Recordings of Mahler's 9th

[Mirror Image]

Symphony No. 9 in D

A devastatingly powerful symphony from Mahler and there's no shortage of great performances, but what would you say are some of your favorites and why? One true test, IMHO, is getting that Rondo-Burleske to sound appropriately demonic. The last movement Adagio is also a tremendous challenge. So let's get the ball rolling here.

[relm1]

I find perfection in Bernstein's DG with the Concertgebouw.  It has a stellar recorded sound, phenomenal playing, hyper-emotional interpretation and is just so moving in the last movement. 

[Mirror Image]

I can certainly stand behind that performance, relm1. Breathtaking would be the right adjective here to describe much of Bernstein's Mahler on DG.

[Dee Sharp]

Bernstein/Berlin. This live recording from 1979 remains my favourite despite the missed trombone entrance.  But I love his 2 other recordings as well.

[Mirror Image]

Bernstein/Berlin. This live recording from 1979 remains my favourite despite the missed trombone entrance.  But I love his 2 other recordings as well.

My dad owns this performance. Missed trombone entrance? Please explain. Quite curious.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I've heard or had more recordings of this than any other Mahler symphony. Almost all have something to offer. Some I like are:

Haitink/Conc'bouw 1969: excellent all-rounder, if not as distinctive as others
Barbirolli/BPO: some fallible playing and sound, but a warm and loving experience
Giulini/CSO: a bit lumbering in the 1st mvt., but powerful overall
Abbado/BPO: another great all-rounder (live performance)
Levine/Philly: a bit sluggish, but the finale sounds like the Heat Death of the Universe; must be heard to be believed
Sinopoli/Philharmonia: really underrated, this one - seems to do everything right, with great playing to boot

I also have some classic old versions, by Walter, Klemperer and Horenstein. They are far from perfect, but engaging in their own way. I've also got that Bernstein/Conc'bouw above. Haven't listened in years, but my recollection is that it's an extreme performance, esp. in the finale.

[Mirror Image]

I've heard or had more recordings of this than any other Mahler symphony. Almost all have something to offer. Some I like are:

Haitink/Conc'bouw 1969: excellent all-rounder, if not as distinctive as others
Barbirolli/BPO: some fallible playing and sound, but a warm and loving experience
Giulini/CSO: a bit lumbering in the 1st mvt., but powerful overall
Abbado/BPO: another great all-rounder (live performance)
Levine/Philly: a bit sluggish, but the finale sounds like the Heat Death of the Universe; must be heard to be believed
Sinopoli/Philharmonia: really underrated, this one - seems to do everything right, with great playing to boot

I also have some classic old versions, by Walter, Klemperer and Horenstein. They are far from perfect, but engaging in their own way. I've also got that Bernstein/Conc'bouw above. Haven't listened in years, but my recollection is that it's an extreme performance, esp. in the finale.

Interesting list! That Haitink/Concertgebouw performance is very good indeed. He nailed that Rondo-Burleske movement. I haven't heard Levine's yet, but in due time. Would be curious to know what you think of Chailly's. I recall it being one of my favorites many years ago. The closing Adagio was incredibly shaped under his baton.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Would be curious to know what you think of Chailly's. I recall it being one of my favorites many years ago. The closing Adagio was incredibly shaped under his baton.

I haven't heard it, but I like all of Chailly's Mahler that I've heard. His 5th has been my overall favorite for years.

My first Mahler 9 was the Karajan/BPO studio. I don't have it anymore, and don't know what I would think of it now. But it was my great Mahler conversion experience, which is a strong point in its favor.

[Mirror Image]

I haven't heard it, but I like all of Chailly's Mahler that I've heard. His 5th has been my overall favorite for years.

My first Mahler 9 was the Karajan/BPO studio. I don't have it anymore, and don't know what I would think of it now. But it was my great Mahler conversion experience, which is a strong point in its favor.

You must hear Chailly's 9th. I think you'll enjoy it. Haven't heard HvK's 9th yet. It gets quite high ratings all across the board.

[Mahlerian]

Abbado/Lucerne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yr720ftjaA

The minute or so of stunned silence following the conclusion says it all.

[André]

I've heard or had more recordings of this than any other Mahler symphony. Almost all have something to offer. Some I like are:

Haitink/Conc'bouw 1969: excellent all-rounder, if not as distinctive as others
Barbirolli/BPO: some fallible playing and sound, but a warm and loving experience
Giulini/CSO: a bit lumbering in the 1st mvt., but powerful overall
Abbado/BPO: another great all-rounder (live performance)
Levine/Philly: a bit sluggish, but the finale sounds like the Heat Death of the Universe; must be heard to be believed
Sinopoli/Philharmonia: really underrated, this one - seems to do everything right, with great playing to boot

I also have some classic old versions, by Walter, Klemperer and Horenstein. They are far from perfect, but engaging in their own way. I've also got that Bernstein/Conc'bouw above. Haven't listened in years, but my recollection is that it's an extreme performance, esp. in the finale.

Excellent choices.  I have all of them, except Horenstein. My top 3 would be Bruno Maderna with the BBC SO, Walter, Columbia Symphony, Leopold Ludwig with the LSO. Oh, and Haitink with the BRSO, too. Make that 4 then.

