Which Bernstein Mahler Cycle?

[bwv 1080]

Thoughts?  Just bought the first cycle but am more familiar with the second

[Todd]

The 80s.  My favorite Sixth and possibly my favorite Second, with everything else top flight, except for the Fourth, and then only for the final movement.

Incidentally, he recorded three cycles, if you count the video cycle from the 70s.

[Ken B]

Thoughts?

[kishnevi]

The DG by a small margin.  But the Sony/Columbia is nothing to sneeze at.

[DavidW]

The second.  It has great recordings of 3, 5, 6 and 9.  I'm no longer interested in the first cycle, I think that he just zips through to the end over and over.  A good third symphony though.  The first cycle doesn't have the nuance, depth and raw emotional power of the second cycle.

[Sergeant Rock]

Columbia/Sony 3, 4, 7, 9
DG 1, 2, 6, 8

I don't like any of his Fifths

Banana gets the vote.

Sarge

[bwv 1080]

The original album covers of the Sony cycle are very cool

[springrite]

#2 (CD). I also have the video one, which is not as good as the CD. It is better when you watch and listen but, if you listen without watching it loses some of its appeal.

[Pat B]

I'm no longer interested in the first cycle, I think that he just zips through to the end over and over.

I've read a lot of criticisms of Bernstein but I think "just zips through to the end" is a new one.

I'm abstaining from the vote since the only DGs I've heard are 1 and 5. I do like the Sony set a lot, except for 5, and the DG isn't among my favorite 5s either.

[bwv 1080]

well there is Barbirolli  for 5, don't need any other pre-digital recordings

[Jay F]

Sony. [asin]B005SJIP1E[/asin]

The only M6, M9, and M10 (adagio only) I ever really listen to. If I put another M6 or M9 on, for, oh, say, diversity's sake, I invariably switch to LB's CBS version.

Favorite M1, M3, and M8, though I can, and do, listen to others.

M7 tied with DG version.

Excellent M2, but I like the DG M2 more.

I never listen to this M4 or M5, but I don't like the DG versions, either. Nevertheless, I own all of Bernstein's DG Mahler except M8.

[bwv 1080]

I must be the only one who loves the DG version of the 4th with the boy soprano - both the symphony and the recording are underrated IMO

[Moonfish]

Almost chose "banana", but I will place my vote on Sony...     

[Jay F]

What is "banana"?

[Moonfish]

What is "banana"?

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/go_bananas 
a nonsense option..

[Jay F]

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/go_bananas 
a nonsense option..

Thanks, Moonfish.

[Ken B]

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/go_bananas 
a nonsense option..

Therefore this poll has three bananas.

[kishnevi]

I must be the only one who loves the DG version of the 4th with the boy soprano - both the symphony and the recording are underrated IMO

Not sure I love it but I think the boy soprano did a better job than people give him credit for.

[Karl Henning]

Not sure I love it but I think the boy soprano did a better job than people give him credit for.

At a guess, much of the displeasure can be discounted as Resistance Against the Unfamiliar....

[DavidW]

I've read a lot of criticisms of Bernstein but I think "just zips through to the end" is a new one.

Really?  Because I posted the exact same opinion a few years ago.  Well now that opinion will no longer be new to you.