New to Mahler; where to start?

[Rhymenoceros]

I'm new to Mahler and would like to get to know his works better.  I've always been hesitant ever since I heard a live performance of the Titan symphony and didn't really care for it, but I'm will to take some more time to explore other pieces.  What are some classic recordings with which I should start?  What do people think of:

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[Brian]

Honestly, I started with the First Symphony (Titan). The first three movements I enjoyed right away, but the finale's high levels of angst and mania took me some getting used to. As a comparative neophyte myself, I still only really enjoy 1 and 3 - 3 has a lot of hysterics and sprawling emotions and excess, but it's over-the-top enough to be kind of amusing. Sometimes tongue-in-cheek, sometimes very sincere, but never artificially dramatic.

I think the most accessible Mahler might be the song cycles, actually, like Des Knaben Wunderhorn, if you like orchestral songs, anyway.

But I'll bow to more knowledgeable members since I've only heard 1-5 and 8, DKW, and Songs of a Wayfarer.

[Scarpia]

I'm new to Mahler and would like to get to know his works better.  I've always been hesitant ever since I heard a live performance of the Titan symphony and didn't really care for it, but I'm will to take some more time to explore other pieces.  What are some classic recordings with which I should start?  What do people think of:

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That is a highly regarded cycle, but the sound is somewhat dated.  If you enjoy good audio there are alternatives that are generally as highly regarded, and for an equal or smaller price.  One of my favorites is this one:

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also

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The first Mahler I heard was the 9th, and I think it was a superb way to start.  (It is still my favorite work by Mahler).  The 1st might also be a good entry point (scale not too intimidating). 

[Brahmsian]

Mahler is pretty intimidating for some (I know his music was for me at first!)

Although I now consider it my least favourite symphony of Mahler's (after his 8th), I found the 4th enjoyable almost from the start.

If you love Adagios and slow movements, Mahler wrote some beauties!    Final movement of the 3rd symphony, 2nd mvt. of the 2nd symphony, the Adagietto of the 5th symphony, the Andante Moderato of the 6th (which, depending on recording and conductor's choice, is either the 2nd or 3rd mvt).

[trung224]

I'm new to Mahler and would like to get to know his works better.  I've always been hesitant ever since I heard a live performance of the Titan symphony and didn't really care for it, but I'm will to take some more time to explore other pieces.  What are some classic recordings with which I should start?  What do people think of:

[asin]B00004SA86[/asin]

Kubelik's set is very consistant and great. It represents the Czech's Mahler tradition with characteristic and rustic woodwind sound that are somewhat vanished today. But the recording from 1960s is dated. If you want to explore Mahler, I think the great start could be Bernstein's second  set from DG which contain some among the best performance on Symphony 1,2,3,5,6,7 plus the Ninth with BPO (also from DG). The cost is also cheap and the sound is very good [asin]B0033QC0WY[/asin]
    If you want a complete works by Mahler , I think the best way is the Mahler's 150th anniversary box on EMI, which contain so many classics performance (Sym 2 and dLvDE by Klemperer, Sym5,8 by Tennstedt, sym 6,9 by Barbirolli, Sym 7,10 by Rattle...) and the price is also very attractive [asin]B003D0ZNWY[/asin]
The Mahler's world is very large and depends on your taste. Just try and choose what style and performers you can connect with.
  Personally, I have a shortlist
#1: Bernstein (DG), Kubelik (DG), Abbado (DG), Jansons (COA live, a new discovery)
#2: Tennstedt (LPO live, a soul-searching performance for ages IMHO), Klemperer (EMI), Mehta (DG),Bernstein (DG)
#3: Horenstein (Brilliant Classics box), Bernstein (Sony), Kubelik (DG), Barbirolli (BBC Legends)
#4: Ivan Fischer (Channel Classics), Kletzki (EMI), Maazel (Sony), Szell (Sony)
#5: Tennstedt (live on EMI anniversary box), Barshai (Brilliant Classics), Shipway (a shocking emotional and power performance), Barbirolli (EMI), Bernstein (DG), Rudolf Schwarz (Everest), Neumann (Brilliant Classics)
#6: Tennstedt (LPO live), Bernstein (DG), Barbirolli (EMI), Solti (Decca), Karajan (DG)
#7: Bernstein (DG), Abbado (DG), Tilson Thomas (SFS live), Rosbaud, Gielen (Hanssler), Klemperer (for the mighty wayward performance)
#8: Solti (Decca), Tennstedt (LPO live), Boulez (DG) and lesser degree Bertini (EMI)
#9: Karajan (live DG), Bernstein (DG live Berlin), Barbirolli (EMI), Ancerl (Supraphon) and for little strange performance Maderna (BBC legends)
#10: Rattle (EMI), Chailly (DG)
Das Lied von die Erde: Klemperer (EMI), Kubelik (Audite)

