Mahler symphonies - help

[Bunny]

Also in Szell's time, no conductor would have taken their first attempt at a work into the recording studios, unless perhaps a world premier work. In general they marinaded themselves for years in pieces then gave us the fruits of that experience. Gardiner is one who basically is happy to record his first attempts, Verdi Requiem, Berlioz Faust...there are others who behave in the same way.

Mike

That's one of the things I like about Ivan Fischer -- before he records something, he tours with it.  In the notes of his Mahler 6th, he detailed how he toured performing that symphony with the scherzo either second or third until finally deciding how to order the inner movements.  It's probably the only performance of that symphony with the scherzo take third that actually makes sense to my ears. 

[MishaK]

Certainly not Eliahu HaNabi.

Inside joke?

[Steve]

Like most conductors then, and few conductors today, he only recorded what he loved. Mahler was problematic for most conductors of his generation. Even Bruno Walter, supposedly a Mahler disciple, was selective. Szell's Mahler 6 and his Mahler 4 are GREAT performances (I'm sure he believed in those symphonies). He also wanted to record Das Lied von der Erde with Jon Vickers and Janet Baker. A ridiculous union rule concerning rehearsals prevented that from happening...a significant loss in my opinion. (A live recording from Severance Hall with Richard Lewis and Baker was issued once in a large, and expensive, box set, available directly from the Cleveland Orchestra but hasn't been generally available.)
Your instincts were correct about the Sixth, Steve, and I'm very glad you like it.

Sarge

Thanks, Sarge, I feel that I am really growing as a Mahlerite 

I've recently added his performance of the Fourth to my Amazon shopping cart,

                   

[Bunny]

Inside joke?

Now we need Saul!  Eliahu is Hebrew for Elijah.  Ha Nabi is Hebrew for the Prophet. 

Eliahu Hanabi is the prophet Elijah.   Inbal is an Elijah, but hardly a prophet.

Also, they used the word Nabi to describe a school of German painting.  I think it was a reference to the prophets of the Bible going into the wilderness alone for Divine Revelation, or enlightenment.

[Steve]

Now we need Saul!  Eliahu is Hebrew for Elijah.  Ha Nabi is Hebrew for the Prophet. 

Eliahu Hanabi is the prophet Elijah.   Inbal is an Elijah, but hardly a prophet.

Also, they used the word Nabi to describe a school of German painting.  I think it was a reference to the prophets of the Bible going into the wilderness alone for Divine Revelation, or enlightenment.

Award for fasctinating obscure historical reference goes to.... 

[Sergeant Rock]

Thanks, Sarge, I feel that I am really growing as a Mahlerite 

I've recently added his performance of the Fourth to my Amazon shopping cart,

Excellent...a classic.

Sarge

[Steve]

Excellent...a classic.

Sarge

Any other reccomendations for the 4th? I might just pick up two this week. 

[PerfectWagnerite]

Any other reccomendations for the 4th? I might just pick up two this week. 

How many do you need?
Well anyway you HAVE to have this one:



The most gorgeously recorded 4th I know. The orchestral execution is so clean you can eat off it, but lacks nothing in tonal allure.

[Steve]

How many do you need?
Well anyway you HAVE to have this one:



The most gorgeously recorded 4th I know. The orchestral execution is so clean you can eat off it, but lacks nothing in tonal allure.

You mean the orchestra tone is lacking, or one of the sections in particular. How's the sound?

[Bunny]

He wrote, "lacks nothing in tonal allure." [emphasis added] He didn't write that it lacks tonal allure.  The sound quality of that recording is excellent, the orchestra sounds wonderful, and the interpretation is probably one of the finest I've heard on disc.  Even the Hurwitzer can't find anything to complain about with that recording.

[Don]

He wrote, "lacks nothing in tonal allure." [emphasis added] He didn't write that it lacks tonal allure.  The sound quality of that recording is excellent, the orchestra sounds wonderful, and the interpretation is probably one of the finest I've heard on disc.  Even the Hurwitzer can't find anything to complain about with that recording.

Not even the cover art?

[PerfectWagnerite]

Not even the cover art?

Yeah. Doesn't Telarc have some of the most pedestrian cover arts?

[Don]

Yeah. Doesn't Telarc have some of the most pedestrian cover arts?

definitely - very artificial and glossy (or downright boring and repetitive).  The antidote is ECM.

[Steve]

He wrote, "lacks nothing in tonal allure." [emphasis added] He didn't write that it lacks tonal allure.  The sound quality of that recording is excellent, the orchestra sounds wonderful, and the interpretation is probably one of the finest I've heard on disc.  Even the Hurwitzer can't find anything to complain about with that recording.

Thanks for elucidating that for me. The sound is certainly an important factor, but how would you describe the interpretation. More intimate, deep, and deliberate - or lighter? Its always a question of emotion for these works.

