Saturday, December 29, 2007

Bruno Walter: Beethoven & Mahler

This is the rare Volume 2 for Grammofono 2000's "His First Recordings in America for Columbia". Bruno Walter conducts the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. And he plays the piano in "Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit" for Desi Halban, soprano.

I really enjoyed Mahler's Symphony no. 5 with Walter, as compared to Claudio Abbado's. I think Walter's is how it was intended... much more subtle, playful, serene (of course, his closeness to Mahler must have played a key role in his interpretation). While Abbado's gives it a cinematographic touch, very much with the grandiosity used in incidental music, Walter's is more situated, theatrical... less lights and more imagination. The comparison would be similar to Hollywood productions today vs. Hollywood productions from the 50's.
Regardless, both are worth listening to. Enjoy particularly the fifth movement of Mahler Symphony No. 5.

Beethoven's Eroica is very expressive, especially with his use of dynamics.

Link to Amazon's page for this CD set: Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Mahler: Symphony No. 5

Name Key Catalogue Musicians Observations
Disc 1: Beethoven
Symphony No.3 EbOp.55 Columbia M449Jan. 1941Eroica
Disc 2: Mahler
Symphony No.5 C#mColumbia SL 171 Feb.10,1947
Selection from "Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit" for Voice and Piano(1880-1890)Columbia SL 171
Desi Halban, soprano
Bruno Walter, Piano

Dec. 16, 1947

  • I.Frühlingsmorgen (Leander)
  • II. Erinnerung (Leander)
  • III. Hans und Grethe (Mahler)
  • VII. Ich ging mit Lust durch einen grünen Wald (*)
  • IX. Starke Einbildungskraft (*)
  • XI. Ablösung im Sommer (*)
  • XII. Scheiden und Meiden (*)
  • XIII. Nicht wiedersehen (*)

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