Mahler symphonies - help

[DavidW]

Okay I understand you now Renfield, all is well.

[BorisG]

I hope no one was waiting for Gergiev's Mahler.

http://www.scena.org/brand/brand.asp?lan=2&id=46594&lnk=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/be2987d8-6b78-11dc-863b-0000779fd2ac.html

[longears]

I do wonder what that has to do with Mahler's 2nd Symphony.

Wonder no more!  The statement employs a number of literary devices to make its point:  hyperbole, analogy, imagery, irony, even humor.  It suggests that Rattle is such a boring conductor that even patrons at a strip club (who presumably have paid good money to be entertained by something other than the music) couldn't help but fall asleep under his soporific spell...in which case it's no wonder George found his Mahler 2nd boring.

(Did you really wonder?  The rolling eyes suggest irony, that rather than wondering you're actually condemning.  And I do find it hard to believe that you missed the point...but it seems charitable to take your statement at face value.  But still there's the eye-rolling...?)

[George]

...in which case it's no wonder George found his Mahler 2nd boring.

To be clear, I haven't decided yet. It was DavidW who found Rattle's Mahler 2 boring.

[Renfield]

(Did you really wonder?  The rolling eyes suggest irony, that rather than wondering you're actually condemning.  And I do find it hard to believe that you missed the point...but it seems charitable to take your statement at face value.  But still there's the eye-rolling...?)

[Haffner]

The Philharmonia one?

Some people won't like me much for this, but I wonder if most people interested in Mahler really need a 2nd besides the EMI Klemperer.

[longears]

Some people won't like me much for this, but I wonder if most people interested in Mahler really need a 2nd besides the EMI Klemperer.

Well, as much as I like this issue, I prefer the clarity and wit I find in Boulez and Chailly and Abbado's CSO recording.  Do I need 8 different recordings?  Probably not, but I can't think of one I'd want to part with.

[Haffner]

Well, as much as I like this issue, I prefer the clarity and wit I find in Boulez and Chailly and Abbado's CSO recording.  Do I need 8 different recordings?  Probably not, but I can't think of one I'd want to part with.

Good point. It's like me with my Joseph Haydn string quartets.

[George]

Well, as much as I like this issue, I prefer the clarity and wit I find in Boulez and Chailly and Abbado's CSO recording.  Do I need 8 different recordings?  Probably not, but I can't think of one I'd want to part with.

That is the Abbado that comes in a two-fer on DG, right?

[longears]

That is the Abbado that comes in a two-fer on DG, right?

Yep--also has a fine 4th.  I love both of these symphonies, as I love virtually all of Mahler's works, and return to them with the same frequency I return to Beethoven favorites.  That is not to say, however, that I regard Mahler as an equally great artist or craftsman. 

[Haffner]

I love virtually all of Mahler's works, and return to them with the same frequency I return to Beethoven favorites.  That is not to say, however, that I regard Mahler as an equally great artist or craftsman. 

Boy, some people are gonna hate me for this: besides Beethoven's extraordinary 9th, I'll take Mahler's symphonies any day overall. I think Mahler was the greatest symphonist ever. Just my opinion.

[not edward]

Boy, some people are gonna hate me for this: besides Beethoven's extraordinary 9th, I'll take Mahler's symphonies any day overall. I think Mahler was the greatest symphonist ever. Just my opinion.

If I had to rank them purely as symphonists, I'd take Mahler over Beethoven too. But overall, Beethoven definitely wins out.

[RJR]

Boy, some people are gonna hate me for this: besides Beethoven's extraordinary 9th, I'll take Mahler's symphonies any day overall. I think Mahler was the greatest symphonist ever. Just my opinion.

The First movement of Beethoven's Third Symphony is greater than anything Mahler ever composed. Just my opinion.

[RJR]

To Renfield,
I just joined GMG in November, 2010. If you haven't yet found the Mahler 6th 1959 recording by Mitropoulos, then go to VeryCD. It's there.

[Daverz]

To Renfield,
I just joined GMG in November, 2010. If you haven't yet found the Mahler 6th 1959 recording by Mitropoulos, then go to VeryCD. It's there.

Do they have an English language page?

[Lethevich]

I am currently freaking out over Tilson Thomas' Mahler with the SFSO. Either I suddenly like Mahler, or this approach suits me, so does anybody else know of more recordings along these lines?

Ideally I am looking for something that a seasoned Mahlerian would either find boring or feel it to be underplaying or smoothing out what they tend to admire in the music (be it the mood swings, the tension and catharsis being ratcheted up an infinitesimal amount). I am especially looking for these qualities in the later works, as I imagine that a lighter 1st or 4th would be quite easy to do, but even the 9th sounds quite listenable coming from MTT. Ideal qualities: unhurried, unharried, balanced.

Dumb question I know n__n

[Karl Henning]

Zowie, Sara!

[Sergeant Rock]

Ideally I am looking for something that a seasoned Mahlerian would either find boring or feel it to be underplaying or smoothing out what they tend to admire in the music (be it the mood swings, the tension and catharsis being ratcheted up an infinitesimal amount). I am especially looking for these qualities in the later works, as I imagine that a lighter 1st or 4th would be quite easy to do, but even the 9th sounds quite listenable coming from MTT. Ideal qualities: unhurried, unharried, balanced.

Neumann and the Czech Philharmonic. As non-neurotic as it gets.

Sarge

[Lethevich]

Ahh, I was thinking about editing him into my post as a specific request for information. He does tend to be viewed as lukewarm in these works doesn't he? I think it should be perfect, thanks.

[Drasko]

I am currently freaking out over Tilson Thomas' Mahler with the SFSO. Either I suddenly like Mahler, or this approach suits me, so does anybody else know of more recordings along these lines?

Ideally I am looking for something that a seasoned Mahlerian would either find boring or feel it to be underplaying or smoothing out what they tend to admire in the music (be it the mood swings, the tension and catharsis being ratcheted up an infinitesimal amount). I am especially looking for these qualities in the later works, as I imagine that a lighter 1st or 4th would be quite easy to do, but even the 9th sounds quite listenable coming from MTT. Ideal qualities: unhurried, unharried, balanced.

Dumb question I know n__n

Overall, temperamentally Haitink might suit you best. Maybe also Chailly, particularly his 9th is languid and unhurried. Some of Abbado's recordings as well, his Berlin 6th is probably least angst-ridden 6th I ever heard (many dislike it), and his Lucerne 2nd and Vienna 3rd aren't hectoring either. Ivan Fischer could work.
And for truly boring you could always try Haitink's second aborted cycle with BPO on Philips.