Fergus, I see that you're "holding the fort", good man.
Time for some Mahler.
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 2
Sinfonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Heather Harper soprano
Janet Baker mezzo-soprano
Otto Klemperer - conducting
On the TT:
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 2
Emilia Cundrai soprano
Maureen Forrester mezzo-soprano
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Bruno Walter - conducting.
Today, I listened to two different and really powerful interpretations of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony. I first listened to Klemperer's recording from January 1965, this is a lovely performance and is perhaps even preferable to his earlier recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra. The second one is Walter's 1957/58 recording from Carnegie Hall. Both are tremendous and it is lovely to compare and contrast the totally different approaches by these two Mahlerian giants.
In 1907 Mahler gave Otto Klemperer a reference of recommendation and Klemperer carried it with him to the day he died, as well he might, Mahler wrote:
"
Gustav Mahler recommends Herr Klemperer as an outstanding musician, who despite his youth is already very experienced and is predestined for a conductor's career. He vouches for the successful outcome of any probationary appointment and will provide further information personally"
Klemperer later recalled, 'It opened every door to me', he said, 'Mahler was, in effect, my "Creator Spiritus".'