Mahler Mania, Rebooted

[Lilas Pastia]

Listening to Mahler's 6th this week.  I'm not that familiar with Mahler.  Now I'm a bit worried.  Is Mahler addictive?  I found myself listening to the 2nd movement repeatedly for a couple of days, and now I feel compelled to do that with the other movements in turn. 

Hmmm... what second movement?

[knight66]

That's cruel. 

Mike

[Papy Oli]

Now I'm a bit worried.  Is Mahler addictive? 

yes.

period.

[Papy Oli]

Hmmm... what second movement?

That's cruel. 
Mike

[Sergeant Rock]

Listening to Mahler's 6th this week.  I'm not that familiar with Mahler.  Now I'm a bit worried.  Is Mahler addictive?

Nah, not addictive at all. I only have 214 recordings of the symphonies. I can stop buying anytime I want..really, I can...and I will, rght after I complete the MTT cycle...and the Fischer...and the Gergiev...and the....


Sarge

[jlaurson]

Nah, not addictive at all. I only have 214 recordings of the symphonies. I can stop buying anytime I want..really, I can...and I will, rght after I complete the MTT cycle...and the Fischer...and the Gergiev...and the....


Sarge

1.) I hate to disappoint you, but Fischer won't complete the cycle.

[Though perhaps someone else will conduct the missing M-Symphonies (at least the 8th, possibly more) for Channel Classics to round out the 'cycle'.]

2.) I'm really excited to announce that November will be Mahler Month at Classical WETA. Gutsy choice for a public classical radio station (you might have read how Mahler is not on the playlist for the new New York Classical Station) and all the more commendable.

3.) I can't believe you mention Gergiev's cycle ahead of Zinman's. Or Stenz'. Or... 

[Sergeant Rock]

1.) I hate to disappoint you, but Fischer won't complete the cycle.

ARRRGGGHHH!!!!

3.) I can't believe you mention Gergiev's cycle ahead of Zinman's. Or Stenz'. Or... 

I haven't heard any of Zinman or Gergiev's Mahler yet so had no way to order them correctly. I take it you lean more towards Zinman 

Sarge

[jlaurson]

ARRRGGGHHH!!!!

If he doesn't like the 8th, why would you want him to conduct it? (You might end up with a snoozer like Haitink's Concertgebouw 8th.)
I find his attitude admirable, saying there are others better suited to conducting certain works... and letting them do it.

I haven't heard any of Zinman or Gergiev's Mahler yet so had no way to order them correctly. I take it you lean more towards Zinman 

Sarge

Right. Zinman is lovely, if rarely exciting.  Gergiev is not lovely, and rarely exciting. Zinman's 3rd I find very persuasive.

[Sergeant Rock]

If he doesn't like the 8th, why would you want him to conduct it?

I wouldn't. My expression of severe disappointment wasn't meant to be taken seriously. 

Sarge

[Papy Oli]

Nah, not addictive at all. I only have 214 recordings of the symphonies. I can stop buying anytime I want..really, I can...and I will, rght after I complete the MTT cycle...and the Fischer...and the Gergiev...and the....


Sarge

Will Powaaaaa !!!!

[ChamberNut]

Listening to Mahler's 6th this week.  I'm not that familiar with Mahler.  Now I'm a bit worried.  Is Mahler addictive?  I found myself listening to the 2nd movement repeatedly for a couple of days, and now I feel compelled to do that with the other movements in turn. 

Was it the Andante movement, or the Scherzo?  They are interchanged, depending on the conductor.  I love this entire symphony (my favorite of Mahler's), but that Andante is incredibly powerful and stirs my innards! 

[secondwind]

Was it the Andante movement, or the Scherzo?  They are interchanged, depending on the conductor.  I love this entire symphony (my favorite of Mahler's), but that Andante is incredibly powerful and stirs my innards! 

The Andante.  Okay, so I'm in trouble now.  Good new, I'm in the WETA listening area, so I'l get som freebie intros.  But then. . .

[jlaurson]

The Andante.  Okay, so I'm in trouble now.  Good new, I'm in the WETA listening area, so I'l get som freebie intros.  But then. . .

And WETA is also available as a free radio stream through iTunes et al. ("Classica WETA 90.9")

[Sergeant Rock]

The Andante. 

Ah...I understand the addiction. That's my single favorite movement. I've listened to it more than any other bit of Mahler.

Sarge

[secondwind]

Thanks, all.  Arriving in the mail today, to feed my new addiction, the BBC music magazine and disc, featuring Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde (German spelling approximate and from memory)...  So move over Mozart, time for another of the big M's. . .

[Tomo]

Nah, not addictive at all. I only have 214 recordings of the symphonies. I can stop buying anytime I want..really, I can...and I will, rght after I complete the MTT cycle...and the Fischer...and the Gergiev...and the....


Sarge

Wow!!!  I bow down, Sarge.  From this point on, I feel that I will use the term "Sargential proportions" when making reference to a collection which has my admiration.

I'd say compulsive is a better word for me personally than addictive.  When I was going through my "Mahler gathering" stage, I'd keep on saying, "Ah, finally got my Mahler collection in cement."  Then, somebody would start raving about the new wave of recordings and I couldn't let things be. 

Now, I'm attempting to have only two recordings per piece on my computer.  This is harder than one might think.  Preferences do shift.  Should I go for a faster or slower interpretation?  Last night, I was going through his fifth and was surprised which recording I preferred most.  I also included what might prove to be an unpopular choice for my Das Lied as one of my two.  Thing is that I just love the two recordings and, although they might not be the most lauded, I would regret it if they weren't on my personal playlist.

[Papy Oli]

which versions by work did you narrow it down to, tomo ?

[Tomo]

The No. 5 I was referring to was the Barshai.  Listened to it last night and the enthusiastic, spirited playing with the vitality of the live performance just breathes with excitement. I don't care if the players are young.  They just bring all they have to the table.

The other choice for 5 is still up in the air right now.  The Chailly might end up being the choice, but I'm not sure.  Might have to explore recordings beyond what I have heard in the past.

As for Das Lied, one was the Klemperer with Ludwig, which would be a popular choice.  The other, which I chose over others that probably would be more recommended, was the Oue/Minnesota.  I have an emotional attachment with that in that it was the first recording of the work I owned, but, more so, I do love the performances, especially Michele DeYoung, who brings a sensitive, almost fragile, beauty in her singing.

[ChamberNut]

Ah...I understand the addiction. That's my single favorite movement. I've listened to it more than any other bit of Mahler.

Sarge

Ditto Sarge.....ditto!  0:)  Sarge, since you have so many recordings of the 6th, what are some of your favorites recordings (specifically of the Andante movement, or overall)?  I absolutely love the Tennstedt/LPO.....highly dramatic!

[greg]

Ditto Sarge.....ditto!  0:)  Sarge, since you have so many recordings of the 6th, what are some of your favorites recordings (specifically of the Andante movement, or overall)?  I absolutely love the Tennstedt/LPO.....highly dramatic!

Thank you for saying that!
That's by far my favorite recording as well... it sounds completely different from all of the other recordings I've heard, and in a good way. He's the only conductor that got me to finally fall in love with the Finale.

I'm starting to think we have some extremely similar tastes- not just this, but several other things as well...