Top 3 Favorite Mahler Works

[Mahlerian]

I was hoping to read your own actual list, Mahlerian

Mine would be:

Symphony 9
Symphony 2
Das Lied

That was on the first page:

Symphony No. 6
Das Lied von der Erde
Ruckert-Lieder

Sad to leave out everything else, but es muss sein!

[Overtones]

Thanks and sorry I hadn't realized it

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Lol,

2,6,7,8,9, Wunderhorn             

8 is a weaker one

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I agree if you mean it drags on too much at the end but the first half is incredible though 

uh lol no I find Part II much more interesting than Part I, which I find more boring overall

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

lol, ok           

Yes I know I am weird and sometimes I just can't explain why I find some things rather more attractive than other things.

[Mahlerian]

8 is a weaker one

No. 8 is a far stronger piece of music than No. 2, but somehow it gets all the flack.

[Jay F]

No. 8 is a far stronger piece of music than No. 2, but somehow it gets all the flack.

I like both, but my favorite CD of all time is M6 and M8 on the 3-CD CBS set by Bernstein. The M2 that is part of that series I don't like as much, so I didn't appreciate M2 until later, the Rattle version. My favorite M2s now are both of Bernstein's NYPO recordings.

[asin]B00000DS76[/asin]

[André]

Symphonies 9 and 6. The Rückert lieder.

In the case of the latter, much depends on the artistry of the singer. Maureen Forrester towers above others from a great height.

[Turner]

Pretty sure it´s
- Symphonies 9, 10 (complete), and DLvdE.

[Jay F]

This is the good CBS Bernstein Mahler 2 (NYPO), SACD hybrid:

[asin]B000ULV36E[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Let's see...

Symphony No. 6 in A minor
Das klagende Lied
Das Lied von der Erde

The 6th symphony is a work that I continuously come back to as I continue to find so much richness in it that I didn't quite find before. This isn't to say that many of the other symphonies don't do the same for me, but the 6th truly found a way under my skin. As I was mentioning to member, vers la flamme, in the 'Listening' thread I don't really have a preference for Scherzo-Andante or Andante-Scherzo as both have their own merits, but I've come really accustomed to Scherzo-Andante, but two of my favorite Mahlerians, Abbado and Rattle, favor Andante-Scherzo, which is fine. The symphony is so complex that it doesn't really matter at the end of the day as it's still an incredible piece no matter the order.

[vandermolen]

Today's list:

Symphony No.1
Symphony No.3 (especially since hearing it live)
Symphony No.6

[Jo498]

#9 and Das Lied von der Erde are the first two.
Rather undecided about #3, probably #6 although it's a piece I still find somewhat difficult, so going by stuff I actually listened to more frequently, I'd have to name #5 but I think #6 is a superior piece.

I am somewhat surprised that Rückert Lieder get mentioned so often. "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen" is my favorite Mahler song but I could easily do without the other 4 and as collections I prefer all the others.

[Mirror Image]

Today's list:

Symphony No.1
Symphony No.3 (especially since hearing it live)
Symphony No.6

The 3rd is an incredible work, Jeffrey. It's somewhat of an unwieldy beast, but with right conductor and a sympathetic orchestra, it can transform into something astonishing.

[Marc]

At the moment:

#4
#9
#5 and Rückert-Lieder (dead heat)

The Rückert-Lieder are simply beautiful (prefer them in the order Ich atmet'.../Liebst du um.../Blicke mir nicht.../Um Mitternacht/Ich bin der Welt...), and I consider those three symphonies as Mahler's most consistent works, whatever that means.

At the moment, I agree.

[vandermolen]

The 3rd is an incredible work, Jeffrey. It's somewhat of an unwieldy beast, but with right conductor and a sympathetic orchestra, it can transform into something astonishing.

I've really begun to appreciate it John having heard it live. A friend very kindly gave me a copy of Horenstein's legendary performance. Your thread is 'favourites' had it been greatest I'd have to have included No.9. However I enjoy all the movements in symphonies 1,3 and 6 but am less keen on the middle movements of No.9. Having said that I think that the first and last movement of No.9 are perhaps the greatest he wrote and profoundly moving (especially in Klemerer's EMI recording). I love the CD coupling of No.1 and the Agagio of No.10.
As here:

[Mirror Image]

I've really begun to appreciate it John having heard it live. A friend very kindly gave me a copy of Horenstein's legendary performance. Your thread is 'favourites' had it been greatest I'd have to have included No.9. However I enjoy all the movements in symphonies 1,3 and 6 but am less keen on the middle movements of No.9. Having said that I think that the first and last movement of No.9 are perhaps the greatest he wrote and profoundly moving (especially in Klemerer's EMI recording). I love the CD coupling of No.1 and the Agagio of No.10.
As here:

I'm a huge fan of Abbado's Mahler. He's like the yin to Bernstein's yang. I couldn't be without either conductor when it comes to Mahler. I also very much like Rattle, Boulez, and Tennstedt. The 9th is a masterpiece, but I love every movement, but, yes, the first and final movements are exceptional and deeply compelling. There's simply nothing like them in any symphony that anyone wrote. If push came to shove, Mahler is my favorite symphonist of them all for the sheer fact that I get lost in his music (in the most magical way possible). My favorite 9th, at the moment, is Bernstein with the Wiener Philharmoniker on DG.

[vers la flamme]

My list (for now):

Symphony No.9
Das Lied von der Erde
Symphony No.4

[j winter]

I love Mahler, though I don't often get to carve out big enough chunks of listening time to appreciate it properly. 

I would have to say that my three all-time favorites are symphonies 2, 6, and 3.

For 2 in particular, I always tend to go back to older recordings, stuff like Klemperer, Stokowski, and Bruno Walter.  Not sure why... Mahler is definitely helped by a good, modern recording, but it's hard to shake the old favorites.

For 6, I have many favorites, but I really grew to love the work by listening to Barbirolli and Bernstein DG... so yeah I like it dramatic and over the top.

For 3, I don't really have a clear favorite, but for whatever reason I like performances of this one to be a bit cooler and less romanticized than the other two; I like several modern recordings like Abbado and Chailly, though I've probably listened most over the years to Bernstein Sony and Haitink.

[vers la flamme]

I love Mahler, though I don't often get to carve out big enough chunks of listening time to appreciate it properly. 

I would have to say that my three all-time favorites are symphonies 2, 6, and 3.

For 2 in particular, I always tend to go back to older recordings, stuff like Klemperer, Stokowski, and Bruno Walter.  Not sure why... Mahler is definitely helped by a good, modern recording, but it's hard to shake the old favorites.

For 6, I have many favorites, but I really grew to love the work by listening to Barbirolli and Bernstein DG... so yeah I like it dramatic and over the top.

For 3, I don't really have a clear favorite, but for whatever reason I like performances of this one to be a bit cooler and less romanticized than the other two; I like several modern recordings like Abbado and Chailly, though I've probably listened most over the years to Bernstein Sony and Haitink.

Have you ever heard the Barbirolli/Hallé BBC recording of the Mahler 3rd? It's supposed to be really good. Personally, I love Bernstein Sony. I've felt no need to move past this one, especially as I did not enjoy the much touted Horenstein/London recording very much.