Mahler's Symphony No. 1 D Major

[MichaelRabin]

I have Bertini CRSO, Bernstein RCOA, Kubelik BRSO Audite, Horenstein, Haitink BPO, Kubelik BRSO DG. Muti amongst others. For interpretation and recording, I tend to veer towards Bertini & Kubelik Audite. What are your thoughts please?

[Brian]

Kubelik BRSO Audite,...Kubelik Audite.

Can't help you. That's my reference recording, too. 

[DarkAngel]

Top pick is Bernstein/Sony later DG is very good but does not surpass original



Next four in order:
Kubelik/Audite
Solti/LSO/Decca Legends
Abbado/CSO/DG
Gielen/Hanssler

For seasoned collectors: Scherchen/Westminster

[Renfield]

I am still thinking on this, that's why I haven't responded...

Certainly Kubelik/Audite and Bertini are top pics for me, off the top of my head, as is Kubelik on DG, Tennstedt live with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Bruno Walter live on Testament, Bernstein live-ish on DG, and Kondrashin on Melodiya.


But as I said, I'll think on whom I consider most authoritative among the bunch, great as they all are.

[Brian]

Bernstein live-ish on DG,

Last year the Concertgebouw released the original live recording for free as part of their birthday party live concert downloads...it is excellent.

[Todd]

Walter, Boulez, and Kubelik on DG (I need to try the Audite).

[Renfield]

Last year the Concertgebouw released the original live recording for free as part of their birthday party live concert downloads...it is excellent.

Aha! I've had that one downloaded for a while, but if it's the original from that effort, I need to move it up in my listening queue.

[Brian]

Aha! I've had that one downloaded for a while, but if it's the original from that effort, I need to move it up in my listening queue.

Actually, sorry to get your hopes up, but I see the DG recording is from 1987 and I seem to recall the live recording being from 1980. Except I can't actually tell you when the live KCO download is, because it appears to no longer be on my hard drive...

[Renfield]

Actually, sorry to get your hopes up, but I see the DG recording is from 1987 and I seem to recall the live recording being from 1980. Except I can't actually tell you when the live KCO download is, because it appears to no longer be on my hard drive...

No worries. Either way, it should be interesting.

[Scarpia]

Steinberg, Pittsburgh!

[Novi]

Actually, sorry to get your hopes up, but I see the DG recording is from 1987 and I seem to recall the live recording being from 1980. Except I can't actually tell you when the live KCO download is, because it appears to no longer be on my hard drive...

You were right first time round. Recording date is 9 October, 1987. Let me know if you want this again - can upload easily.

[Holden]

Two choices for me

Walter Col SO

Solti LSO

[imperfection]

Sinopoli/RAI on an off-the-air in house recording.

[MichaelRabin]

Actually, sorry to get your hopes up, but I see the DG recording is from 1987 and I seem to recall the live recording being from 1980. Except I can't actually tell you when the live KCO download is, because it appears to no longer be on my hard drive...

The live Bernstein RCOA is irritating as he presses the ending quite hard - it doesn't sound exciting and grand as a result. Sound is not that good either.

I like to hear people's thoughts about Gielen on Hannsler please.

[Renfield]

I like to hear people's thoughts about Gielen on Hannsler please.

I remember liking it lots for its suavity and eloquence, but I wouldn't call it definitive.

Especially next to the 2nd and 7th from that cycle.

[david johnson]

Leinsdorf, Boston

yes.

[bhodges]

My faves, among many:

Chailly/Concertgebouw
Haitink/Concertgebouw (on the Christmas Matinees box)
Muti/Philadelphia (too bad he didn't make any other Mahler recordings with this group)

--Bruce

[Leo K.]

I always remember and have listened to the old Charles Adler M1 countless times, and both accounts from Horenstein.  These sound like the pinnacle of M1 performance to my ear.

Also, for modern recordings, Bernstein/RCO/DG and MTT/SFSO are fantastic, especially the Bernstein/RCO, which was the recording that made me love this work.

[DavidRoss]

I usually turn to Bernstein/RCO, Boulez/CSO, Kubelik on DGG, or MTT/SFS--but at the moment I'm listening to Sinopoli with the Philharmonia and loving it!

[Marc]

Three that I play(ed) rather regularly:
Rattle/CBSO
Kubelik/Bayerische Runfunk (DG)
Fischer/Hungarian State Orchestra (Hungaroton)
De Waart/Minnesota Orchestra (Virgin)

Considering the 'whole' Mahler:
Rattle: uneven (the first is one of his best).
Kubelik (as far as I 'have' him) very convincing in the lyrical symphonies no.'s 1 & 4.
Fischer (I purchased this no. 1 and the 2nd with the Budapest Festival): very good.
De Waart: perhaps lesser known as a Mahler conducter worldwide, but I saw and heard most of his live integral for Dutch TV in the eighties & nineties, and I think he's quite convincing on the whole.