David Harbin is looking for his dream Gurrelieder:

>I am trying to find the ideal recording.Is there a Gurreleider out there
>for me or am I condemed to wander the heavens that are my local record
>stores Gurreleider-style in vain?

It sounds like you are fussy about the technical sides of the recording
as well as the performance.  Good.  I am not a Gurrelieder completionist,
but I am a very keen Schoenbergian.  I have not heard the Kubelik or the
Stokowski etc.  I would, for once, suggest listening to Ozawa:  I am not
usually an admirer.  It is one of his best recordings and everyone is
allowed their moments.  There is brand new transfer out from Phillips at
mid-price, which sounds to my ears like a 20 bit transfer.  The analog
warmth of the sound comes through well and is complimented by the brilliant
clarity of the new generation digital sound technology.  It is a live
performance but I feel it is naturally balanced, ambient and reasonably
spacious.  Very good if not quite audiophile quality sound.

Again the soloist are not perfect - this is not your Dream-Team
Gurrelieder, sorry, but it is still pretty damned good.  Though James
McCracken's declamatory style will not be everyone's cup of tea the
characterisation of Waldemar comes through exceptionally well.  His part
II monologue has great impact.  Jessye Norman's Tove may lack innocence
but she has wonderful sensuality.  Otherwise Werner Klemperer's role as
Sprecher deserves particular mention in that he makes the early
Sprechgesang character of his monologue come through brilliantly.

The BSO sound like they having a good night as well under Ozawa.  You
wouldn't know it was live if the cover didn't tell you.  The coupled
Chamber Symphony Nr 1 under Inbal sounds terribly flat footed.  This works
should sound lively and Haydenesque, but Inbal approaches it as if it were
Bruckner.  It doesn't work for me and I would direct people to the Orpheus
Chamber Orchestra's recording (although I have a nasty feeling it might
have been deleted...) or else Simon Rattle.

I hope this helps.

Satoshi Akima
Sydney, Australia
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