Mahler in Context – Early Recordings, 1903–1939

The chronological table below gives basic information about the recordings of Mahler’s music made in the period 1903–1939. In the absence of any other information the release dates of commercial recordings were probably within months of the recording date. Some non-commercial recordings that have since been published are also included: those that are known to have been associated with radio broadcasts are identified with *.

The acoustic recordings made in 1903–1925 were rendered technically obsolete after the introduction of electric recordings c. 1926, but may have continued to be available for a few years thereafter. However, Lula Mysz-Gmeiner’s 1928 re-recording  of ‘Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?’ was probably undertaken as a replacement of her earlier acoustic version.

Further information, including matrix and catalogue numbers and details of transfers, can be found in Peter Fülöp, Mahler Discography (Toronto: Mikrokosmos Comp. Ltd., 2010). According to Fülöp the recording by Grete Stückgold of ‘Ich ging mit Lust durch einen grünen Wald’ (Lieder und Gesänge, vol. 2, no. 2) made sometime between 1919 and 1921, used an orchestration by Lothar Windsperger, presumably the version published in score and parts, by Schott in 1918 (plate number 31860). The arrangements for salon orchestra of Rheinlegendchen and Von der Jugend used by Dol Dauber for his exquisite 1928 recordings were presumably those by Franz Eber, published by Universal-Edition in 1926 as part of their Vindobona-Collection.

Recorded ReleaseTitlePerformersLabelFülöp No.
1903
Weber/Mahler: Die drei Pintos, Act III/16, “Ein Mädchen verloren“
Leopold Demuth
Unidentified pianist
G&T
A.8310
[1919–1921]

Recorded in Munich
Lieder und Gesänge No. 7, 'Ich ging mit Lust‘
Grete Stückgold
Unidentified orchestra and conductor
Gramophone/Polydor
J.2110
[1919–1921]

Recorded in Munich
Lieder aus „Des Knaben Wunderhorn“ – No. 4. ‚Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?‘
Grete Stückgold
Unidentified orchestra and conductor
Gramophone/Polydor
W.0005
1924
1925
Symphony No. 2
Gertrude Bindernagel
Emmi Leisner
Berlin Cathedral Choir
Berlin State Opera Orchestra Oskar Fried
Gramophon
2.0010
1925
Lieder aus „Des Knaben Wunderhorn“ – No. 4. ‚Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?‘
Lula Mysz-Gmeiner
{Unidentified pianist]
Polydor
W.1010
v.1926
Symphony No. 5 – Adagietto
Concertgebouw Orchestra
Willem Mengelberg
English Columbia
5.6010
1928
Lieder aus „Des Knaben Wunderhorn“ – No. 4. ‚Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?‘
Lula Mysz-Gmeiner
Julius Dahlke, piano
Polydor
W.1020
1928
Kindertotenlieder
Heinrich Rehkemper
Berlin State Opera Orchestra
Jascha Horenstein
Gramophon
K.0010
1928

Recorded at Central Hall, Westminster (London)
Um Mitternacht
Aaltje Noordewier-Reddingius
Anthon van der Horst, organ
Columbia
R.8110
28.ix.1928
Rheinlegendchen
(arr. F. Eber)
Dol Dauber Salon Orchestra
Austrian Electrola
W.5010
28.ix.1928
Das Lied von der Erde
No. 3 ‚Von der Jugend‘
(arr. F. Eber)
Dol Dauber Salon Orchestra
Austrian Electrola
L.5310
16.i.1929
Bach: Air from “Suite for Orchestra”, arr. Mahler
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Willem Mengelberg
Victor
A.0010
18.02.1930
Lieder aus „Des Knaben Wunderhorn“ – No. 4. ‚Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?‘
Elisabeth Schumann
George Reeves, piano
HMV
W.1030
28/29.v.1930
Symphony No. 4
Eiko Kitazawa
Tokyo New Symphony Orchestra
Hidemaro Konoye
Japan Parlophone
4.0010
1.x.1930
Urlicht
Mme Sara Charles-Cahier
Berlin State Opera Orchestra
Selmar Meyrowitz
Ultraphon
2.6010
1.x.1930
„Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen“
Mme Sara Charles-Cahier
Berlin State Opera Orchestra
Selmar Meyrowitz
Ultraphon
R.0010
1931
Rheinlegendchen
Der Tamboursg'sell
Heinrich Schlusnus
Berlin State Opera Orchestra
Hermann Weigert
Polydor
W.0010
8.iv.1934*

Recorded in New York City during a live NBC broadcast.
2016
Symphony No. 2, second movement
Cadillac Symphony Orchestra
Arnold Schoenberg
Pristine Audio
Not in Fülöp
7.xi.1934*

Recorded live at a concert in the Konzerthus, Stockholm
June 1989
Das Lied von der Erde, fragments of movements 2 and 4
Kirsten Thorborg
Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Václav Talich
(The tenor was Einar Beyron)
BIS
L.2010
1/2.i.1935

Recorded live on 1 January
at the Cyrus Northrup Auditorium,
Minneapolis.
Sides 1 and 16 were
remade the following day.
Symphony No. 2
Corinne Frank Bowen
Ann O'Malley Gallogly
Twin City Chorus
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy
Victor
2.0020
24.v.1936

Recorded at a concert in the
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Vienna
June 1937
Das Lied von der Erde
Kerstin Thorborg
Charles Kullman
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Bruno Walter
Columbia
L.0010
24.v.1936

Recorded at a concert in the
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Vienna
June 1937
„Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen“
Kerstin Thorborg
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Bruno Walter
Columbia
R.0020
21.12.1937
Bach: Air from “Suite for Orchestra”, arr. Mahler
Concertgebouw Orkest
Willem Mengelberg
Telefunken
A.0015
15.i.1938

Recorded at a rehearsal in the
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Vienna
Symphony No. 5 – Adagietto
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Bruno Walter
Victor/HMV
5.6020
16.i.1938

Recorded at a concert in the
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Vienna
Symphony No. 9
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Bruno Walter
Victor/HMV
9.0010
20.vi.1938

Recorded in London
„Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen“ (sung in English)
Charles Kullman
[Unidentified orchestra]
Malcolm Sargent
Columbia
R.0030
8.iv.1939*

Recorded at a concert in New York
1995
Symphony No. 1
NBC Symphony Orchestra
Bruno Walter
Eklipse (1995)
1.0005
5.x.1939

Recorded at a concert in the
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
1995
Das Lied von der Erde
Kerstin Thorborg
Carl Martin Öhmann
Concertgebouw Orchestra
Carl Schuricht
Archiphon (1995)
L.0015
9.xi.1939

Recorded live at a performance at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
1962
Symphony No. 4
Jo Vincent
Concertgebouw Orchestra
Willem Mengelberg
Phlipps (1962)
4.0020