Mahler's 6th

[eyeresist]

But I'm convinced the Sixth works best played as if it were a Classical-era symphony with a relatively fast pace.

Do you know Tennstedt's recording from the EMI box?

[Tyson]

Solti is good, but Mitropoulos is the scorched earth king in this work.

[André]

We should be hearing the aural equivalent of this:
I put this on one more time, trying mightily to like it:



I have Haitink's Chicago versions of the 2nd and 3rd, his BRSO 9th and of course his RCOA complete set as well as Kerstmatinees live versions. Most of them are firm favourites. His Philips set of the complete symphonies is one of the few I would recommend without hesitation.

When listening to the 6th, we should be hearing the aural equivalent of this:



Or this:



But this is what we get instead:



It's not so much the slow tempi that sap the enegy (7 minutes slower than Solti in IV). Farberman is almost as slow but, more to the point, he is forceful and thrustful despite the slowish tempi. Haitink is significantly off the mark here.