Pierre Boulez’s Mahler cycle, which started almost 20 years ago with the recording of the Sixth Symphony in 1994, has now reached its conclusion with the release, this year, of songs from Des Knabenwunderhorn and the Adagio from the Tenth Symphony.

Without a doubt, this has been one of the greatest recording projects of its time – with two of the symphony recordings receiving Grammy Awards (nos. 3 and 9).

The complete cycle of symphonies and songs is now presented for the first time in a single set of 14 CD at budget price. This is a non-limited edition.

The set features the top orchestras: Chicago Symphony Orchestra (nos. 1 and 9), the Wiener Philharmoniker (nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, Das Lied), The Cleveland Orchestra (nos. 4, 7, 10), and the Staatskapelle Berlin (no. 8). The earlier version (Totenfeier) of the first movement of the Second Symphony is also included.

It also includes Das Lied von der Erde, Lieder eines fahrendes Gesellen, Rückert-Lieder and Kindertotenlieder – all with top soloists such as Christine Schäfer, Anne Sofie von Otter, Juliane Banse, Magdalena Kožená, Thomas Quasthoff, Violeta Urmana, Michael Schade (full details attached).

The accompanying booklet includes a new essay by Wolfgang Stähr and the sung texts and English translations of all works (with the exception of Das Lied).

The Boulez boxes of recent years (Bartók, Stravinsky, Debussy & Ravel) have all been successful, with nearly 20,000 sets sold since 2009. We expect the Mahler set will attract great attention and achieve the best results of all – it’s so full of wonderful recordings and marks a glorious peak in Boulez’s recording career.

Artists

Rainer Keuschnig (organ), Christine Schäfer (soprano) & Michelle Deyoung (mezzo-soprano), Anne Sofie von Otter (contralto), Dorothea Röschmann (soprano), Anna Larsson (contralto), Johan Botha (tenor), Juliane Banse, Twyla Robinson, Erin Wall, Adriane Queiroz, Michelle DeYoung, Simone Schröder, Hanno Müller-Brachmann & Robert Holl, Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano) & Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Violeta Urmana & Thomas Quasthoff, Violeta Urmana (mezzo-soprano), Michael Schade (tenor)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker & Wiener Singverein, Women’s Chorus of the Vienna Singverein, Wiener Sängerknaben & Wiener Philharmoniker, Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor & Wiener Philharmoniker, The Cleveland Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker, Staatskapelle Berlin, Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin & Aurelius Sängerknaben Calw, Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez