Mahler initially had a hard time of it. A few compositional attempts from his youth did not turn out to his liking and were destroyed. When Das klagende Lied finally met with his own critical favor, he stated, "My first work in which I have found myself as 'Mahler'!" Here it is heard in colorful contrast to the fragment from his last symphony and the "Blumine" andante originally intended for the first symphony. The Beethoven Orchestra of Bonn under its resourceful conductor Stefan Blunier is in top form on this fascinatingly detailed look at Mahler's compositional workshop.