reunited with the C. Davis/J. Norman/LSO "Das Lied" on Philips

[barry guerrero]

Like so many people, I've sold off CD's that I later wished I hadn't sold off. Lately, I've been thinking about Jesseye Norman's first "Das Lied von der Erde" on Philips. After many years of not seeing it at all, I stumbled upon a used copy in pristine condition for just $1.95. Yes, a dollar-ninety five with no scratches or fingerprints!

This may not be the 'best' "DLvdE" by any stretch of the imagination (Jon Vickers was 'long in the tooth' and sounds pretty rough), but it's my personal favorite. I think Norman is just incredible in "der Abschied". She easily sustains the concentration across Colin Davis' 34 minute time span.

Colin Davis said that he thought he wasn't well suited for Mahler - that his temperament was wrong. I disagree, and I think it actually takes that sort of self-examination and questioning to be really good at Mahler. I love the way he conducts "Das Lied" here. Admittedly, Vickers is pretty tough to take in the first song. However, I think his rough voice and tough style is actually a good match for the 'drinking song' (5th movement), with Vicker's making a big contrast his between being the loud, boorish drunk on one hand, then being remarkably tender and introspective when observing the bird singing away in the tree on the other ("horsch, ein Vogel singt im Baum"). Needless to say, he really builds up to his climactic line, "then let me remain drunk!". 

[akiralx]

I'm quite fond of Davis' interesting M4 on RCA, beautifully played and quite interventionist (in a good way) - which may be his sole Mahler symphony recording?

[James Meckley]

I'm quite fond of Davis' interesting M4 on RCA, beautifully played and quite interventionist (in a good way) - which may be his sole Mahler symphony recording?

No, Colin Davis recorded a very fine M8 in 1996 with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. It's available on RCA as a hybrid multichannel SA-CD. There's also a 1998 M1 on Novalis which I haven't heard.

James

[barry guerrero]

James, you're the only other person who has written some kind words for the C. Davis M8 that I've come across. I think that performance may have been 'assisted' by some kind of sound system - possibly a Meyer sound system, as so many halls today also employ (including the Vienna Musikverein!). For some reason, the Penitant Women are suddenly way too far forward in the recording. I've wondered if Davis had the soloists behind the orchestra for Part I, then brought them out front for Part II - something like that (?). But there are many great moments that compensate for that one, slightly difficult to listen to passage.