Mahler originally wrote Das Lied von der Erde for a large orchestra; however, according to Reinbert de Leeuw, the work is especially suited to instrumentation on a more modest scale. Not only does the music contain diverse passages akin to chamber music, but the vocal soloists also gain a greater degree of expressive nuance if they do not have to match their voice against an orchestra. The arrangements of orchestral music made by Arnold Schönberg for the Viennese ‘Verein für Privataufführungen’ in the twenties serve as a model for De Leeuw. First and foremost, this implies being true to the score. However, unlike Schönberg, who once began work on an arrangement of Mahler’s Lied, De Leeuw adds more colours (including harp and bass clarinet) to his ensemble.

Artists

GUSTAV MAHLER
Das Lied von der Erde (arr. Reinbert de Leeuw)

ASKO|SCHÖNBERG 
conductor
Reinbert de Leeuw
mezzo soprano
Birgit Remmert 
tenor
Yves Saelens 
film
Tessa Joosse
light
Uri Rapaport 
direction
Neil Wallace