   

[trung224]

That is a highly regarded cycle, but the sound is somewhat dated.  If you enjoy good audio there are alternatives that are generally as highly regarded, and for an equal or smaller price.  One of my favorites is this one:

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also

[asin]B000BQ7BX2[/asin]

The first Mahler I heard was the 9th, and I think it was a superb way to start.  (It is still my favorite work by Mahler).  The 1st might also be a good entry point (scale not too intimidating).

Both set has very good sound, especially Chailly's set with exceptional and realistic sound. This is actually my first set when I come to Mahler's music. But after hearing wide range of performances, most of Chailly's interpretation bored me to death (except the Tenth), and to my taste it bland-ise Mahler's music. However, with the first set, it is still a good choice at cheap cost

[Daverz]

I'm new to Mahler and would like to get to know his works better.  I've always been hesitant ever since I heard a live performance of the Titan symphony and didn't really care for it, but I'm will to take some more time to explore other pieces.  What are some classic recordings with which I should start?

It might be better to start with 4 in that case, since it has the least amount of bombast.  My favorite recording is Kletzki:

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I also recommend this video about Symphony No. 3:

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[Mirror Image]

I'm by no means a Mahler expert, but I do enjoy his music. I think for a beginner Symphony No. 4 opposes no great threat. It's possibly his most accessible symphony. One thing you have to get used to in Mahler's music is his juxtaposition of emotions. One minute something can be joyful, then the next minute it's all out mayhem.

I highly recommend these two symphony sets:

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[aukhawk]

The first Mahler I heard was the 9th, and I think it was a superb way to start.  (It is still my favorite work by Mahler).  The 1st might also be a good entry point (scale not too intimidating).

+1

A thing about Mahler is that, although at first sight the Symphonies are HUGE, and the orchestras massive - in actual fact he rarely lets it all rip at once - the music is more often than not quite intimate in feel, and at any given moment time most of the musicians are just sitting around listening to the rest (or maybe playing cards, who knows 
Symphonies 3 and 4 are very good illustrations of this.  +1 for Kletski's 4th.

[Scarpia]

Both set has very good sound, especially Chailly's set with exceptional and realistic sound. This is actually my first set when I come to Mahler's music. But after hearing wide range of performances, most of Chailly's interpretation bored me to death (except the Tenth), and to my taste it bland-ise Mahler's music. However, with the first set, it is still a good choice at cheap cost

Chailly's interpretations may be the opposite of Bernstein's late, heart on his sleeve style, but I don't think that makes them boring.  (The One set that failed to capture my interest at all was Neumann's Czech Philharmonic cycle).

[Mandryka]

I'm new to Mahler and would like to get to know his works better.  I've always been hesitant ever since I heard a live performance of the Titan symphony and didn't really care for it, but I'm will to take some more time to explore other pieces.  What are some classic recordings with which I should start?  What do people think of:

[asin]B00004SA86[/asin]

When someone posts like this it's tempting tor recommend a pile of easily accessible recordings which have a large following. But I don't think you should. I think for your introduction you should find the best.


You need to seek out a conductor who has a feel for his expressionist idiom. Get hold of everything you can find conducted by Rosbaud and Maderna and Scherchen. Gielen too == he's easy to find.

You asked for classic recordings If you really want classic recordings then you need to listen to Walter's 1938 Mahler 9  (a live performance with leading members of the SS in the audience, made the day before he fled the country -- you can hear the apocalyptic ambiance) Another major old one is Mengelberg's Mahler 4. Sound is bad is both cases -- the sort of thing to try through youtube when you're in the mood.

