This new recording of Gurrelieder, made after a 2006 tour and released to celebrate Michael Gielen’s 80th birthday, is the 13th currently available. A Schoenberg conductor of long experience, Gielen’s view is expansive, running past two hours, longer even than Craft and around 20 minutes past Chailly or Ozawa, the equivalent of a whole LP side in old money! Gielen’s cast of solo singers may not be quite as stellar as Chailly’s, Ferencsik’s or Ozawa’s but includes the radiant Melanie Diener, reprising Tove from Craft’s fine version. Naef, Lukas and Siegel – as Wood-Dove, Peasant and Jester respectively – make the most of their roles but as Waldemar, Robert Dean Smith does not, for me, quite reach into the heart of the King’s passion. It is the orchestra – actually, the stars of the show – who hit the mark rather in his outcry against God in Part 2 or the wild ride in Part 3. Andreas Schmidt makes a fine if dutiful speaker and there is excellent singing from the combined choruses of Bavarian and Leipzig Radio.

But if no single element can recommend this as the pre-eminent account, it does somehow become more than the sum of its parts. The experience of touring the work in live performance counts for much and it has more impact than Levine’s real live performance, partly due to Hänssler’s splendid SACD sound which gives the whole terrific presence. Then again, most of the rivals boast excellent sound and have compensating attractions: Craft is under half the price while Ferencsik adds the Suite for Strings as bonus. You pays your money and you takes your choice, but Gielen’s is a safe if not outstanding recommendation.