The album was recorded shortly after von Stade and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra had performed its programme with Levi in concert.[1]
Recordingedit
The album was recorded digitally on 11-12 July 1998 in Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta, Georgia.[2]
Packagingedit
The cover of the album was designed by Jim Burt of Burt & Burt Studio under the art direction of Anilda Carrasquillo.[2] It features photography by Tom and Pat Leeson.[2]
Critical receptionedit
Gustav Mahler photographed by Moritz Nähr in 1907
David S. Gutman reviewed the album in Gramophone in July 1999, comparing it with recordings of Mahler's Symphony No. 4 conducted by Lorin Maazel,[3]Colin Davis[4] and Claudio Abbado[5] - the latter also featuring von Stade as soloist - and with a recording of Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen that von Stade had made with Andrew Davis.[6] Von Stade's contribution to the symphony's fourth movement - separated from the third by a puzzling, extended pause - was, he thought, "slightly disappointing". The passing years had robbed her of a little of the "boyish freshness" that she had brought to the movement's Wunderhorn song when taping the symphony with Abbado in 1977. Abbado's album also bettered Levi's in its orchestral playing, as did Gutman's other reference recordings of the symphony. Levi's Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was "fine", but it lacked the sumptuous string tone that the Vienna Philharmonic had produced for Abbado and Maazel or the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra for Colin Davis. Conducting, Levi displayed both strengths and weaknesses. As he had already shown on his recordings of Mahler's Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 6, his approach to the composer was "fresh-toned and understated", and he was well suited temperamentally to a work with a "relatively sunny disposition and low neurosis quotient". His interpretation rejoiced in "incidental beauties" and "a mass of detail and colour". But he had allowed himself many (admittedly small) deviations from Mahler's stipulated tempos and accent markings, and his reading as a whole was "just a shade undercooked".[1]
In the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, as in the symphony, it was evident that von Stade was no longer quite the singer that she had been in the 1970s. The "bubbly Arcadia" of "Ging heut Morgen über's Feld" no longer had the same conviction as the "heart-rending" final bars of "Ich hab' ein glühend Messer". Von Stade's admirers would find much in her new album to please them, but there was no escaping the fact that it was not the best in her discography. On the other hand, there was not a note in her performance that sounded exaggerated, and "even when the pitch is ever so slightly suspect or the tone no longer quite so lustrous, she remains wistful, touching and ardent". Von Stade enthusiasts who bought Levi's disc could be assured, too, that they would get to hear their idol in "exceptional" recorded sound.[1]
Telarc released the album on CD (catalogue number CD-80499) in 1999 with a 16-page insert booklet including texts in German and English, detailed notes by Nick Jones, a biography and photograph of von Stade and a list of the members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra who took part in the recording.[2]
mahler, symphony, yoel, levi, recording, mahler, symphony, minute, studio, album, which, mahler, fourth, song, cycle, lieder, eines, fahrenden, gesellen, performed, frederica, stade, atlanta, symphony, orchestra, under, direction, yoel, levi, recording, releas. Mahler Symphony No 4 is a 73 minute studio album on which Mahler s Fourth and his song cycle Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen are performed by Frederica von Stade and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Yoel Levi The recording was released in 1999 Symphony No 4 amp Songs of a WayfarerTelarc CD CD 80499Studio album by Yoel LeviReleased1999StudioSymphony Hall Woodruff Arts Center AtlantaGenreClassicalLength73 44LanguageGermanLabelTelarcProducerElaine Martone Contents 1 Background 2 Recording 3 Packaging 4 Critical reception 5 CD track listing 6 Personnel 6 1 Musical 6 2 Other 7 Release history 8 See also 9 ReferencesBackground editThe album was recorded shortly after von Stade and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra had performed its programme with Levi in concert 1 Recording editThe album was recorded digitally on 11 12 July 1998 in Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center Atlanta Georgia 2 Packaging editThe cover of the album was designed by Jim Burt of Burt amp Burt