Autumn is deepening. Winter is right behind autumn, as if to warn us not to wait too long. During this season, My Master often looks a little lonely. This is probably because his mother passed away around this time about two years ago.
Losing one’s immediate family seems to be one of the most painful things for humans. Even though I was sold to a pet shop right after I was born without few memory about family, I’m sure it would be sad to say goodbye to my Master and his family, who took me home, called me “second son,” and made me into a family member.
I would like to introduce one of Peter Damm’s precious performances with the hope that even if that day comes, my Master will not be too sad. Mahler’s “Kindertotenlieder”.
Players and recording
Conductor: Karl Böhm
Mezo Soprano：Christa Ludwig
Solo Horn：Peter Damm
Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden
Recording Engineer：Josef Sladko
Recording date：August 15, 1972（Peter Damm 35 years old）
Recording location： Das Große Festspielhaus in Salzburg （Live recording)
Live recording of Karl Boehm about two weeks before he turned 78 years old. Even during the Cold War, the Salzburg Festival was one of the few places where musicians from East and West could interact. I’m happy that recently, live performance recordings that have not yet been made into records are being made into CDs one after another.
I wish more and more Peter Damm’s live recording will be introduced in the future.
My favorit
“Kindertotenlieder” has a total of 5 songs. The lyrics are based on a poem by Friedrich Rückert.
The lyrics are written from the perspective of a father who has lost his children. From the first song, Christa Ludwig and Peter Damm alternately sing sad melodies with emotion. The performers maintain a high tension as they head into the final song, “In diesem Wetter.”
No.5 song ”In diesem Wetter” （In such a terrible weather）
It is terrible storm outside. The raging melody screams, “I don’t send my kids out on a day like this,” “They’re going to get sick,” “My kids are going to die,” and “Don’t we have to worry about that anymore?” ”, the hopelessly self-contained lyrics go on. The unbearably sad music ends with the sound of a glockenspiel, and the rain stops.
The song suddenly changes to a gentle melody, and his father realizes that the children are already living in peace, protected by the hands of God. The mezzo-soprano’s passionate singing ends, and at the end, the horn refrains a gentle melody. In fact, this is the best moment to listen. Peter Damm’s “passionate” song begins, as if to say, “I can’t put any more emotion into it.”
It was such a wonderful, emotional performance that I think more than 50% of the applause that followed went to Peter Damm. Sorry to Ms. Ludwig who sang all the way to the end!
Incredible impact at the last moment !
Solo by Lugwig Christa is also wonderful !