[Bunny]

Levi isn't emotionally ott, but all of the feeling is there.  It's an extremely well balanced interpretation.  Levi opens it lightly, but there's always a darker undercurrent that seems to pop out with the clarinet and the nasty brassy sounds, things seem to go so well and then there's just that niggling thing that sets the feelings a little off.  The first movement is easy and comforting to a point.  You feel as if you are moving through open country side, passing sleepy villages, copses, over undulating, piedmont countryside.  The second movement is not so sanguine.  It's as if the countryside that you are moving through has become more hostile, menacing even.  If there's a woodsy copse coming up, you can be sure it's not Bambi and Thumper playing in it.  Instead, the witch is probably getting ready to tempt Hansel and Gretel into a cage.  The light has changed and suddenly where there was sun, now there are menacing shadows.  Second movement emphasizes the menace. It's a dance for the grotesques.  Ghostly figures are doing the ländler, impish and cruel.  That fiddler is not Tevye. 

I could go on, for me it's an extremely evocative performance.  However, at no time does Levi let it get too emotionally wrenching, it's nowhere near the emotional highs and lows of the Mahler 6th. It's more of like the menace of a fairy tale by Grimm.

The Ruhevoll is an oasis of calm and peace.  It's just as beautiful as one could wish, as if the moon had come out and lit up the sky at night. 

Then comes the song, and that's done very well by Frederica von Stade.  No complaints there about her voice.  The orchestral accompaniment emphasizes the darkness of the themes with almost harsh interjections. 

Sound quality is excellent, 2 channel stereo.

[rubio]

Levi isn't emotionally ott, but all of the feeling is there.  It's an extremely well balanced interpretation.  Levi opens it lightly, but there's always a darker undercurrent that seems to pop out with the clarinet and the nasty brassy sounds, things seem to go so well and then there's just that niggling thing that sets the feelings a little off.  The first movement is easy and comforting to a point.  You feel as if you are moving through open country side, passing sleepy villages, copses, over undulating, piedmont countryside.  The second movement is not so sanguine.  It's as if the countryside that you are moving through has become more hostile, menacing even.  If there's a woodsy copse coming up, you can be sure it's not Bambi and Thumper playing in it.  Instead, the witch is probably getting ready to tempt Hansel and Gretel into a cage.  The light has changed and suddenly where there was sun, now there are menacing shadows.  Second movement emphasizes the menace. It's a dance for the grotesques.  Ghostly figures are doing the ländler, impish and cruel.  That fiddler is not Tevye. 

I could go on, for me it's an extremely evocative performance.  However, at no time does Levi let it get too emotionally wrenching, it's nowhere near the emotional highs and lows of the Mahler 6th. It's more of like the menace of a fairy tale by Grimm.

The Ruhevoll is an oasis of calm and peace.  It's just as beautiful as one could wish, as if the moon had come out and lit up the sky at night. 

Then comes the song, and that's done very well by Frederica von Stade.  No complaints there about her voice.  The orchestral accompaniment emphasizes the darkness of the themes with almost harsh interjections. 

Sound quality is excellent, 2 channel stereo.

It's descriptions like these that make me hit the "buy" button impulsively! 

[Bunny]

It's descriptions like these that make me hit the "buy" button impulsively! 

[Greta]

The 4th is a delightful work. 

I have for M4 the Solti set and then Dohnanyi's with Cleveland on Decca. Can't find a pic but it has him on the cover.

It's lovely, Cleveland sounds great and Dawn Upshaw sings like an  0:)

Contemplative, but I feel it could be more involved.

So I ordered this because as it was only $1.50 at Amazon:



I just ordered the highly-rated Salonen 3rd and figured his 4th was probably a safe bet as well.

I'd like to get the Levi 4th sometime too, I have his 5th and its very well done.

[SimonGodders]

I'm really disappointed with this:



It seems there's a great performance in there somewhere, but the recording balance is crap. The strings sound so muted, turn it up and then get drowned out by the horns. It seems very understated as a performance compared to my other 3rd's (Lenny/NYPO + Tennsdedt/LPO) just feel a bit let down....

[bwv 1080]

The 4th is a delightful work. 

I have for M4 the Solti set and then Dohnanyi's with Cleveland on Decca. Can't find a pic but it has him on the cover.

It's lovely, Cleveland sounds great and Dawn Upshaw sings like an  0:)

Contemplative, but I feel it could be more involved.

So I ordered this because as it was only $1.50 at Amazon:



I just ordered the highly-rated Salonen 3rd and figured his 4th was probably a safe bet as well.

I'd like to get the Levi 4th sometime too, I have his 5th and its very well done.

I agree that the 4th is a marvelous work, but I do think a boy soprano works better for the subject matter of the finale.  For me, the Bernstein DG recording is the one