Mahler with New Ears

[knight66]

Jens, So good I am not a lone voice on the Mackerras. I am glad to know others have already enjoyed this disc. I suppose it was a bit more than 10 years old, but I think it qualifies as a modern recording that sits outside of the standard recommendations. I have another such for the Symphony No 9: Again on two discs, but with the No 10 Adagio accompanying it.

James Judd with the Mahler Youth Orchestra recorded in 1990.
I think this is terrific on all fronts, no allowances need be given for the playing, it is committed and polished. Judd leads a very exciting and moving performance, which provides a journey and a narrative that I feel rather than can easily put into words. But it is neither merely an efficient run through nor a showcase spectacular; it digs deep into the piece.

Turning to Gergiev, for me he is a hit or miss conductor. I like some of his work a great deal, at other times he infuriates me. I am currently waiting for his War and Peace to plummet through the letterbox. I was interested in your point of a re-recording of the Mahler Fifth. Last year I was at a performance of Berlioz Damnation of Faust which Gergiev conducted. It was perfectly obvious by the number of misshaps that there had been insufficient rehearsal. Added to this Borodina came on looking like she had just been told the cheque for her fee had bounced and she sang Marguerite like Elektra having a bad day. It was recoded for CD issue, but I predict it will never see the light of day. If it does, then they will have spent a lot of time patching to eliminate the problems. I left the hall in a very bad mood.

Anyway, back to Mahler....

Mike

[jlaurson]

Judd -- which brings to mind his Mahler No.1, which I have always found above-average. The GMY Orchestra, I am not surprised, delivered good or even great Mahler. They are all some of the best musicians-to-come at any given time, were led be good conductors, and -- in his way -- Mahler is easy for Youth Orchestras to play well. (Unlike Bruckner or Haydn, which is much more difficult.)