Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde / Ruckert Lieder (Essential Classics)
This disc is a real sleeper. On LP, with recessed sound,  it was a total nonstarter. Remastered onto CD, however, it suddenly reveals a  performance of well-nigh incomparable beauty. The only rival to the Philadelphia  Orchestra for sheer quality of playing is the Concertgebouw Orchestra on  Philips. It's fashionable in vocal circles to disparage Lili Chookasian, a good  but not great singer, but here she really gives it her all, as if she understood  that this would be her musical testament. It's a very fine performance, and  Richard Lewis is aDas Liedpro. Nothing to complain about there. Throw  in Frederica von Stade's lovelyRückert Liederas a bonus, and at budget  price, this is an incredible deal.--David Hurwitz