Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde - Vickers, Minton; Boulez. Paris, 1972
$4.95
Description:
In romantic repertoire, Pierre Boulez has often left me unmoved—his Ring Cycle, for example, is far from my favorite. But in Mahler, it's another story. He draws the orchestra into vivid life, balancing precision, bravado, and even moments of surprising sentimentality. Jon Vickers bursts onto the stage in the opening number, delivering sheer vocal power, though his interpretation of "Von der Jugend" lacks the lyricism the piece requires. Yvonne Minton, by contrast, is exceptional throughout. Her sterling mezzo finds exactly the right emotional temperature for each number, and she concludes with a quiet, heartbreaking "Abschied." The sound is mostly good, although the first minute is shaky, and the final movement suffers from a digital "whistle"—an issue illustrated at the end of the sample.
In Stereo
OD 12080-1
