Mahler Mania, Rebooted

[Leo K.]

Gustav Mahler – Symphony No.10 (Part 2)

http://www.weta.org/fmblog/?p=1561



The font used in the title is "ITC Franklin Gothic"

I have been enjoying your Mahler surveys as of late, and hopefully in the near future I can go into greater detail over your recording choices in these surveys, many of which I agree with, especially your Mahler 9 choices.


For my taste my favorite Mahler 10's are the Slatkin/Mazetti I on RCA and the Chailly recording.  These recordings sound the most coherent to me, but I wouldn't want to live without any of the recordings of the M10.

[jlaurson]

All the links to the complete Mahler survey
and all my top choices (favorite two + fav.
SACD) in one place:


Mahler Survey
http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/12/mahler-survey.html

[DarkAngel]

Greetings Jens
Solti is almost universally looked down upon today for Mahler......the common line passed down by critics (and repeated by many who haven't even heard them) is fast superficial reading with no depth or spiritual insights, fortunately I listen for myself despite the critics. 

The reference Mahler 2nd is Solti/CSO recorded at Medinah temple in Chicago...........a tremendously powerful vision of the apocalypse final scence, nothing else comes close to it for me..........

Sinopoli's 5th is my favorite performance of his DG cycle, tremendously powerful and dramatic

Horenstein only really worked for Mahler 1,3,8  again he is of a bygone era and does not have modern sound so he is often passed by for the critics darling flavor of the month new SACD recording (not referring to you BTW)

Oue's 6th is extremely hard to get, member Bunny found it originally a few years ago, had to order from HMV Japan  from obscure label Fontec

[Sergeant Rock]

Oue's 6th is extremely hard to get, member Bunny found it originally a few years ago, had to order from HMV Japan  from obscure label Fontec

That was quite a find. Bunny was absolutely right about that performance. The only reason it isn't in my top three is because I don't own a hard copy.

I've always found Sinopoli's 5th one of the weak ones in his otherwise excellent cycle.

I agree. In fact I was so disappointed by that performance it put me off Sinopoli's Mahler for twenty years. I've only recently become acquainted with his cycle as a whole and it's become my second favorite (Chailly being my first choice). Still don't like his Fifth though. One problem I have with it: I want a condutor to make a meal of the chorale theme in the second and last movements. Sinopoli breezes right through it; I hear and feel no sense of awe and elation.

Sarge

[jlaurson]

We're going to have to have it out about Szell's Sixth though. Your comments did (almost) rattle my cage   

I thought it might.  I was disappointed after your praise to hear it as a rather flimsy performance. I will, undoubtedly, give it many a second, third, and fourth chance to hear what it is you hear in it.

Kaplan's Second: absolutely the finest Second. I believe that if anyone heard this blind, not knowing that it was an "amateur" conductor, they would rate it as highly as I do. In fact, many critics, and ordinary folk like me, do rate it highly. It's not just me and papy 

I liked it--and praised it--when it came out. But I found Boulez' recording to achieve everything Kaplan does, and then some. I don't hate it, like the "bold" red might suggest. It's just emphatically not my first choice.

Klemperer's Seventh: not a recommendation. I don't expect anyone else to like it but I love the sound of his fist conducting.

I kind of like it for its extremely personal approach. Also a very Meistersingerish finale. But what a first movement, oy veh... will it ever end?

Unfortunately I can't debate further right now. Mrs. Rock is displaying signs of hunger so I'd better get her fed before she becomes unruly. Later.

Do go and feed her. Hungry women looming is not a good thing.

[Papy Oli]

Kaplan's Second: absolutely the finest Second. I believe that if anyone heard this blind, not knowing that it was an "amateur" conductor, they would rate it as highly as I do. In fact, many critics, and ordinary folk like me, do rate it highly. It's not just me and papy 

you called ? 

[Lilas Pastia]

Thanks for the invite, Jens. But I don't think it would add much to your excellent blog. Besides, adding a comment and not bothering to follow up is not really useful, nor elegant, non?.

