I was very pleasantly surprised by this performance, with which I had previously been unfamiliar. Fischer-Dieskau is in fresher voice and seems happier with tempo than he would later in the more famous recording with Bernstein. The tenor, with whom I had also been unfamiliar, has the requisite heroic timber. Sounding very well, this may well be the most enjoyable version of Das Lied with baritone.

In comparison with the interpretation of Klemperer or Bernstein there is in my opinion the same high level. Great sound indeed!

I hesitated before purchasing: could a male voice (Fishcer-Diskau) reach the sensitivity of famous mezzos? Diskau almost achieves this in the last song but - at least for me -not in the second and fourth. The English tenor is below the very best. The real achievement is provided by the Philharmonia under Kletzki; vivid and transparent playing of Mahler's wonderful score. Really fine acoustic pleasures. We still demand a wholly satisfying Lied from HDTT and Mahler Fourth by Kletzki would be welcome.