Mahler Mania, Rebooted

[Mirror Image]

Do our Mahler enthusiasts recommend this?—

[asin]B0041LXX2G[/asin]

Levine is quite a good Mahler conductor overall. His 3rd was especially well thought of in all of the reviews I've read.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks!


For my part, when Jimmy conducted the BSO in the Ninth here in Symphony Hall, it was a luminous experience.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks!


For my part, when Jimmy conducted the BSO in the Ninth here in Symphony Hall, it was a luminous experience.

Much welcome, my friend. I bet Levine was spectacular in concert. In all honesty, I've never heard a 'bad' performance from him.

[ritter]

Do our Mahler enthusiasts recommend this?—

[asin]B0041LXX2G[/asin]

My enthusiasm for Mahler has waned (temporarily?) over the past couple of years, so I don't know if I qualify. Furthhmore, I do not (yet?) own that set.....but  :

1) My late dad, who was a lifelong Mahler enthusiast, had Levine's recordings in the highest esteem (I can still see--figurately--the LP sets in our library back home).

2) Not too long ago,  I caught the Das himmlische Leben movement from the Fourth Symphony on Spanish National Radio, and (not knowing who was playing) thought to myself "This is superb!". And, yes, when it finished, the announcer said it was Levine's CSO recording with Judith Raskin.

[André]

I find it's a remarkable set. Everything oozes dedication from the players and persuasion from the conductor.

[André]

Listening to the last minutes of the 10th under Nézet-Séguin as I type.

I have 5 versions of the completed 10th symphony (Levine, Goldschmidt, Barshai, Inbal and this). Some are of the first Cooke completion, others from the second, and there is Barshai's own take on the work.I have never heard a version that made me think this was one of Mahler's best works. Both the first and the last movement are extraordinary. In between are some very good things, but I think the level of accomplishment is variable.

The most striking versions are this one (YNS) and the Goldschmidt. The difference in timing is about 13 minutes. I don't think it's a matter of version (text), but a totally different interpretive perspective. Goldschmidt is resolutely modern and provocative. YNS is romantic, yearning and nostalgic.

Any comments on the 10th and its various disc incarnations ?

[kishnevi]

Do our Mahler enthusiasts recommend this?—

[asin]B0041LXX2G[/asin]

Yes...but I would suggest seeking out his recording of M9 with the Munich Philharmonic, on Oehms. It's one of the best out there, as your concert experience might suggest. OTOH, I have two live performances of M2 from him which I don't recommend (in part because of sonics, but only in part).

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Listening to the last minutes of the 10th under Nézet-Séguin as I type.

Any comments on the 10th and its various disc incarnations?

Some here: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2011/06/gustav-mahler-symphony-no10-part-1.html - but this doesn't include listenings to recent M10s yet -- such as the Nezet Seguin you mention, or the one on Wergo, or Seattle's with Schwartz.

The Wergo one is more interesting in theory than practice. My favorite is still the very colorful Barshai version & recording.

[Karl Henning]

My enthusiasm for Mahler has waned (temporarily?) over the past couple of years, so I don't know if I qualify. Furthhmore, I do not (yet?) own that set.....but  :

1) My late dad, who was a lifelong Mahler enthusiast, had Levine's recordings in the highest esteem (I can still see--figurately--the LP sets in our library back home).

2) Not too long ago,  I caught the Das himmlische Leben movement from the Fourth Symphony on Spanish National Radio, and (not knowing who was playing) thought to myself "This is superb!". And, yes, when it finished, the announcer said it was Levine's CSO recording with Judith Raskin.

I find it's a remarkable set. Everything oozes dedication from the players and persuasion from the conductor.

Yes...but I would suggest seeking out his recording of M9 with the Munich Philharmonic, on Oehms. It's one of the best out there, as your concert experience might suggest. OTOH, I have two live performances of M2 from him which I don't recommend (in part because of sonics, but only in part).

Thanks, all!

[Mahlerian]

Listening to the last minutes of the 10th under Nézet-Séguin as I type.

I have 5 versions of the completed 10th symphony (Levine, Goldschmidt, Barshai, Inbal and this). Some are of the first Cooke completion, others from the second, and there is Barshai's own take on the work.I have never heard a version that made me think this was one of Mahler's best works. Both the first and the last movement are extraordinary. In between are some very good things, but I think the level of accomplishment is variable.

The most striking versions are this one (YNS) and the Goldschmidt. The difference in timing is about 13 minutes. I don't think it's a matter of version (text), but a totally different interpretive perspective. Goldschmidt is resolutely modern and provocative. YNS is romantic, yearning and nostalgic.

Any comments on the 10th and its various disc incarnations ?

