Des Knaben Wunderhorn / Adagio from symphony no. 10

Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), Christian Gerhaher (baritone) & Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez

Pierre Boulez adds the two last missing bricks to complete his Mahler discography on Deutsche Grammophon. Recorded live in concert with the Cleveland Orchestra the program brings together the early orchestral song cycle from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, featuring mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and baritone Christian Gerhaher with the late Adagio of Mahler’s fragmentary Symphony No. 10

The concert took place only a few months before Gustav Mahler’s 150 Birthday. The concert is also part of the celebrations of Pierre Boulez’ 85 birthday this year.

“The undoubted star of the "Wunderhorn" songs was Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozená, whose plush voice and dramatic flair handily captured the essences of scenes steeped in the miseries of war, poverty, and ephemeral love.” (Plain Dealer, Cleveland)

“The reading under Boulez was one of extremes, marked by crushing softness, biting dissonance, and throat-grabbing peaks. Yet it was also cool and insightful, elucidating how the score's modest themes unfold and accumulate weight to magnificent effect over time.” (Plain Dealer, Cleveland)

“This performance had the hallmarks of the great Boulez/Cleveland Orchestra collaboration: precision of sound and tuning, transparency of texture with details being elucidated, flexibility of rhythm appropriate to this last of the great Viennese symphonists, but without being overwrought.” (ClevelandClassical.com, Cleveland)

Mahler:
Des Knaben Wunderhorn (12 songs, complete)
 w/Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano) & Christian Gerhaher (baritone)

Symphony No. 10 in F sharp major - Adagio

De muzikale toekomst is opwindend aanwezig in deze zinderende live performance ... Gerhaher en Boulez verkennen en herscheppen samen die fragiele nostalgische warmte. Het orkest en de stem van Gerhaher zijn perfect uitgebalanceerd, elke expressieve nuance is gemaximaliseert. Pierre Boulez voltooit hiermee zijn Mahlerdiscografie met de twaalf liederen uit Des Knaben Wunderhorn en het Adagio uit de onvoltooid gebleven Tiende symfonie. Voor de dirigent en componist Boulez is vooral die laatste compositie een optelsom van alles wat Gustav Mahler in zijn leven heeft geschreven. Christian Gerhaher en Magdalena Kozená zijn de stervertolkers van de liederen uit Des Knaben Wunderhorn en samen met The Cleveland Orchestra o.l.v. Boulez een prachtig Mahler-document.
Klassieke Zaken Magazine

"The musical future is thrillingly present in this searing live performance...Gerhaher and Boulez together explore and recreate that fragile warmth of nostalgia. The lithe, toned muscle of both orchestra and voice, everywhere meticulously balanced, maximises each expressive nuance."
BBC Music Magazine - December 2010 *****