Here is yet another remastering of this classic performance, which from a purely orchestral perspective is Bernstein’s finest of the work. There’s little doubt that Fischer-Dieskau was in better, or in any event less aggressive voice for his first recording of the work under Kletzki (EMI, and greatly underrated), and he’s no match for the great contraltos and mezzo-sopranos like Christa Ludwig (Klemperer, Karajan, and Bernstein) and Janet Baker (Haitink). But he certainly rises to the occasion where required, delivering a hugely moving account of “The Farewell”, and Bernstein’s conducting of this song has never been surpassed. James King, too, is in fresher voice than he was for Haitink, a real Heldentenor whose singing ranks with the finest on disc, comparable perhaps only to Fritz Wunderlich for Klemperer. I can’t imagine anyone who cares about Mahler or this piece not already owning this performance, either on LP or in any of its two prior CD incarnations. Frankly, the improvements in sound do not warrant replacing the “Classic Sound” edition, but if for some reason you have not heard this recording, then hesitate no longer. It’s one of the two or three greatest performances the work has ever received on disc.
