Mahler: Vokalsinfonien

by Various Artists

2010 four CD release. Gustav Mahler was not only the last of the great symphonists to follow in the tradition of Beethoven, he was also the fi rst composer after Beethoven to pursue the idea of a vocal symphony setting. Beethoven had pursued the goal of including vocal parts and choruses in his Ninth Symphony; Mahler was inspired by this prototype of message music and started to treat his own symphonies programmatically. Creative learning of the written word became a typical characteristic feature of Mahler's compositions. This 4CD set boasts outstanding recordings of Symphonies Nos. 2-4 and Symphony No. 8. The works are conducted by Otto Klemperer, Adrian Boult, Fritz Reiner and Leopold Stokowski the distinguished vocal soloists include Kathleen Ferrier and Lisa Della Casa, among others..