Mahlerly Challenged

[Jay F]

Hmmm--I followed up the Arkiv citations--the reviews they cite are of earlier releases remastered, IIRC, in 2001, and Hurwitz gave it 10/8, not 10/10 as Arkiv misrepresents it on their item page.

Here's the Hurwitz review I read, in which Hurwitz gives the M3 from the box set a 10/10: http://classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=163. I have the earlier version on CBS, and though it's my favorite, I wouldn't give it a 10 for sound. The 10/8 was for the box set, parts of which don't have very good sound at all, the Fifth in particular. http://classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=3176

[DavidRoss]

When I checked the Hurwitz Lennie/Sony box set review, there was a link to his review of Fischer's new M4, which he gave 10/10, just as in his previous MTT M4 review.  The MTT 4 has become my favorite (in no small part due to Laura Claycomb's surprising Heavenly Life), but Hurwitz's description of Fischer's disc sounds enticing.  Anyone heard it?

[DarkAngel]

This is the newly remastered version of Bernstein's CBS Mahler, superseding the orange & purple one pictured in posts #120, 122, and 125.



http://www.arkivmusic.com/albumpage/213113-E526-5

I will be buying that newly remastered set in a heartbeat on 4/14 release date, will probably use one of the Amazon sellers......
I much prefer the Sony/CBS NYPO set to his later 1980s DG set in general (DG 5th is one noteable exception)

[Jay F]

I will be buying that newly remastered set in a heartbeat on 4/14 release date, will probably use one of the Amazon sellers......
I much prefer the Sony/CBS NYPO set to his later 1980s DG set in general (DG 5th is one noteable exception)

Do you not like arkiv?

[DarkAngel]

Do you not like arkiv?

Love Arkiv.............but Amazon sellers will almost always be cheaper price and shipping will be only $3

[Bunny]

Love Arkiv.............but Amazon sellers will almost always be cheaper price and shipping will be only $3

I love and hate Arkiv.  They are a phenomenal source for music, but because they are based in NY and I live in NY, I pay not only the shipping but the exorbitant NYC sales tax (8.375%).  Until Amazon exhausts its appeals, they aren't charging anyone sales tax, and their shipping is the same. 

[Jay F]

I love and hate Arkiv.  They are a phenomenal source for music, but because they are based in NY and I live in NY, I pay not only the shipping but the exorbitant NYC sales tax (8.375%).  Until Amazon exhausts its appeals, they aren't charging anyone sales tax, and their shipping is the same. 

My emails say they're based in PA, and I have to pay tax, too.

[mc ukrneal]

I love and hate Arkiv.  They are a phenomenal source for music, but because they are based in NY and I live in NY, I pay not only the shipping but the exorbitant NYC sales tax (8.375%).  Until Amazon exhausts its appeals, they aren't charging anyone sales tax, and their shipping is the same. 

Actually, Amazon (not necessarily marketplace sellers) includes sales tax too. But Arkiv is just too expensive. It will cheaper elsewhere.

[Bunny]

Actually, Amazon (not necessarily marketplace sellers) includes sales tax too. But Arkiv is just too expensive. It will cheaper elsewhere.

I haven't had any sales tax added to my purchases!  That's certainly going to happen in the future, but for now if the vendor is out of state, there has been no tax.

[Bunny]

My emails say they're based in PA, and I have to pay tax, too.

From their FAQ:

10. Why was I charged tax on my order?

ArkivMusic has a corporate presence in the states of California, Connecticut, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania,  and therefore we are required to collect and pay sales tax in those states.

[Renfield]

Colour me extremely intrigued by the new re-mastering of the Bernstein CBS Mahler.

Indeed, even if all they manage is to make some of the recordings a little sharper and a little clearer, I'm still getting it.

(And looking for something to do with my copy of the earlier version. )

[George]

(And looking for something to do with my copy of the earlier version. )

My mailbox is hungry.  0:)

[Jay F]

Colour me extremely intrigued by the new re-mastering of the Bernstein CBS Mahler.

Indeed, even if all they manage is to make some of the recordings a little sharper and a little clearer, I'm still getting it.

(And looking for something to do with my copy of the earlier version. )

Don't sell your original until you know you like the new one. Not all remasterings are a step up in quality.

[Renfield]

Don't sell your original until you know you like the new one. Not all remasterings are a step up in quality.

Obviously.

I was, as is my wont, slightly exaggerating with my 'worry'.

[Jay F]

Obviously.

I was, as is my wont, slightly exaggerating with my 'worry'.

I used to do that, sell the old one before I heard the new, which wasn't always an improvement.

[imperfection]

Solti/CSO is becoming my favourite M2. The recording is absolutely dreadful, but the performance is insanely satisfying. If I was a critic from ClassicsToday, I would give this a 10 for artistic quality and 1 for technical quality.

[Charles]

Solti/CSO is becoming my favourite M2. The recording is absolutely dreadful, but the performance is insanely satisfying. If I was a critic from ClassicsToday, I would give this a 10 for artistic quality and 1 for technical quality.

How does this recording compare with his earlier version with LSO? I have the LSO version with the latest remastering and it sounds OK but pretty black and white and the ending seemed tame, I thought Solti would pack a bigger punch here.

I think the problem with Solti and Mahler as I don't sense any mystery ... its all so glaring .. the 2nd symphony IMO when played effectively should contain some mystical moments..its my favorite work along with Berg's Violin Concerto.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Solti/CSO is becoming my favourite M2. The recording is absolutely dreadful, but the performance is insanely satisfying.

Unfortunately it's not so easy to separate them. I value that performance for its savage first movement, the extreme virtuoso playing, and the general spectacular atmosphere, particularly in the Judgment Day sections. But one has to live with the close-up, sterile sonics.

[DarkAngel]

Solti/CSO is becoming my favourite M2. The recording is absolutely dreadful, but the performance is insanely satisfying. If I was a critic from ClassicsToday, I would give this a 10 for artistic quality and 1 for technical quality.

The Solti/CSO 2nd is my favorite of a large collection of 2nds, his earlier LSO 2nd also ranks very high but does not scale the same lofty heights with a more restrained climax. The final apocalypse scence, the revelation of God to man, the union of the soul with the universe has never been done better than by Solti CSO, no other version moves me like this one, the climax is just astonishing

I do not find the sound quality to be bad, in fact quite detailed and revealing although like any early 1980s digital release a new remaster can help refine the sound, the fools at the record company choose the LSO 2nd for remaster in DG Original series instead of the great CSO version, a tragedy........

[Josquin des Prez]

Does anybody have any information about the new set by Micheal Gilien? I was listening to a couple of clips and it sounds very interesting.