Gustav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde

Iván Fischer delivers masterful control, pacing, dynamics, and support for both the orchestra and his soloists.* He is the perfect collaborator—never overshadowing the vocalists, never competing, always complementing. (...) And the orchestra certainly delivers for Fischer with precision, passion, and a muscular control that verges on the ferocious at times. But, also with a delicacy when called for that is a pure musical delight for the ethereal sound achieved. (...) One more critical element about this recording remains: the sound quality. This recording, my friends, illustrates precisely why I've become such a great fan of Jared Sack's skills as a recording engineer. The sound here is open and transparent, clearly exposing to our ears the sound of the individual instruments while maintaining a coherent whole.

Channel Classics 40020; Pentatone PTC 5186760
These two accounts of Mahler’s valedictory song-symphony feature the same tenor, Robert Dean Smith, who wields his Wagnerian tenor to strenuous effect. Fischer’s mezzo is the limpid German Gerhild Romberger, perhaps not quite as inside the music as Jurowski’s rich-voiced Sarah Connolly, but both conductors are top-flight Mahlerians. 

(…) Robert Dean Smith has the power needed, and is also a sensitive singer who responds to the text and does his best to respect the composer’s dynamic markings.(…) the woodwind principals are absolutely outstanding, and the Budapest Festival Orchestra as a whole, one of the world’s very finest, makes a glorious noise. (…) Gerhild Romberger finds a certain coy flirtatiousness in the second song, as she describes the beautiful maidens plucking lotuses on the riverbank, and this is most attractive.

(…) As a reading it is everything one might expect of this seasoned Mahlerian – transparency, sensitivity and heart in abundance. (…)

(…) Superb Mahler interpreter (…) Fischer’s mezzo, Gerhild Romberger, is possessed of a world-class instrument, and makes a luminous, disembodied sound in her many meditative moments (…)

Fischer transformeert Das Lied von der Erde tot een aangrijpende kosmische ervaring (...)

I’ve had reservations about Iván Fischer’s Mahler in the past, but they have been resolved with repeated hearing. That was the case with his recording of the Fourth. There’s no need for me to take time to warm to his direction this time – I’m convinced by the interpretation, by Romberger’s and the orchestra’s contributions, and by the recording quality. If the DSD versions and the SACD are even better than the 24/96 stereo, they must be outstanding.

Iván Fischer’s Mahler cycle draws to a blazing close. Here’s a must-have for Mahler fans. (...) The BFO’s playing makes this a standout performance. It’s fresh and irrepressible, woodwind reedy and nasal, horns bright and heroic, strings brilliant, with the final “Der Abschied” a half-hour’s music of draining intensity.

(...) As has always been the case with this conductor’s Mahler performances we have here an account that is distinctive, yet free of any interpretive mannerisms, and marked by meticulous attention to the score. (...) It comes as no surprise then to assert with confidence that both performance and interpretation find the conductor and orchestra at the top of their respective forms. (…) Even when judged by the state-of-the-art audio quality achieved on the earlier issues the sound here is exemplary; natural, detailed and clear, but never clinical.

(...) Fischer behoort tot de interessantste dirigenten van deze tijd. (...) Het orkest speelt grandioos, zoals altijd, en met een unieke lenigheid, die door Fischer wordt benut met precisiewerk op de vierkante millimeter. (...) Door ragfijn spel van houtblazers weet Fischer enorme spanningen op te roepen. (...)

(...) Channel Classics maintains its reputation for audiophile quality recordings: orchestra and soloists perfectly balanced, the overall sound brilliant and rich. Fischer conducts with total authority and complete conviction.

Iván Fischer en zijn Budapest Festival Orkest scheppen een hemelse, veelkleurige, diep fonkelende klankwereld. (...) Deze opname getuigt van Mahlers besef dat de aarde zindert van eeuwig leven.

(...) groots van visie, prachtig van lijn, met volle aandacht voor de fraaie details zonder de lange spanningsbogen uit het oog te verliezen. (...) Deze dirigent dringt door tot het hart. (...) hoog reikende vertolking, exemplarisch opgenomen door - natuurlijk - Jared Sacks. (8/10 stars)

Fischer’s acclaimed Mahler cycle began in 2005 with the 6th Symphony and steadily emerged as one of the finest on disc, thanks not least to the superb 5.0 multi-channel DSD recordings engineered by Jared Sacks in the Palace of Arts, Budapest. (…) As has always been the case with this conductor’s Mahler performances we have here an account that is distinctive, yet free of any interpretive mannerisms, and marked by meticulous attention to the score. (…) Purposeful, sensitive conducting. (...) The sound here is exemplary; natural, detailed and clear, but never clinical.