Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde

These days the prospect of Mahler performances is unlikely to make even enthusiasts hold their breath, which is why performances of this vintage and, most importantly, this quality are always welcome. Jascha Horenstein's Mahler credentials were established in the early 1920s, and this 1972 studio account of Das Lied von der Erde, his last Mahler performance, draws on his half-century of performance-practice in a profoundly moving experience. At a shade under 68 minutes, it is also among the slowest, but such is Horenstein's control over fine detail and the broader span that he never risks losing focus. The BBC Northern SO rise to the challenge with total dedication. John Mitchinson is at times overstretched but always heroic in his contribution, while Alfreda Hodgson brings the simplicity and warmth that were hallmarks of all her Mahler performances. The closing 10 minutes of the final song, "Der Abschied", seem to reach out and draw the listener into the its confidence--something to be cherished in music as transcendent as this. Whatever accounts of this work you already have, Horenstein's is an essential addition. --Richard Whitehouse