Mahler: Orchestral Songs

世紀末の憂愁と歓喜、絶望、アイロニーがないまぜになったマーラー歌曲の複雑な味わいを、生々しく提示するゲルハーヘルらしさ漂う素晴らしい歌唱表現の録音が登場。すでに「亡き子をしのぶ歌」はピアノ伴奏版(ARTE NOVA)で、「さすらう若者の歌」はシェーンベルク編曲による室内アンサンブル版(ARTE NOVA)とピアノ伴奏版(RCA)で、「リュッケルト歌曲集」はピアノ伴奏版(RCA)で録音していました。満を持して3つの歌曲集を管弦楽伴奏版によって再録音したものが今作となります。
管弦楽伴奏のケント・ナガノの指揮は、洗練された色彩豊かなモントリオール交響楽団の音色を引き出した印象的なもの。そしてそれぞれの詩に込められた多彩な感情の機微を、まるでドイツ語そのものが立ち現われてくるかのような美しいディクションで歌い継ぐゲルハーヘル。偉大なディートリヒ・フィッシャー=ディースカウに連なるドイツ伝統のリート唱法を引き継ぎながら、ドイツ・リート新時代を告げる新たな息吹を感じさせる待望の録音です。
ソニー・ミュージック

Based solely on the excellence of Christian Gerhaher's singing and his highly expressive interpretations of Gustav Mahler's lieder, this album is required listening for all fans of the singer and the composer. But this 2013 Sony release is also essential for Mahler scholars and collectors because it presents the original orchestrations of Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Kindertotenlieder, and Ruckert-Lieder, which receive their first recordings here. Kent Nagano and the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal accompany Gerhaher with subtlety and warmth, and the playing is as smooth and rich as Gerhaher's baritone voice, which makes the melodies inviting and moving. The performances on this CD were recorded on two concert dates early in 2012, so the best takes were used, notwithstanding coughs and other audience noises that can be heard occasionally. Even so, the sound is slightly variable in the mixing, so close listening reveals differences that could be due to studio enhancement. However, because the musicianship is so high, and Gerhaher's delivery is so appealing, this recording is definitely worth having, even with its few imperfections.