[Drasko]

And then my reviews were more than just a list of ten names. I hope.

But of course, very nice page design.

2.) Fine choices. (<-- "fine" is measured by the extend to which you agree with me, of course.  )

Of course, don't we all. But do try to hear Walter's live 1953 4th on Tahra, singing is expectedly better than on his studio recording, but so is the sound, unexpectedly.

[jlaurson]

But of course, very nice page design.

I think we are talking at cross purposes. I don't mean my mere "laundry list" at ionarts.
That only exists to link to the 24 essays I wrote about Mahler and the recordings I chose.
(At WETA.)

[Papy Oli]

Has anyone heard anything off this set ?




there are only some short samples of the M1 on the JPC website - the 4th mvt doesn't take any prisoners by the looks of things :

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Gustav-Mahler-Symphonien-Nr-1-10/hnum/5566725

[bhodges]

A friend posted this link on Facebook.  There's a lot there, almost all pretty hilarious.  Check out the descriptions of the symphonies near the end. 

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Gustav_Mahler

--Bruce

[greg]

I skimmed over that one before, but now I'm glad I actually took the time to read through. Brilliant! 

[mahler10th]

Well Leo K, an interesting dream Mahler cycle.  Took me a long time to figure it all out, and at any given time things can changed around again.  My favourite 3 cycles I love for different reasons.

1. Inbals Cycle - FRSO - first because it it robust, resonant AND he brings to every symphony a narrative you just don't get with so many interpretations.

2. Neumann - CzPO - You can hear within this cycle some of the finest Mahler ever played.

3. Tennstedt - LPO - Mahler for Mahlerians.

[Marc]

A friend posted this link on Facebook.  There's a lot there, almost all pretty hilarious.  Check out the descriptions of the symphonies near the end. 

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Gustav_Mahler

Thanks for the link. I'll bookmark it.

[knight66]

Bruce, I especially enjoyed this remark....

'He would complete a symphony roughly every two years, and then inflict it on the Vienna Philharmonic for rehearsals during the next season, only to grant the premiere to another unsuspecting city that had utterly no clue what it was in for.'


Mike

[Wanderer]

A friend posted this link on Facebook.  There's a lot there, almost all pretty hilarious.  Check out the descriptions of the symphonies near the end. 
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Gustav_Mahler

That was a fun read. You don't hear many übermorose orchestras these days...

[knight66]

That was a fun read. You don't hear many übermorose orchestras these days...

Have to say that my contact with them indicated that übermorose was the default setting.

Mike

[DavidRoss]

A friend posted this link on Facebook.  There's a lot there, almost all pretty hilarious.  Check out the descriptions of the symphonies near the end. 

Amusing, Bruce, though ironically suffering the same flaw as its subject, insufficient use of the blue pencil. 

[jlaurson]

Amusing, Bruce, though ironically suffering the same flaw as its subject, insufficient use of the blue pencil. 

Precisely my thoughts. 
I was looking for the thumbs-up button on your comment, but forgot this isn't facebook.

[Christo]

6. Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection"; Bernard Hatink conducts the Cleveland, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Staatskapelle Dresden, Philharmonia, Lahti, Berlin Philharmonic, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Tokyo Metropolitan, Toronto, Warsaw, and European Youth orchestras (all proprietary labels).
Even though he has recorded this symphony four or five times already, Bernard Haitink has decided to take advantage of the recent trend of orchestras producing their own recordings. He has reportedly demanded as part of his contract that they release every performance of Mahler's Second Symphony that he conducts. That means we should get at least 13 new versions in 2010. Haitink's avowed goal is to "Let the music speak for itself," and to ensure that every performance sounds as much like every other as possible. His motto: "Consistency through anonymity." Mahlerians, take note.

(2010: Preview of Major Upcoming Releases by David Hurwitz, Classicstoday.com)