Vote for your Favourite Mahler Cycle!

[TheGSMoeller]

Hmm, I'm up for the challenge!

b)  The ending of Sibelius' 5th symphony sucks   

The Sock Monkey is officially hunting you. 

[TheGSMoeller]

Rattle and Bernstein's recordings (both Sony & DG) sparked my interest in Mahler, but it was Boulez's recordings where I really was able to enjoy the music, I prefer the clarity and balance of these performances. I have grown to feel annoyed by interpretations that exaggerate tempo and dynamic markings for an attempt at added drama. I find the notes speak for themselves and who better to offer a precise performance than Boulez. Although my favorite 2nd recording belongs to Blomstedt/SFO and the 7th still belongs to MTT/London SO.

Analogy: I prefer my Mahler directed by Kubrick, not Michael Bay. 

[Sergeant Rock]

The question is a bit unanswerable. Can a human being ever listen to all cycles (and compare them)?

No, the question isn't unanswerable. Even if you own or have heard only one cycle, that will be, by default, your favorite.  If the subject would have been, Vote for the best Mahler cycle, than true, it would be impossible for all but a few to answer that question (and even then the answer would be highly subjective and open to debate). But favorite? No, that's easy to answer. Just don't assume that that means the one with the most votes is the best.

Sarge

[Roberto]

No, the question isn't unanswerable.

Ok, I voted to Solti. No matter how many Mahler recordings I have, I always have to go back to his cycle (at least part of it).

[The new erato]

Just don't assume that you won't be hunted down with a bazooka if you get it wrong!

[DavidW]

Can a human being ever listen to all cycles (and compare them)?

Of course they can.   I've listened to most of them, so have most of the other posters on this thread.  I would not be surprised if Sarge and Jens had listened to all of these cycles.

[The new erato]

Of course they can.   I've listened to most of them, so have most of the other posters on this thread.  I would not be surprised if Sarge and Jens had listened to all of these cycles.

The problem isn't in the listening, it's in the comparing I would guess.

[Sergeant Rock]

Of course they can.   I've listened to most of them, so have most of the other posters on this thread.  I would not be surprised if Sarge and Jens had listened to all of these cycles.

I own sixteen of the cycles listed in the poll (plus Kondrashin and Levine's almost complete cycles). Of those I don't have complete: I own enough of Abbado and Thomas to know I don't appreciate their Mahler style enough to invest in the whole. I only own the Wit 8 from the Naxos cycle. I have Segerstam's 2 and I hope Chandos reissues that cycle; I'd like to hear the rest. Gergiev and Zinman I haven't heard at all but nothing I've read, here or elsewhere, makes me regret that (they don't seem to offer anything new or substantially different to justify the purchase).

Sarge

[DavidRoss]

The question is a bit unanswerable. Can a human being ever listen to all cycles (and compare them)?

Sarge & Dave have already made the points that leaped to mind when I saw this. I own nine of those listed and selected recordings from several others, plus many recordings from those who never completed a "cycle" per se, though they may have recorded virtually all of the symphonies, like Klemperer and Barbirolli.

My preferences shift over time.  A few years ago Bernstein's gushiness was anathema to me, but now I love it.  Lately I've been enjoying Gielen quite a bit.  The thing is that over a number of years several have become old friends, the ones I return to over and over with continued enjoyment, and those are the ones dearest to my heart.  And though I've never sat down and A-B'd all of the 1sts I own, and so on, something near 20% of all my music listening is to Mahler and I change up recordings all the time, hearing Fischer's 4th today, then Nagano's 8th, followed by Barbirolli's 5th and MTT's 3rd and so on, so I believe that I have a fair (not exhaustive) experience with much that is out there.

And, thanks to services like Spotify and Mog, I'm able nowadays to hear other sets without spending a hundred bucks each (or more) to acquire them, like Zinman and Gergiev, for instance.

[Clever Hans]

I own sixteen of the cycles listed in the poll (plus Kondrashin and Levine's almost complete cycles). Of those I don't have complete: I own enough of Abbado and Thomas to know I don't appreciate their Mahler style enough to invest in the whole. I only own the Wit 8 from the Naxos cycle. I have Segerstam's 2 and I hope Chandos reissues that cycle; I'd like to hear the rest. Gergiev and Zinman I haven't heard at all but nothing I've read, here or elsewhere, makes me regret that (they don't seem to offer anything new or substantially different to justify the purchase).