This has concentrated on symphonies. Are you interested in his songs too?

[Rhymenoceros]

This has concentrated on symphonies. Are you interested in his songs too?

Yes, please don't just limit your replies to symphonies!

[North Star]

Yes, please don't just limit your replies to symphonies!

In that case, I agree with trung's suggestion of the EMI complete works box. In addition to the symphonies, you get Fischer-Dieskau & Furtwängler's Fahrenden Gesellen, and Ferrier & Walter's Kindertotenlieder, Baker & Barbirolli's Rückert-Lieder, Schwarzkopf & DF-D with Szell in Des Knaben Wunderhorn.

    If you want a complete works by Mahler , I think the best way is the Mahler's 150th anniversary box on EMI, which contain so many classics performance (Sym 2 and dLvDE by Klemperer, Sym5,8 by Tennstedt, sym 6,9 by Barbirolli, Sym 7,10 by Rattle...) and the price is also very attractive [asin]B003D0ZNWY[/asin]

[Mandryka]

A very very good male singer in Mahler in Van Dam. if you want a man's voce, I would start to investigate with him.

If you want a woman's then i think Hunt Lieberson and Fassbaender are excellent.

Anyway, that's where I would start to explore, I'm expect  they're on youtube so it's easy to sample.

Oh and I can't resisting mentioning Gielen's OTT Knaben Wunderhorn, with Christiane Iven and PHanno Müller-Brachmann, which I've been  playing a lot.

[snyprrr]

OH NOES!! A Mahler noob JUST DON'T LISTEN TO BRIAN!!!!!

[Karl Henning]

I think the most accessible Mahler might be the song cycles, actually, like Des Knaben Wunderhorn, if you like orchestral songs, anyway.

It was the Rückert-Lieder and Kindertotenlieder which "leveraged" me in to Mahler.

[Scarpia]

Although I am now a bit consumer of the big boxes, now that I think of it, that was not always the most efficient route to a totally new composer.   

Probably a reasonable course would be to make a list of your favorite performers and see which of them did some Mahler.  Then get a recording.   (Probably you should decide whether you would prefer a symphony with or without vocalists and/or chorus.  Probably you should avoid #7 as a first try, since even Mahler nuts often concede it is a tough nut to crack.)  All of our recommendations for this vs. that are probably useless, since the personal taste of the listener is often the biggest factor.  (I see people enthusiastically recommending sets which, if I were limited to them, I would never listen to Mahler again!)

[bhodges]

Probably a reasonable course would be to make a list of your favorite performers and see which of them did some Mahler. Then get a recording.   (Probably you should decide whether you would prefer a symphony with or without vocalists and/or chorus.  Probably you should avoid #7 as a first try, since even Mahler nuts often concede it is a tough nut to crack.)  All of our recommendations for this vs. that are probably useless, since the personal taste of the listener is often the biggest factor.  (I see people enthusiastically recommending sets which, if I were limited to them, I would never listen to Mahler again!)

Good advice here, especially given the wide range of Mahler interpretations available. I also agree with Scarpia on the Chailly set - it's not "extreme" but that doesn't mean it's boring, and the playing and recorded sound (especially in say, Nos. 5 and 6) are exemplary.

But I like the idea of starting with favorite performers, whom you know in other repertoire.

--Bruce

[Scarpia]

Wow, someone agreed with me.  I should mark this date on my calender!

Anyway, my entre to Mahler was this LP set



Now

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I admired Karajan's Beethoven and Brahms, and it worked for me.  I distinctly remember listening to the long first movement and being entranced by the unfamiliar melodies and harmonies, but being puzzled by what I perceived as a meandering form.  But I knew Herbie would see me through. 

It is up to you to guess what will work for you.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Wow, someone agreed with me.  I should mark this date on my calender!

Anyway, my entre to Mahler was this LP set

Mine too. The original LP box with the faded rainbow on the cover. My first ever Mahler purchase, and it hooked me for life.

In retrospect though, I think any decent recording of the 9th would have done that.