Recorded live at MahlerFest XXXI

May 19-20 2018

MahlerFest Orchestra

Stacey Rishoi – mezzo soprano
Brennen Guillory – tenor
Kenneth Woods – conductor

Gustav Mahler – Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth) 61′

REVIEW:
“Saturday night at Macky Auditorium, third-year music director Kenneth Woods conducted a moving, emotional interpretation of “Das Lied” that owed much of its distinctiveness to his superb pair of guest singers. Mezzo-soprano Stacey Rishoi would have made a strong impact based on her rich, resonant voice alone, but what most set her apart was her gift for conveying the emotions and the narrative of the texts. Tenor Brennen Guillory radiated both immense power and tender intimacy.

“Despite the smaller role, the tenor part is of fiendish difficulty and demands a true Wagnerian voice, especially in the wild, nihilistic opening song. Guillory’s voice rang through the cavernous Macky space with commanding authority, especially at the almost-frightening climax. But in the shorter character pieces that follow in third and fifth position, he effortlessly transitioned from sweet nostalgia to drunken abandon.”

“Despite her billing as a mezzo-soprano, Rishoi seemed like a true alto in her penetrating, low register. She was agile and powerful in the higher range as well, especially in the thrilling and powerful “horse music” climax of the fourth song. In the final “Abschied” — which is as long as the other five movements combined — Woods and Rishoi seemed to be in intimate communion with each other and the audience. In reality, the piece is long due to its slow tempo rather than an abundance of material, and the orchestra maintained great concentration through the scene depicted in the paired poems — a long anticipation of a friend’s arrival in advance of a melancholy parting. Rishoi was both heartfelt and muted in her expression as the text demanded.” Kelly Dean Hansen – Boulder Daily Camera

Please note – for environmental reasons, this item is not shrink-wrapped

Recording – Mike Quam

Editing and mastering – Tim Burton

This album is also available as an mp3 or hifi digital download on Bandcamp.