Bernstein conducts Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde – with Christa Ludwig

For his audio-visual recordings of both Das Lied von der Erde and the songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, Leonard Bernstein turned to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, an ensemble with which he had a decades-long relationship. For this live recording made at the Frederick Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv of Mahler’s 1908 work – a part symphony, part song cycle setting fin-de-siècle German translations of Chinese poetry – the conductor is joined with two of the greatest singers of the time: tenor René Kollo and mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig, who features in the final song of the work, “Der Abschied” – a heartbreaking farewell that lasts as long as all five other movements put together.

Soloists: 

René Kollo (Tenor), Christa Ludwig (Mezzo-Soprano)

Ensemble: 

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: 

Leonard Bernstein