This première recording of the complete set of 24 “Wunderhorn” lieder of Mahler in its original version with piano accompaniment was awarded the Toblacher Jury Prize due to its experimental approach and important repertoire content. The two young singers, Argentinean baritone Iván Paley and German soprano Diana Damrau, draw out not only the popular-folk aspect of this facet-rich music, but also highlight its complexity. The singers collaborate with outstanding lied accompanist Stephan Matthias Lademann who accurately fashions the modern aspect of the songs. The new recording thoroughly convinces through its lively and unaffected, yet thoughtful interpretation of this original piano version and is a welcome addition to the limited existing discography of the “Wunderhorn” lieder.

Toblacher Gustav-Mahler-Komitee

Diana Damrau, German coloratura soprano with a major international career, together with Argentinean baritone Iván Paley and pianist Stephan Matthias Lademann present an excellent first recording of Mahler’s complete “Wunderhorn” Lieder for two voices with piano accompaniment. Iván Paley puts his baritone to dramatic use and achieves great levels of subtlety. Astonishing above all is the intimacy and insight with which this baritone, who is not yet 30-years old, is able to move his audience. It is easy for the writer of these lines to roll out the red carpet for this CD.

Fono Forum 7/04

….Iván Paley’s voice of beautiful sonorous texture in “Um schlimme Kinder artig zu machen” delivers an extremely pointed tone quality and in “Selbstgefühl” gives great meaning to the dark irony. Astounding is the young singer’s feeling for the stylistic idiom and his perfect diction. The vocal apparatus of the Argentinean, whose tones move the listener in the deepest possible way, seems ideal for Mahler’s “Weltschmerz”. In “Revelge”, the baritone sings terrifyingly eerie tones full of angst, plaintive cries, and doubt. In “Urlicht”, Iván Paley brings forth contrasting dimensions, and, as if emanating from some mystical origin, the voice rises with a floating tenderness and wise serenity, stripping away all that is earthly.

Orpheus

…Paley impresses in the darker songs….

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