Not only did Otto Klemperer know Mahler personally, he had reason to be grateful to the composer, who helped him in the early stages of his career. Klemperer first conducted Dad Lied von der Erde in 1924 and this recording dates from some 40 years later. Few tenors have rivalled Fritz Wunderlich's glowing heroic lyricism, while Christa Ludwig, both opulent of tone and acutely sensitive, makes the final "Abschied" an unforgettable experience.

Disc 1
01 Das Lied von der Erde, 'Song of the Earth' (2011 - Remaster): I. Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde (ten)  - Christa Ludwig/Fritz Wunderlich/Philharmonia Orchestra/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer
02 Das Lied von der Erde, 'Song of the Earth' (2011 - Remaster): II. Der Einsame im Herbst (con/bar)  - Christa Ludwig/Fritz Wunderlich/Philharmonia Orchestra/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer
03 Das Lied von der Erde, 'Song of the Earth' (2011 - Remaster): III. Von der Jugend (ten)  - Christa Ludwig/Fritz Wunderlich/Philharmonia Orchestra/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer
04 Das Lied von der Erde, 'Song of the Earth' (2011 - Remaster): IV. Von der Schönheit (con/bar)  - Christa Ludwig/Fritz Wunderlich/Philharmonia Orchestra/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer
05 Das Lied von der Erde, 'Song of the Earth' (2011 - Remaster): V. Der Trunkene im Frühling (ten)  - Christa Ludwig/Fritz Wunderlich/Philharmonia Orchestra/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer
06 Das Lied von der Erde, 'Song of the Earth' (2011 - Remaster): VI. Der Abschied (con/bar)  - Christa Ludwig/Fritz Wunderlich/Philharmonia Orchestra/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer