Gustav Mahler: 'Das Lied von der Erde' conducted by Walter, sung by Ferrier. 6th mvmt (part 1)

Bruno Walter conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Wiener Philharmoniker), playing the 'Lied von der Erde' (Song of the Earth) by Gustav Mahler.

Alto solo: Kathleen Ferrier

6th mouvement: Der Abschied (part 1)

Recorded May 14,15,16, 1952

Text:
Die Sonne scheidet hinter dem Gebirge.
In alle Täler steigt der Abend nieder
Mit seinen Schatten, die voll Kühlung sind.
O sieh! Wie eine Silberbarke schwebt
Der Mond am blauen Himmelssee herauf.
Ich spüre eines feinen Windes Weh'n
Hinter den dunklen Fichten!
Der Bach singt voller Wohllaut durch das Dunkel.
Die Blumen blassen im Dämmerschein.
Die Erde atmet voll von Ruh' und Schlaf;
Alle Sehnsucht will nun träumen.
Die mäden Menschen geh'n heimwärts,
Um im Schlaf vergess'nes Glück
Und Jugend neu zu lernen!
Die Vögel hocken still in ihren Zweigen.
Die Welt schläft ein!

Es wehet kühl im Schatten meiner Fichten.
Ich stehe hier und harre meines Freundes;
Ich harre sein zum letzten Lebewohl.
Ich sehne mich, O Freund, an deiner Seite
Die Schönheit dieses Abends zu genießen.
Wo bleibst du? Du läßt mich lang allein!
Ich wandle auf und nieder mit meiner Laute
Auf Wegen, die vom weichem Grase schwellen.
O Schönheit! O ewigen Liebens-, Lebens-trunk'ne Welt!

Er stieg vom Pferd und reichte ihm den Trunk
Des Abschieds dar.
Er fragte ihn, wohin er führe
Und auch warum es müßte sein.
Er sprach, seine Stimme war umflort: Du, mein Freund,
Mir war auf dieser Welt das Glück nicht hold!
Wohin ich geh'? Ich geh', ich wand're in die Berge.
Ich suche Ruhe für mein einsam Herz!
Ich wandle nach der Heimat, meiner Stätte.
Ich werde niemals in die Ferne schweifen.
Still ist mein Herz und harret seiner Stunde!

Die liebe Erde allüberall
Blüht auf im Lenz und grünt aufs neu!
Allüberall und ewig blauen licht die Fernen!
Ewig... Ewig...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• gustav
• mahler
• lied
• erde
• ferrier
• bruno
• walter
• wiener
• philharmoniker
• der
• abschied

[TheLeonardoSaez]

Magnífico !,Ferrier canta con fuerza y emoción incomparables.

Magnificent !, Ferrier sings with incomparable force and emotion.

[flylooper]

You guys are all hung up on "authenticity." That Walter and Ferrier were terrific artists goes without saying. But to state the there has never been a better giving of something is ludicrous.

My God. Bernstein? Thomas Hampson? Christa Ludwig?Von Karajan? Haitink? Eschenbach? Tilson-Thomas? Fischer-Diskau? All in2nd place? Give me a break. This is wonderful music, but no one "owns" it. Not even Bruno Walter, who was Mahler's protegee.

[SCE2AUX]

Anyone else come here via "Alma?"

[TheStockwell]

I don't roll my eyes when female singers sing it. But after hearing male singers go at it, female versions sound pretty and "decorative." When someone like Fisher-Dieskau, Hampson, or Christian Gerhaher (Kent Nagano, conducting) tackle "Der Abschied," there's a Hamlet-like drama. I'm not saying Mahler's lieder are best left to the guys, but many of them, such as the "Kindertotenlieder," are told from a male perspective. "Der Abschied" isn't a trouser role. That's MY goofy opinion, anyway.

[flylooper]

@TheStockwell

I can't help but think that if Mahler were alive today and he heard, say, Fisher-Diskau or Hampson (among others) sing the "Abschied," he'd have approved heartily. 

[TheStockwell]

@flylooper When you quote de La Grange, that's pretty much the end of the debate. The defense rests. Still, by specifying "low voice" and "high voice," Mahler is being pretty flexible. He might've gone with the best singers, male or female, depending on who was available and how good they were. Still, Walter BELIEVING Mahler WOULD have chosen soprano and contralto sounds more like that old softy Walter's preferences. I'm pretty much sold on tenor and baritones by now; yeah, the MTT.

[flylooper]

@flylooper Oops! Check that. My copy is Hampson and the San Fran with MTT.

[flylooper]

@TheStockwell

According to Henry de La Grange in his absolutely definitive 3 volume bio of Mahler, Bruno Walter believed that Mahler would have chosen a soprano and a contralto to sing Das Lied. (He never lived long enough to hear it performed.), the reason being that it was too strenuous for the male voice (at least the ones of his day. v.3, page 1324) Even today, there is a shortage of true contralto's though. Nevertheless, I love my copy of Hampson with the VPO and Lenny.

[TheStockwell]

@flylooper I'm on your side. I'm glad we're getting over the outdated "tradition" of hearing women sing Mahler songs that are more profound, less "pretty," when sung by men. I'm not going to toss my Janet Baker, Ferrier or Jessye Norman recordings out but, seriously, Hampson and Fischer-Dieskau are what Mahler had in mind.

[QueenKaryBoO]

LOVE IT! <3

[davidmbaker55]

Never fails to bring tears to the eye. I find Kathlene Ferrier irresistable. It is my biggest regret that I never heard her or John Coltrane perform live. Which recording is best? Does it matter: Mahler's wonderful vision can be seen through many eyes. But, for me Walter and Ferrier bring a lovers beauty to the music which I find unique!!

[CandyHaleLinton]

@flylooper Rubbish