Mahler's 4th from Zinman

[Don]

Any opinions on David Zinman's new Mahler 4th?  I haven't yet heard it.

[BorisG]

Any opinions on David Zinman's new Mahler 4th?  I haven't yet heard it.

#4 - 3 stars out of 5. Nothing's changed much on The Zinman Mahler Cruise to Nowhere. "Abort! Abort!"

Clear sound, over-miced, efficient playing, boring interpretations. Soprano's okay, contrary to some of the knocks I've read.

Previous starage for this steerage: #1 - 2 stars, #2 - 3 stars, #3 - 2 stars.

[Renfield]

Nothing's changed much on The Zinman Mahler Cruise to Nowhere. "Abort! Abort!"

Hah! Thank you, that gave me a laugh.

[MISHUGINA]

#4 - 3 stars out of 5. Nothing's changed much on The Zinman Mahler Cruise to Nowhere. "Abort! Abort!"

Clear sound, over-miced, efficient playing, boring interpretations. Soprano's okay, contrary to some of the knocks I've read.

Previous starage for this steerage: #1 - 2 stars, #2 - 3 stars, #3 - 2 stars.

What, Zinman did record the 3rd?

[Don]

What, Zinman did record the 3rd?

Sure did.  I bought the 4th this morning at the local Borders - first disc I've bought there in three months.  Since I have almost all recordings of the 4th, figured I might as well get this one as well.

[Bunny]

What, Zinman did record the 3rd?

A quick look at ClassicsToday shows that Hurwitz at least feels the 3rd to be the strongest of the Zinman Mahler recordings.

[BorisG]

A quick look at ClassicsToday shows that Hurwitz at least feels the 3rd to be the strongest of the Zinman Mahler recordings.

Forget Hurwitz, the Zinman Mahler Cruise to Nowhere starage for steerage pattern is what it is.

#1 - 2, #2 - 3, #3 - 2, #4 - 3, #5 - 2, #6 - 3, #7 - 2, #8 - 3, DLVDE - 2, #9 - 3, #10 - 2.

[Bunny]

Forget Hurwitz, the Zinman Mahler Cruise to Nowhere starage for steerage pattern is what it is.

#1 - 2, #2 - 3, #3 - 2, #4 - 3, #5 - 2, #6 - 3, #7 - 2, #8 - 3, DLVDE - 2, #9 - 3, #10 - 2.

I am as happy to forget Hurwitz as I am not to need to purchase another Mahler cycle. 

Nothing that I have read about the Zinman Mahler has encouraged me to take the plunge, despite the dirt-cheap prices of the SACDs.  I'll stick with what I have -- Bernstein (2 sets), Bertini, Gielen, Tennstedt, MTT, Kubelik (2 sets), Chailly, Walter, Abbado (2 sets), Zander, Haitinck, Rattle, Solti, Inbal, and probably more that I can't recall off the top of my head.  I also have numerous individual recordings of various symphonies... (Horenstein, Mitropoulos, Eschenbach, Ancerl, Levi, Szell, Levine, Boulez, Barenboim, Lopez-Cobos, Ivan Fischer, Eiji Oue, Nagano, Witt, Oskar Fried, Klemperer, Nanut, Haenchen, et al.)

For me, Mahler is an addiction, but one does have to draw the line somewhere.  I only hope I won't later cross that line...

[BorisG]

I am as happy to forget Hurwitz as I am not to need to purchase another Mahler cycle. 

Nothing that I have read about the Zinman Mahler has encouraged me to take the plunge, despite the dirt-cheap prices of the SACDs.  I'll stick with what I have -- Bernstein (2 sets), Bertini, Gielen, Tennstedt, MTT, Kubelik (2 sets), Chailly, Walter, Abbado (2 sets), Zander, Haitinck, Rattle, Solti, Inbal, and probably more that I can't recall off the top of my head.  I also have numerous individual recordings of various symphonies... (Horenstein, Mitropoulos, Eschenbach, Ancerl, Levi, Szell, Levine, Boulez, Barenboim, Lopez-Cobos, Ivan Fischer, Eiji Oue, Nagano, Witt, Oskar Fried, Klemperer, Nanut, Haenchen, et al.)

For me, Mahler is an addiction, but one does have to draw the line somewhere.  I only hope I won't later cross that line...

I was looking forward to it, as I do almost anything Mahler. Well-played, as far as following Z's dull readings.

As you say, there is too much competition to be bothered with these.

I would like to hear things improve for the balance of his cruise, but that would require a drastic course change. I do not see that happening.

Gosh, what a collection of Mahler. Have you culled any? 

[Bunny]

I do cull, but only the ones that are completely uninteresting to me.   Unfortunately, it's a very competitive field so that I find there's always another recording waiting around the bend.  Every time I think of culling something, I am compelled to listen to it again.  I usually find something of interest in it again, so the ax rarely falls.  I also love comparing new recordings to older ones, so that I can see how styles of interpretation and performance change, and change they do!

[Don]

FWIW, MusicWeb's review of Zinman's 4th was gushing with praise.

[BorisG]

FWIW, MusicWeb's review of Zinman's 4th was gushing with praise.

Was the reviewer smoking wacky tabacky?

"This wondrous new Fourth – and for once the superlative is warranted, for it is a performance full of wonder – confirms Zinman as a Mahlerian of real stature. The reading may not displace the likes of Mengelberg, Szell, Klemperer et al but it does deserve a place alongside them."

His two "pot-shots" were toward Norrington and Bernstein's DG. Big deal.

Actually, the reviewer gave his review away in the first paragraph, only allowing Zinman a slight departure from top form in Symphony 3. Strange, how the reviewer hears HIP connection for this cycle.