Sarge

But have you heard any of the Abbado Lucerne performances? The transperancy and chamber-like give and take of the orchestra, as well as much more natural sound than on DG make these recordings special. I think Abbado excels as Mahler becomes more complex, and his conceptions have matured even since the later Berlin versions.   
The 7th and 9th are amazing. And I haven't heard the pizzicato section of the 5th's Scherzo characterized better.

So check them out--on youtube--if you haven't already.

Any more specifics from those who like Chailly's approach?

[Lisztianwagner]

I vote for Bernstein (DG), Zinman and Solti 

I personally think nobody could perform Mahler's music as Bernstein did, he was so passionate and involving! Both his Mahler Cycles are masterpieces 

Pity Karajan never recorded all Mahler symphonies, just some of them as far as I know.....

[Roberto]

I've thought I am a Mahler fan but you guys convinced me I have to take much more time to listen to his music (on different recordings). 

And though I've never sat down and A-B'd all of the 1sts I own, and so on, something near 20% of all my music listening is to Mahler and I change up recordings all the time, hearing Fischer's 4th today, then Nagano's 8th, followed by Barbirolli's 5th and MTT's 3rd and so on, so I believe that I have a fair (not exhaustive) experience with much that is out there.

The 1st will be recorded by Fischer/BFO this year. They perform this symphony this weekend and I will be there. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Pity Karajan never recorded all Mahler symphonies...

I would have liked to have had a Third from Karajan (his Sixth is among my favorites, his Ninth my absolute favorite).

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

But have you heard any of the Abbado Lucerne performances?

I haven't. I should give those a try.

Sarge

[MishaK]

Hey, madaboutmahler, there are two Abbado cycles: one from the 80s with VPO/CSO and one with the BPO from the 90s, both on DG, plus several individual live performances with Lucerne and a BPO 6th. Which one do you mean by the Abbado choice in the survey? Also, what about the two complete Mahler sets with different conductors issued by EMI and DG?

[Lisztianwagner]

I would have liked to have had a Third from Karajan (his Sixth is among my favorites, his Ninth my absolute favorite).

Sarge

Yes, me too, Karajan is definitely my favourite conductor, he was able to extract beautiful sounds from every orchestra he played with; both his No.6 & No.9 are excellent, but his Fifth is great as well.

Ilaria

[Drasko]

Hey, madaboutmahler, there are two Abbado cycles: one from the 80s with VPO/CSO and one with the BPO from the 90s, both on DG, plus several individual live performances with Lucerne and a BPO 6th. Which one do you mean by the Abbado choice in the survey?

It's not that clear cut. There is only one Abbado boxed cycle -  from 80s/90s with VPO/CSO/BPO. It contains his second BPO recordings of 1st and 5th, and his only 8th (also BPO). That came out mid 90s.

After that box come Lucerne 2nd and BPO 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 (the ones with Mahler's name cutout slipcases), but those were never boxed.

Then come the Lucerne DVDs (the 2nd should be the same as audio release).

Of all those I always wanted to hear VPO 9th and CSO 6th, never found them single for cheap.

[DavidRoss]

I haven't. I should give those a try.

Yep, in general they're terrific, with all the virtues I love about Abbado's conducting as Hans noted.  I've not lived with them like I have with some of Abbado's old recordings with CSO, WP, et al, or his more recent ones with the BP, but what I've heard I like quite a bit.

[Sergeant Rock]

Hey, madaboutmahler, there are two Abbado cycles: one from the 80s with VPO/CSO and one with the BPO from the 90s, both on DG, plus several individual live performances with Lucerne and a BPO 6th. Which one do you mean by the Abbado choice in the survey? Also, what about the two complete Mahler sets with different conductors issued by EMI and DG?

Dude, don't be pedantic. Just tell us your three favorites 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Yep, in general they're terrific...

Noted. Now I just have to overcome my extreme aversion to Abbado, and listen...

Sarge