like or not and/or have in your collection?
I am not necessarily seeking recommendations here but I am open to persuasion on another purchase e.g. is the Boulez version worth having?

[Cato]

This is an early work written when he was a young man but, I think, it still had quite a maturity about it and one can hear the embryonic voice of Mahler emerging in it. It is quite a large scale and musically insightful work for one so young and even its form is something different from the norm. There seems to be a number of different versions of the work available which includes the original three movement work, a revised two movement work with the deleted first movement and performances which include various combinations of the previous two versions. Mahler wrote the text himself and apparently based the story on an amalgamation of Das klagende Lied by Ludwig Bechstein and Der singende Knochen [The Singing Bone] by the Brothers Grimm.

The versions that I own are:

Chailly + Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin [Decca]
Morris + New Philharmonia Orchestra [Nimbus]
Rattle + City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra [EMI]
Tilson Thomas + San Francisco Symphony & Chorus [RCA]   

Is this a work that you like or not and/or have in your collection?
I am not necessarily seeking recommendations here but I am open to persuasion on another purchase e.g. is the Boulez version worth having?

Yes!  As is another cantata from Mahler's spirit: Gurrelieder by Arnold Schoenberg. 

But which Boulez recording are you referring to?  The one from the 1970's, or this later one?  I like the 3-movement version, despite the not invalid complaints against it.  The Waldmärchen is almost a work unto itself.

Here is a review of the later one:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/mar/14/mahler-klagende-lied-boulez-review

If you have the funds, try both!  0:)

[aligreto]

Yes!  As is another cantata from Mahler's spirit: Gurrelieder by Arnold Schoenberg. 

But which Boulez recording are you referring to?  The one from the 1970's, or this later one?  I like the 3-movement version, despite the not invalid complaints against it.  The Waldmärchen is almost a work unto itself.

Here is a review of the later one:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/mar/14/mahler-klagende-lied-boulez-review

If you have the funds, try both!  0:)

As a by the way I really like Schoenberg's Gurrelieder.

I relation to the Boulez versions of Mahler's Das Klagende Lied I overtly display my ignorance by confessing that I did not know there were two versions let alone any shortcomings with or plaudits for either. If I was pushed though I would declare a preference for the three movement version of the work. Thank you for the link.

[ritter]

I also admire Gurrelieder,  but am not much of a fan of Das klagende Lied , I must admit. There's something adolescent to the piece that I find rather repulsive, and I cannot but associate it with a teenager's misguided attempts to emulate Wagner. The last part I find particularly unsuccesful; "Ach Spielmann, lieber Spielmann mein" Please! !!!

Strangely,  I find the discarded first part, Waldmärchen, the most palatable,  and the one that best prefigures the greatness of Mahler to come. I think that part justifies getting the first Boulez  rrcording on Sony  (which is a "bastardized" version, in the sense of adding  the original Waldmärchen to the other two sections in their final form). The first recording of the unadulterated original DkL is Kent Nagano's on Erato.

The second Boulez is a much more polished affair,  and is a strong contender among recordings of the piece in its final form.

Cheers,

[aligreto]

Thank you for that informative offering ritter. Just as Cato indicated above both Boulez versions sound interesting. I will check them out.

[Spineur]

You are a little harsh on Mahler, ritter.  Mahler is Wagner musical heir anyway, a little more in this piece, but Wagner style, with it greatness and defects perrmeates all Mahler's music.

I have the 1970 Boulez version, and I like mostly for the soloists performance.

If I was going to get multiple versions of a Mahler piece, I would go for Das lied von der Erde, where the choices are most interesting.  I have the Reiner and the Jocchum versions, which in my mind do not exhaust all the possibilities offered by the score.

[jochanaan]

I like the Kent Nagano recording of the three-movement Klagende Lied, I think from the 1990s with the Bastille Orchestra.

[aligreto]

I like the Kent Nagano recording of the three-movement Klagende Lied, I think from the 1990s with the Bastille Orchestra.

Yes, I have put the Nagano version on my List as it is the original, unrevised three movement work.

[relm1]

This thread has inspired me to listen to this work again.  I have the Boulez/LSO which I think is excellent and MTT/SFO which is fine as well.  Now I am listening to Rattle/CBSO which is very good too.  It is just crazy to think a 20 year old did this.  Maybe back then, 20 year olds were like 40 year olds today.

[aligreto]

Delighted that you were inspired to listen to and enjoy the work. It is not one that is mentioned often but I obviously like it. I also think that it is a fine composition for a young composer 

[aukhawk]

Strangely,  I find the discarded first part, Waldmärchen, the most palatable,  and the one that best prefigures the greatness of Mahler to come. I think that part justifies getting the first Boulez  rrcording on Sony  (which is a "bastardized" version, in the sense of adding  the original Waldmärchen to the other two sections in their final form).

As I recall, Waldmärchen was issued years later than the other two movements, and was presumably recorded at a later date.  So - since this is a recording we are talking about - if you opt not to play the first movement, the other two are no longer 'bastardized'.

[ritter]

As I recall, Waldmärchen was issued years later than the other two movements, and was presumably recorded at a later date.  So - since this is a recording we are talking about - if you opt not to play the first movement, the other two are no longer 'bastardized'.

The information available is somewhant confusing. According to the information contained in the big Sony Boulez box, all three parts were recorded in London in April 1970, and issued (along with the adagio from Symphony No. 10) in July of that same year (now that was a quick release!). But....two different recording venues are mentioned, and there's a different line-up of soloistis between part 1 and parts 2 & 3. Waldmärchen could not have been recorded earlier than that, as the first "modern" (i.e. after 1935 AFAIK) performance of the movement was given in New Haven in January 1970. Boulez then conducted it in London and went to the studio. I would guess that in the last minute, they decided to record all three movements instead of just tackling the Waldmärchen novelty. Still, there was an LP release of Waldmärchen on its own (coupled with the adagio of the Tenth).

Be it as it may, of course you are right: if you dispense with Waldmärchen, the two final parts in Boulez's first recording can be listened to as a performance of the final, two movement version...

[Sergeant Rock]

If I was going to get multiple versions of a Mahler piece, I would go for Das lied von der Erde, where the choices are most interesting.

I think there are "interesting" choices too with Das Klagende Lied: Chailly, Boulez, Sinopoli, MTT,  Haitink, Morris, Rattle.

Sarge