Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde - Violeta Urmana / Michael Schade / Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde - Violeta Urmana / Michael Schade / Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde - Violeta Urmana / Michael Schade / Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez
Our Price: $16.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $7.98 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Listen soundtracks from this album



(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

Music CD Cover

Composer: Gustav Mahler
Conductor: Pierre Boulez
Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker
Performer: Violeta Urmana
Performer: Michael Schade
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2001-03-13
Music Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Soundtracks:
  1. The Song Of The Earth: Drinking Song Of Earth's Sorrows
  2. The Song Of The Earth: The Lonely Man In Autumn
  3. The Song Of The Earth: Of Youth
  4. The Song Of The Earth: Of Beauty
  5. The Song Of The Earth: The Drunkard In Spring
  6. The Song Of The Earth: The Farewell

Free Music Notes for Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde - Violeta Urmana / Michael Schade / Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez

Free Music Review: One for the ages
Hit: 5 Stars

Having long considered "Das Lied" perhaps the most sublime hour or so of music ever composed, I own at least 25 recordings of the piece. Despite the virtues of many other recordings, the old Klemperer EMI has retained its pride of place at the top of the heap for me, primarily because of Christa Ludwig's and Klemperer's partnership in the final song. Now that I have Boulez's recording with Michael Schade and Violeta Urmana, I can pretty well dispose of all my other recordings except Klemperer's.

Before hearing this recording, my only experience with Schade was through the few songs he recorded toward the end of Graham Johnson's massive Schubert project, in which Schade performed acceptably but without calling particular attention to himself. I was pleasantly surprised, then, at his strong performance in "Das Lied." Here, in fact, Schade exceeds most other tenors and matches the very best, even Wunderlich, who got a bit of help from the microphone. And Urmana is achingly lovely -- the glories of Ludwig notwithstanding.

Boulez's conducting is at its peak. He is more attentive to detail than Klemperer, without stinting on structural coherence, delicate nuance, and raw power when called for. The VPO performs as flawlessly as any orchestra can ever be asked to perform. And DG's recording is exemplary.

Yes, give me Klemperer/Wunderlich/Ludwig and Boulez/Schade/Urmana and the mythical desert island that we music lovers all long for, and I'll be perfectly content.

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde - Violeta Urmana / Michael Schade / Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez Poster

Pierre Boulez's ongoing Gustav Mahler cycle pleases those who prefer a lucid, analytical take on these sprawling works, while displeasing those who favor interpretations that match Mahler's wild, all-encompassing attempt to capture the universe in sound. This Lied won't change any minds, but even naysayers will appreciate its strong points, among which mezzo-soprano Violeta Urmana is by far the strongest. The voice itself is pliant, warm, expressive, and in the final "Abschied," Mahler's moving farewell to life, Urmana erases memories of most of her recorded predecessors. Tenor Michael Schade's bright, ringing tenor cuts through the orchestra, albeit with a misguided attempt to color and highlight even the words best sung simply. Boulez's attention to detail and the Vienna Philharmonic's masterly playing are other pluses. But the emotional core of the music is missing; Boulez gives us the music but not the emotions it should convey, resulting in a Lied that's alienated from itself. Interesting as this release is, the very different approaches of Walter, Horenstein, Bernstein, and Klemperer have more to say about this music. --Dan Davis

Classical Music CDs

Music Genres
Top music charts in Mahler Symphonies
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde - Violeta Urmana / Michael Schade / Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez ImageMahler: Das Lied von der Erde - Violeta Urmana / Michael Schade / Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez
Release date: 2001-03-13; Music CD
Best price: $9.48
Price in other shops: $16.98
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 / Zander, Philharmonia Orchestra ImageMahler: Symphony No. 9 / Zander, Philharmonia Orchestra
Release date: 1999-02-23; Music CD
Best price: $13.58
Price in other shops: $17.98
G. Mahler: Symphony no. 8 ImageG. Mahler: Symphony no. 8
Release date: 2008-01-08; Music CD
Best price: $10.94
Price in other shops: $17.99
Mahler: Symphony No.7 ImageMahler: Symphony No.7
Release date: 2002-06-11; Music CD
Best price: $9.88
Price in other shops: $16.98
Mahler: Symphony No. 6 [Hybrid SACD] ImageMahler: Symphony No. 6 [Hybrid SACD]
Release date: 2008-04-08; Music CD
Best price: $8.94
Price in other shops: $21.98
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 - Benjamin Zander / Philharmonia Orchestra ImageMahler: Symphony No. 5 - Benjamin Zander / Philharmonia Orchestra
Release date: 2001-04-24; Music CD
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops: $17.98
Mahler: Symphony No. 4 In G Major ImageMahler: Symphony No. 4 In G Major
Release date: 1994-02-15; Music CD
Best price: $68.93
Mahler: Symphony No. 3; Bach Suite ImageMahler: Symphony No. 3; Bach Suite
Release date: 2004-05-11; Music CD
Best price: $56.96
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in c minor [Hybrid SACD] ImageMahler: Symphony No. 2 in c minor [Hybrid SACD]
Release date: 2006-10-10; Music CD
Best price: $22.58
Price in other shops: $34.98
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1 / Songs of a Wayfarer - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Rafael Kubelik ImageGustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1 / Songs of a Wayfarer - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Rafael Kubelik
Release date: 1997-05-13; Music CD
Best price: $7.13
Price in other shops: $11.98
Top Rated Albums
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection") ImageMahler: Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection")
Release date: 2006-06-13; Music CD
Best price: $10.08
Price in other shops: $16.98
Mahler: Symphonie No. 4 - Juliane Banse / The Cleveland Orchestra / Pierre Boulez ImageMahler: Symphonie No. 4 - Juliane Banse / The Cleveland Orchestra / Pierre Boulez
Release date: 2000-01-03; Music CD
Best price: $17.86
Price in other shops: $17.98
Mahler: Symphonie No. 3 - Anne Sofie von Otter / Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez ImageMahler: Symphonie No. 3 - Anne Sofie von Otter / Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez
Release date: 2003-03-11; Music CD
Best price: $24.99
Price in other shops: $33.98
Mahler: Symphonie No. 5 - Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez ImageMahler: Symphonie No. 5 - Wiener Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez
Release date: 1997-02-11; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $16.98
Mahler: Symphonie No. 7 - The Cleveland Orchestra / Pierre Boulez ImageMahler: Symphonie No. 7 - The Cleveland Orchestra / Pierre Boulez
Release date: 1996-09-17; Music CD
Best price: $10.98
Price in other shops: $16.98
Mahler: Symphonie No.6 ImageMahler: Symphonie No.6
Release date: 1995-04-11; Music CD
Best price: $12.05
Price in other shops: $16.98
Mahler: Lieder - Quasthoff / Urmana / von Otter / Wiener Philharmoniker / Boulez ImageMahler: Lieder - Quasthoff / Urmana / von Otter / Wiener Philharmoniker / Boulez
Release date: 2005-01-11; Music CD
Best price: $9.98
Price in other shops: $16.98
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 ImageMahler: Symphony No. 1
Release date: 1999-04-13; Music CD
Best price: $9.79
Price in other shops: $16.98
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 ImageMahler: Symphony No. 9
Release date: 1998-03-17; Music CD
Best price: $7.77
Price in other shops: $16.98
G. Mahler: Symphony no. 8 ImageG. Mahler: Symphony no. 8
Release date: 2008-01-08; Music CD
Best price: $12.04
Price in other shops: $17.99
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles