Question about Mahler's 2nd symphony

[Siedler]

I recently saw this breathtaking symphony on tv and one thing I noticed was how in the finale the horns lifted their bells up (impressive touch). After some gooling it seems Mahler wrote these to the score ("schalltrichter auf" and "horner stehen"). I wonder are these instructions usually ignored or followed in live performances? I hope to see the horns stand up when I'm going to see it live for the first time in May.

[bhodges]

Every performance I can recall, the horns did indeed lift up, with commensurate bigger sound.  It only adds to the thrills in the last movement, which come pretty thick and fast. 

Who are you hearing play it in May?  You are probably in for the treat of a lifetime, since it is a fantastic experience heard live. 

--Bruce

[hornteacher]

I hope to see the horns stand up when I'm going to see it live for the first time in May.

Sometimes we just need to stretch. 

[Greta]

I'm also seeing it live for the first time in May!  Actually, it will be my first Mahler symphony to ever see live.

It's fun that he notated "bells up" for not only, the horn, the obvious choice, but the woodwinds! That's thrilling and quite unusual to see the oboes and clarinets point their horns straight forward in videos. I know this (for the woodwinds) occurs in the 5th, and other symphonies, not sure about the 2nd.

[MahlerSnob]

Horn players absolutely love playing bells up (especially when the trumpets/trombones are behind them and to their left), so these instructions in Mahler are almost always followed. The only times they aren't are when the conductor asks them not to. At the end of the first symphony Mahler even asks the horn players to stand, in order to make the biggest possible sound. This is also almost always done.

[rubio]

I'm also seeing it live for the first time in May!  Actually, it will be my first Mahler symphony to ever see live.

Thirded for live in May (with the Czech PO).

[MishaK]

Horn players absolutely love playing bells up (especially when the trumpets/trombones are behind them and to their left)

[rockerreds]

I just listened to the Klemperer Mahler 2nd last evening.

[The new erato]

Saw the same with the solo horn in Mahlers 5th last week.

[jochanaan]

I'm also seeing it live for the first time in May!  Actually, it will be my first Mahler symphony to ever see live.

It's fun that he notated "bells up" for not only, the horn, the obvious choice, but the woodwinds! That's thrilling and quite unusual to see the oboes and clarinets point their horns straight forward in videos. I know this (for the woodwinds) occurs in the 5th, and other symphonies, not sure about the 2nd.

It does in the Fourth--I've played that one--and, I believe, in just about every symphony except the First.  Woodwinds don't like it so much as horns; it involves a few more contortions, especially for the English horn player.