[Mirror Image]

Abbado/Lucerne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yr720ftjaA

The minute or so of stunned silence following the conclusion says it all.

Wrong thread, Mahlerian. This is about the 9th. The linked the 3rd in your post.

[Mahlerian]

Wrong thread, Mahlerian. This is about the 9th. The linked the 3rd in your post.

Oops.  Right thread, wrong link.  Ignore that link.  The one I was looking for seems to have been removed from Youtube, though.

I still vouch for Abbado's Lucerne Mahler 9!

[Mirror Image]

Oops.  Right thread, wrong link.  Ignore that link.  The one I was looking for seems to have been removed from Youtube, though.

I still vouch for Abbado's Lucerne Mahler 9!

I can vouch for Abbado's Lucerne Mahler 3rd as well.

[Heck148]

A devastatingly powerful symphony from Mahler and there's no shortage of great performances, but what would you say are some of your favorites and why? One true test, IMHO, is getting that Rondo-Burleske to sound appropriately demonic. The last movement Adagio is also a tremendous challenge. So let's get the ball rolling here

The entire symphony is a challenge - in the first mvt - having the whole series of 4 major climaxes peak at the 4th one is difficult - also - presenting the ebbs and flows, rising and falling action of the music is certainly a challenge
the shifting tempi of mvt 2 is a real challenge as well....the final section has some exquisite chamber-music-like writing that requires real virtuoso execution - horn, bassoon, viola, contrabassoon are all involved
Mvt 3 - does need to sound demonic and wild - but the conductor cannot "shoot the works too early". the final two sections are marked acelerandos in tempo - if the tempo gets too wild, too fast, the end is a total trainwreck [ie- Svetlanov]
the finale is a long, long song, that must aim for the big climax with steadily growing power...the closing pages are ultra-soft,and require super-effort from the strings, esp violin I

My overall favorite is Giulini/CSO on DG....a magnificent effort, esp mvts I,II, III
Boulez/CSO is very fine also, esp inner mvts, tho Boulez does a noble job on mvt I.
Walter/ColSO is good throughout - a long-time favorite that still holds up well
for the finale - Solti/CSO is my top choice....Solti always excelled at the long line, the slowly building tension peaking in a powerful climax.

[Mirror Image]

The entire symphony is a challenge - in the first mvt - having the whole series of 4 major climaxes peak at the 4th one is difficult - also - presenting the ebbs and flows, rising and falling action of the music is certainly a challenge
the shifting tempi of mvt 2 is a real challenge as well....the final section has some exquisite chamber-music-like writing that requires real virtuoso execution - horn, bassoon, viola, contrabassoon are all involved
Mvt 3 - does need to sound demonic and wild - but the conductor cannot "shoot the works too early". the final two sections are marked acelerandos in tempo - if the tempo gets too wild, too fast, the end is a total trainwreck [ie- Svetlanov]
the finale is a long, long song, that must aim for the big climax with steadily growing power...the closing pages are ultra-soft,and require super-effort from the strings, esp violin I

My overall favorite is Giulini/CSO on DG....a magnificent effort, esp mvts I,II, III
Boulez/CSO is very fine also, esp inner mvts, tho Boulez does a noble job on mvt I.
Walter/ColSO is good throughout - a long-time favorite that still holds up well
for the finale - Solti/CSO is my top choice....Solti always excelled at the long line, the slowly building tension peaking in a powerful climax.

I appreciate this kind of feedback (and to everyone involved with this thread). I'm in the midst of finishing up Boulez's 9th now. I've heard some sonorities that I never heard before and the sheer execution of every musical phrase is astounding. He also handles the Rondo-Burleske quite well and doesn't let it get out-of-hand, which, as you mentioned is all too easy to do.

[kishnevi]

Bernstein/Berlin. This live recording from 1979 remains my favourite despite the missed trombone entrance.  But I love his 2 other recordings as well.

There was too much noise (doors opening and closing, people moving about, etc) in that for me.

My favorites
Zinman
Levine Munich Phil. (on Oehms)
Maderna BBC SO
Dudamel
Karajan*

*I know there's two different ones, and I'm not sure which is the one I have

[Mirror Image]

There was too much noise (doors opening and closing, people moving about, etc) in that for me.

My favorites
Zinman
Levine Munich Phil. (on Oehms)
Maderna BBC SO
Dudamel
Karajan*

*I know there's two different ones, and I'm not sure which is the one I have

This is the third or fourth time I've seen you mention Zinman. What's the deal with his cycle? Why do you enjoy it so much?

[amw]

The recording I've found most satisfactory is still Václav Neumann with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Bruno Walter also good although the sound is not my fav.

[kishnevi]

This is the third or fourth time I've seen you mention Zinman. What's the deal with his cycle? Why do you enjoy it so much?

Only his Ninth. The rest is at best above average.
I love Zinman's Ninth because of the final movement. It's the antithesis of Bernstein: Zinman gives a slow but steady ascent into the Celestial spheres. Certain others are similar (Maderna, from those I listed) but Zinman is the epitome of this approach.