Classic Recording Quarterly‘s Alan Sanders devotes nearly two pages to a detailed review of the recordings in “The Music of Gustav Mahler: Issued 78s” in the magazine’s Winter 2014 edition, and he likes what he hears!
“[Ward] Marston has been at work [transferring Oskar Fried’s acoustic recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2] again, and he has produced a notably clearer and fuller sound than before. …
“I have compared the [Bruno Walter transfers with those on EMI/Warner’s recent Walter collection (6 79026-2)… the new Symphony No. 9 has a little more warmth and presence. …
“There is also a Das Lied potpourri and an arrangement of a Wunderhorn song played by the Dol Dauber Salonorchester. Both are strangely convincing. One disc that needs to be mentioned is of the “Urlicht” from the Second Symphony, coupled with one of the Rückert Lieder, sung by the contralto Sara Charles Cahier. She was a member of the Vienna Hofoper between 1907 and 1911, and performed under Mahler’s baton shortly before he lef his post as music director. She also sang in the first performance of Das Lied von der Erde. At the time of the 1930 recording she was 60, but she still sings affectingly. …
“A fascinating and most valuable set, and it is supported by a very informative 50-page English language essay.”
Now available in the US and most European and Asian territories.
- The most comprehensive collection ever assembled of Mahler’s music as issued on 78s between 1903 and 1940 — every such recording listed in Péter Fülöp’s Mahler Discography
- New transfers by Ward Marston and Mark Obert-Thorn
- Detailed notes on the music, the recording artists, and revelatory information about performances of Mahler’s music prior to World War II by Sybille Werner
- Full texts and translations
- Super-value price
No longer available, limited to an edition of 1000 copies
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