The Tenth is, like all of Mahler's other symphonies, a unique structure, and so it needs to be taken individually.  It's best to think of it as consisting of two parts:

Part 1
I, II

Part 2
III, IV, V

Conversely, you could set it up like the Fifth and split it into three parts with the Purgatorio in the center by itself, but there's a good reason to put it with the last two movements.  The comparison with the Fifth is revealing because the Tenth is its opposite in several ways.  The Fifth has a center-heavy structure, where the scherzo forms the complex central pillar that defines the relationships to the outer parts, while the Seventh, like the Tenth, has a symmetrical structure focused on the outer movements.

Dramatically, the Purgatorio is the turning-point of the structure, forcing the symphony to break away from the F# center of the first two movements and introducing the thematic material that dominates the last three.  These things are all resolved in the finale when the massive dissonant chord from the first movement returns and melts into the theme of that movement, finishing off the work in the initial key of F# major.

[André]

Some here: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2011/06/gustav-mahler-symphony-no10-part-1.html - but this doesn't include listenings to recent M10s yet -- such as the Nezet Seguin you mention, or the one on Wergo, or Seattle's with Schwartz.

The Wergo one is more interesting in theory than practice. My favorite is still the very colorful Barshai version & recording.

Thanks for that, it's a very informative essay. Reinforces the work in progress impression, the idea that there is still a lot that will remain unclear about the work. Completions are just that: best intentions and best efforts toward a respectful and meaningful artistic solution. Reminds me of the still unfinished work on Gaudi's Sagrada Familia: how would it stand today if Gaudi had been around to see it finished ?

Time to relisten to Barshai and Slatkin (forgot I had that, too !).

.........................................................................................

Very interesting, Mahlerian. I'll keep those points in mind next time I listen to the 10th !

[Mahlerian]

Very interesting, Mahlerian. I'll keep those points in mind next time I listen to the 10th !

Glad I could help!  Remember that all of that stuff about form and content (as opposed to details of instrumentation) comes directly from Mahler, and it will apply to all completions of the work equally.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Thanks for that, it's a very informative essay. Reinforces the work in progress impression, the idea that there is still a lot that will remain unclear about the work. Completions are just that: best intentions and best efforts toward a respectful and meaningful artistic solution. Reminds me of the still unfinished work on Gaudi's Sagrada Familia: how would it stand today if Gaudi had been around to see it finished ?

Time to relisten to Barshai and Slatkin (forgot I had that, too !).

Thanks for the kind words. You're welcome. (There's a second part to it; easy to miss, because the links are so small. That lists most of the available recordings up to two years ago: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2011/06/gustav-mahler-symphony-no10-part-2.html

[Senta]

Some may have caught this livestream yesterday, but if you didn't it's up for another 24 hours -

Salonen/Philharmonia in a simply ravishing, searing 3rd featuring a luminous Michelle DeYoung.

Glorious playing and so much beautiful detail. Quite emotional too (couldn't help but tear up in the last movement!)

I've always loved what he does with M3!

https://www.youtube.com/v/8rg0VYnTHog

[Karl Henning]

Yes...but I would suggest seeking out his recording of M9 with the Munich Philharmonic, on Oehms. It's one of the best out there, as your concert experience might suggest. OTOH, I have two live performances of M2 from him which I don't recommend (in part because of sonics, but only in part).

Many thanks, again, Jeffrey.  I have as yet listened only to the closing Adagio (seems to be my current "hang-up"), and it is indeed exquisite.

[Mirror Image]

Many thanks, again, Jeffrey.  I have as yet listened only to the closing Adagio (seems to be my current "hang-up"), and it is indeed exquisite.

Great to hear you're enjoying Mahler's music, Karl!

[relm1]

What is your favorite recording of Mahler's No. 2?  Basically if you were going to introduce someone to this work which recording would you demonstrate the work with?

[SurprisedByBeauty]

What is your favorite recording of Mahler's No. 2?  Basically if you were going to introduce someone to this work which recording would you demonstrate the work with?

1. Pierre Boulez, WPh, DG

2. Zubin Mehta, WPh, Decca

3. Michael Gielen SWRSO, Hänssler

4. Seiji Ozawa, Saito Kinen FO, Sony

5. Iván Fischer, Budapest FO, Channel Classics

See also the  below, where the reasoning for the above choices is given. Granted, it does not take into consideration some of the most recent M2s on the market, like Gergiev II, Stenz, Nott... (the latter two are v.good, generally speaking).


http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2015/06/gustav-mahler-symphony-no2-part-1.html

+



http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2015/06/gustav-mahler-symphony-no2-part-2.html

[kyjo]

What is your favorite recording of Mahler's No. 2?  Basically if you were going to introduce someone to this work which recording would you demonstrate the work with?

I very much like VPO/Mehta on Decca.

[Madiel]

I don't own a Mahler 2. There was a blind listening a few years ago that never got completed, and so I have a 1st movement that I know I really enjoyed but no idea who the conductor and orchestra were.

Which is going to make picking a version to buy harder. It's going to have to match, to a fair degree, the qualities of that blind listening candidate even if it isn't the same performance. Hopefully I'll track it down in other people's top choices.