Mahler's symphonies are a staple of orchestra programs worldwide, but his songs are getting renewed attention this season as well. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of his death, which conveniently follows on the 150th anniversary of his birth in 2010.
To get some insight on this side of Mahler's work, we turn to Norman Lebrecht, the London-based cultural commentator, critic and author who has written a new book called Why Mahler?
We sample two new recordings: one with baritone Christian Gerhaher singing Des Knaben Wunderhorn, and the other featuring baritone Thomas Hampson in Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen.
Comments [3]
To correct my statement on Gustav Mahler: this year marks the 150th anniversary of his birth, in Kalischt, Bohemia on July 7, 1860. The 100th anniversary of his death in Vienna on May 18, 1911 will be celebrated next year. Chopin was born at Zelazowa-Wola, near Warsaw, on February 22, 1810 and Robert Schumann was born at Zwickau, Germany on June 8, 1810, both thereby qualifying for their respective 200 year anniversaries.
Mahler, Schumann and Chopin who this year are celebrating 50th for Mahler and 200th anniversaries for Schumann and Chopin, are DESERVING of considerably more performance and recording attention by singers and instrumentalists alike.
Whether songs or symphonies, I dislike Mahler. I think he is childish and his works are five times as long as they need to be.
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