I. The Drinking Song Of Earth Sorrow II. The Lonely One In Autumn III. Of Youth IV. Of Beauty V. The Drunkard In Spring VI. The Farewell
The 2010 Mahler in Manchester festival was “A sensory experience like no other,” according to The Sunday Times, not least for the Manchester Cameratas revelatory performance of Das Lied von der Erde in the scaled-down chamber version by Schoenberg. The poignancy of Mahler’s “Song of the Earth” is highlighted by the reduced forces: just 16 performers, including the distinctive chimes of harmonium, celeste and piano. The chamber arrangement came about through Schoenberg’s Vienna-based Association for Private Musical Performances, founded in 1918. Dedicated to exploring new music but short of funds, they made a number of chamber versions of larger works, of which Das Lied was one. Conducted by Douglas Boyd, Manchester Cameratas performance of this transcription loses nothing of the astonishing sonic allure of the original – an ideal memento of an enlightening festival celebrating the music of Mahler.
The booklet includes complete song texts in German with English translations Recorded live in performance at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 30 January 2010