Top 3 Favorite Mahler Works

[Mirror Image]

I've seen Mahler's Third live three times:

1. Warsaw PO, Antoni Wit, and I think Ewa Wolak?
2. Houston Symphony, Andres Orozco-Estrada, forget who the mezzo-soprano was
3. San Antonio Symphony, Sebastian Lang-Lessing

It was impressive each and every time, but the Warsaw/Wit concert is the single best concert I've ever been to. Never experienced another orchestra at that standard of playing.

That said, the NYPO/Bychkov Mahler 6 I saw earlier this year was pretty amazing! And a Houston/Alsop M1 was one of that orchestra's best performances. Mahler really does bring out the best in the band, live.

Very nice, Brian. I would've loved to have seen that Wit concert. Great conductor IMHO.

[jochanaan]

Tough one, but:

Symphonies #3 and #8, Das Lied von der Erde

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

This should have been a Top 10 rather than a Top 3

[Mirror Image]

This should have been a Top 10 rather than a Top 3

But then where would the challenge in that be? The reason I chose a 'Top 3' idea for a poll is because Mahler didn't really composed much music (I suppose I could have done the same for Berg as well).

[NorthNYMark]

No. 7
No. 5
Das Lied von der Erde
(Haven't heard no. 10 yet, though)

[Mirror Image]

Or Varese? 

Or Ruggles.

[Mirror Image]

Tough one, but:

Symphonies #3 and #8, Das Lied von der Erde

Good to see another vote for the 3rd.

[Mirror Image]

Oh yes, I love Ruggles. Not one of my favorite composers but I have strong memories associated with this CD:

He's not a favorite of mine either, but Sun-Treader and Men and Mountains are pretty damn awesome.

[springrite]

This should have been a Top 10 rather than a Top 3

Nah!

I'd say this should be a Top 9 rather than Top 3. I mean, there's got to be a choice to me made somehow.

[Mirror Image]

I'll have to change my picks (or at least one of them):

Symphonies Nos. 3 & 9
Rückert-Lieder

[Mirror Image]

It's time to change my picks (again):

Symphonies Nos. 6 & 9
Das Lied von der Erde

[Sergeant Rock]

Jeez, dude, you even break your own rules 

Sorry folks, but you can't cheat. Not this time.

My 'Top 3' favorite Mahler works (in no particular order):

Symphonies Nos. 3 & 9
Kindertotenlieder

and yet:

I'll have to change my picks (or at least one of them):

Symphonies Nos. 3 & 9
Rückert-Lieder

It's time to change my picks (again):

Symphonies Nos. 6 & 9
Das Lied von der Erde

Let me guess, tomorrow it will be 5, 9 and Wayfarer, right?   It appears, so far, you've only got one real favorite: 9. The others you listed aren't favorites but merely flavors of the day.


Sarge

[Mirror Image]

Jeez, dude, you even break your own rules 


and yet:


Let me guess, tomorrow it will be 5, 9 and Wayfarer, right?   It appears, so far, you've only got one real favorite: 9. The others you listed aren't favorites but merely flavors of the day.


Sarge

[Maestro267]

Piece of cake. Symphonies 2, 3 & 8.

[Autumn Leaves]

I seem to have missed this poll - thanks for the bump Maestro267!

Don't have to think about this too much:

Symphony #2
Symphony #6
Symphony #9

[Mirror Image]

I seem to have missed this poll - thanks for the bump Maestro267!

Don't have to think about this too much:

Symphony #2
Symphony #6
Symphony #9

Great list, Conor. LOVE the 6th and the 9th. I'm still getting better acquainted with the 2nd (even though I've probably heard it a dozen or so times).

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

2,6,7,9 Wunderhorn 

Great to see the 7th has made it to your list!

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Yes it is a massive work, it's growing on me!
I also started paying attention to the 2nd which gave me a shock at times, "is this really Mahler?" lol 

It took me years and years to finally fall in love with the 2nd symphony. There were always isolated moments which I found attractive but I never liked the symphony as a whole until fairly recently. It's a very tricky work for me still, but I love it all now.

[ahinton]

Symphonies 9, 10 & 6 (although that leaves out so much that comes close...)

[Overtones]

The only poor list I can imagine would be something like:

Piano Quartet
Im Lenz
Die drei Pintos completion

I was hoping to read your own actual list, Mahlerian

Mine would be:

Symphony 9
Symphony 2
Das Lied