Studio under the art direction of Anilda Carrasquillo 2 It features photography by Tom and Pat Leeson 2 Critical reception edit nbsp Gustav Mahler photographed by Moritz Nahr in 1907David S Gutman reviewed the album in Gramophone in July 1999 comparing it with recordings of Mahler s Symphony No 4 conducted by Lorin Maazel 3 Colin Davis 4 and Claudio Abbado 5 the latter also featuring von Stade as soloist and with a recording of Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen that von Stade had made with Andrew Davis 6 Von Stade s contribution to the symphony s fourth movement separated from the third by a puzzling extended pause was he thought slightly disappointing The passing years had robbed her of a little of the boyish freshness that she had brought to the movement s Wunderhorn song when taping the symphony with Abbado in 1977 Abbado s album also bettered Levi s in its orchestral playing as did Gutman s other reference recordings of the symphony Levi s Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was fine but it lacked the sumptuous string tone that the Vienna Philharmonic had produced for Abbado and Maazel or the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra for Colin Davis Conducting Levi displayed both strengths and weaknesses As he had already shown on his recordings of Mahler s Symphony No 5 and Symphony No 6 his approach to the composer was fresh toned and understated and he was well suited temperamentally to a work with a relatively sunny disposition and low neurosis quotient His interpretation rejoiced in incidental beauties and a mass of detail and colour But he had allowed himself many admittedly small deviations from Mahler s stipulated tempos and accent markings and his reading as a whole was just a shade undercooked 1 In the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen as in the symphony it was evident that von Stade was no longer quite the singer that she had been in the 1970s The bubbly Arcadia of Ging heut Morgen uber s Feld no longer had the same conviction as the heart rending final bars of Ich hab ein gluhend Messer Von Stade s admirers would find much in her new album to please them but there was no escaping the fact that it was not the best in her discography On the other hand there was not a note in her performance that sounded exaggerated and even when the pitch is ever so slightly suspect or the tone no longer quite so lustrous she remains wistful touching and ardent Von Stade enthusiasts who bought Levi s disc could be assured too that they would get to hear their idol in exceptional recorded sound 1 The album was also reviewed in Classic CD 7 CD track listing editGustav Mahler 1860 1911 Symphony No 4 1901 text from Des Knaben Wunderhorn traditional 1 16 58 Bedachtig Nicht eilen 2 9 32 In gemachlicher Bewegung Ohne Hast 3 20 33 Ruhevoll 4 9 19 Sehr behaglichLieder eines fahrenden Gesellen 1896 text by Gustav Mahler 5 3 53 Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht 6 4 25 Ging heut Morgen uber s Feld 7 3 26 Ich hab ein gluhend Messer 8 4 50 Die zwei blauen Augen von meinem Schatz 2 Personnel editMusical edit Frederica von Stade mezzo soprano Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Yoel Levi conductor 2 Other edit Robert Woods executive producer Elaine Martone recording producer Michael Bishop recording engineer Thomas C Moore editor and recording assistant James Yates technical assistant 2 Release history editTelarc released the album on CD catalogue number CD 80499 in 1999 with a 16 page insert booklet including texts in German and English detailed notes by Nick Jones a biography and photograph of von Stade and a list of the members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra who took part in the recording 2 See also editMahler Symphony No 4 with Frederica von Stade Claudio Abbado recording Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen Ruckert lieder and two songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn with Frederica von Stade Andrew Davis recording References edit a b c Gutman David S Gramophone July 1999 p 60 a b c d e f g Mahler Gustav Symphony No 4 amp Songs of a Wayfarer cond Yoel Levi Telarc CD CD 80499 1999 Mahler Gustav Symphony No 4 cond Lorin Maazel Sony CD SMK 39072 Mahler Gustav Symphony No 4 cond Colin Davis RCA Vicror Red Seal CD 09026 62521 2 Mahler Gustav Symphony No 4 cond Claudio Abbado Deutsche Grammophon CD 478 423 5 Frederica von Stade The Complete Columbia Recital Albums Sony CD 88875183412 Classic CD Issues 114 119 1999 p 79 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mahler Symphony No 4 Yoel Levi recording amp oldid 1068122109, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
