An inward Mahler

One wouldn't call this performance extrovert.

If you want your Mahler lieder to be subtle, yet deeply-felt, Janet Baker and John Barbirolli's collaboration is an outstanding one.

'Still Waters Run Deep' would be an apt phrase, particularly for this performance of the Rückertlieder and Kindertotenlieder. The Gesellen Lieder might lack a certain fresh, youthful, bitter amour, and sound is sonically inferior to the others here.

To call these Kindertotenlieder motherly is less a stab at Baker and more a swelling of feeling she imbues into this music; there is less dash, less anger, more inward sorrow, more defeat; and this is abetted by Barbirolli, who is quite slow, dangerously in some portions. These factors weigh strongly in this music, and makes them outstanding choices.

This is a fabulous recital disc, less full of Mahler's forest murmurs, but boasting a fount of beautiful singing from Dame Janet Baker, who at the writing of these thoughts, will be turning 91 next month. Thank you for these wonderful musical moments Dame Janet!

A review from 2024

Dame Janet Baker’s performance of Gustav Mahler’s orchestrated lieder has long been admired, here remastered on the Great Recordings of the Century series. While there is much to treasure about this recording, there are a few things to know:

Sir John Barbirolli takes these songs at a very measured pace, moreso than any I know. One can hear the seams of the orchestra at these tempos, although in general I find both ensembles sound rather lovely. The harp is thankfully placed audibly, even if it is not the sparkling character I might wish it to sound as.

Certainly one cannot fault the singing of Baker. Hers is a lovely, open vocal instrument, with a wonderful vocal range, and where her sotto voce in the final Rückert Lieder is absolutely to die for. That said, she and Barbirolli are rather inward and quite gentle with this music, while others go for more variety and approaches to each individual song. One only need to read Mahler scholar Deryl Cooke’s scathing review of this recording to find any deltas associated with this recording at its original release.

Of course, some will also want this same music sung by a male singer, and Dietrich Fischer Dieskau is a fine complement to Dame Janet. Otherwise, in the here and now, this recital from Dame Janet Baker in Mahler is a great recording.

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Works
Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen (17.40)
Ruckertlieder (19.28)
Kindertotenlieder (27.18)

Performers
Janet Baker, mezzo-soprano
Hallé Orchestra
New Philharmonia Orchestra
John Barbirolli, conductor

Label: EMI
Year: 1968-1970 / 1999
Total Timing: 71.47

 

Deryck Cooke lambasted this recording, but to have hindsight is our fortune.

Another of our fortunes is to have Janet Baker on record singing Mahler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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