Topic: Recordings of Mahler's 7th

[Spotted Horses]

I enjoy Neumann/Czech Phil



Neumann is not one to wear his heart on his sleeve in Mahler, which is good for the 7th, since no on seems to agree on what the "message" of the symphony is.

[Mirror Image]

I enjoy Neumann/Czech Phil



Neumann is not one to wear his heart on his sleeve in Mahler, which is good for the 7th, since no on seems to agree on what the "message" of the symphony is.

I've seen you mention this Neumann cycle several times. It certainly makes me think I'm missing something. I own the set, but I don't think I've really given the attention it deserves.

[JBS]

I've seen you mention this Neumann cycle several times. It certainly makes me think I'm missing something. I own the set, but I don't think I've really given the attention it deserves.

It's on my shopping list.
So many other things, too!

[Spotted Horses]

I've seen you mention this Neumann cycle several times. It certainly makes me think I'm missing something. I own the set, but I don't think I've really given the attention it deserves.

I like it because Neumann eschews histrionics, lets the music speak for itself. Similar, in that way, to the Haitink cycle. And the Czech Philharmonic produces beautiful sonorities. A matter of taste, of course.

[amw]

I've picked up several recordings but since I only listen to Mahler once every couple of years, attention paid has probably been insufficient.

Solti [Decca] - I have heard this once and don't remember anything about it
Kondrashin [Melodiya] - Generally my favourite. Kondrashin tends to be, in general, the fastest and most neurotic Mahler conductor and therefore tends to divide opinion for that reason. (People also have a variety of opinions regarding Soviet brass.)
Bernstein [Sony] - Also pretty good; hard to go wrong with, in general
Gielen [SWR] - usually described as "modernist"; I'm not really sure what's modernist about it in all honesty. Never had a strong opinion about it
Klemperer [EMI] - Has all the usual tradeoffs of slow tempi, but I don't hate it; just usually need a break after Nachtmusik I
Haitink [RCO Live 1969] - I'm not sure I have actually listened to this
Neumann [Berlin Classics] - This is the Leipzig Gewandhaus recording. Probably the best-sounding one in my collection, at least in terms of orchestral playing. Definitely prachtvoll and, yes, somewhat impersonal. This is usually the other one I listen to most often

I'm not sure what the critical consensus is; professional critics seem to like Bernstein, Mahler anoraks lean more towards Gielen or Abbado (which I'm sure I used to have, but it doesn't appear to be in my collection anymore) etc.

[Mirror Image]

It's on my shopping list.
So many other things, too!

Yeah, my to-listen-to pile is ridiculous at this juncture.

I like it because Neumann eschews histrionics, lets the music speak for itself. Similar, in that way, to the Haitink cycle. And the Czech Philharmonic produces beautiful sonorities. A matter of taste, of course.

Sounds like a fine alternative to Bernstein and Solti. Of course, I love all kinds of Mahler conductors. One for every mood.

[Daverz]

Last recording that really impressed me was Alexandre Bloch:

[Roasted Swan]

I enjoy Neumann/Czech Phil



Neumann is not one to wear his heart on his sleeve in Mahler, which is good for the 7th, since no on seems to agree on what the "message" of the symphony is.

+1 for Neumann's Mahler.  Absolutely the antithesis interpretatively of say Bernstein (not better just different) but I do love the actual sound the Czech PO make in this music - a unique cycle in this respect.  Also the choral contributions in 2 & 8 are very fine.  Those East European choirs produce a focussed sound certainly Brit choirs cannot match

[hvbias]

I really like the Michael Tilson Thomas/LSO on RCA Victor. Just got it recently.

This is one of my favorites as well.

I enjoy Neumann/Czech Phil



Neumann is not one to wear his heart on his sleeve in Mahler, which is good for the 7th, since no on seems to agree on what the "message" of the symphony is.

Just curious, do you hear any noise reduction on this box? I was sampling the Kletzki Beethoven reissue box on Supraphon and it does have some noise reduction, the earlier CDs from the 90s sounded better.

[André]

Macal’s fine Czech Phil recording on Exton boasts excellent playing and sound. They also recorded the 3rd (splendid) and 4th symphonies - but the series ended there.

[Que]

Just curious, do you hear any noise reduction on this box? I was sampling the Kletzki Beethoven reissue box on Supraphon and it does have some noise reduction, the earlier CDs from the 90s sounded better.

You just made me feel much better! 

[Spotted Horses]

Just curious, do you hear any noise reduction on this box? I was sampling the Kletzki Beethoven reissue box on Supraphon and it does have some noise reduction, the earlier CDs from the 90s sounded better.

I had several volumes from the early release and, although I have not made side-by-side comparisons, the complete set doesn't sound any different to me. These recordings are from the late 70's and noise reduction is generally not appropriate for recordings of that era.

[lordlance]

Thoughts on the latest Mahler 7s from two of BPO's music directors?

Petrenko with Bavarian State Orchestra:


Simon Rattle with Berliner Philharmoniker:

[DavidW]

Gielen [SWR] - usually described as "modernist"; I'm not really sure what's modernist about it in all honesty. Never had a strong opinion about it

I sometimes think that anyone that provides some transparency, detail and avoids the hyper-romanticism of DG Bernstein ends up labeled as either a modernist or a classicist in Mahler.  I was recently relistening to the 2nd and 9th from the Gielen set and finding myself wondering why I bought into that narrative.  Gielen is not even as emotionally cool as Boulez or Ivan Fischer.