Mahler Mania, Rebooted

[jlaurson]

Mahler's excess sometimes strikes me as self-defeatingly self-indulgent....

self-indulgent? you haven't yet seen self-indulgent!


http://www.youtube.com/v/YmkVaYYCVNQ

[mc ukrneal]

self-indulgent? you haven't yet seen self-indulgent!


http://www.youtube.com/v/YmkVaYYCVNQ

That conductor sure does get into it. Who does he pitch against next? 

EDIT: It looks like he is trying to swim, dance, pitch, jump (like a pogo stick), and conduct all in the space of 10 minutes.

[cilgwyn]

He's no Nikisch!

[DavidRoss]

Thanks, Jens--I never knew Stephen Wright was also a conductor!

[Sergeant Rock]

EDIT: It looks like he is trying to swim, dance, pitch, jump (like a pogo stick), and conduct all in the space of 10 minutes.

I especially like the rutting stork dance at around the eight minute mark.

Sarge

[ibanezmonster]

Now that I've gone through all of Solti's cycle (finally), I have to update my favorites list. 

Let me (temporarily) update my (possible) favorite Mahler list:

1- Solti                   
2- Jansons                 
3- Chailly
4- Szell
5- Solti
6- Tennstedt
7- Solti
8- Solti
9- Solti
10- Chailly


Notes:
1- honestly, this was my first recording of the first. Other than the last movement, it's hard to tell apart recordings at all.
2- the only recording I have no complaints about, but... this was also my first recording. 
3- clear choice for everything but last movement, which no one does better than Tennstedt.
4- clear choice... somewhat.
5- similar scenario to 9- "better than Chailly? I'll only be able to tell over time, but it really is that good."
6- clear choice.
7- depending on the day, I might prefer Gielen.
8- there might be a couple I haven't listened to enough that I thought I liked at least as much Solti's.
9- better than Karajan? I'll only be able to tell over time, but it really is that good.
10- clear choice.



So, obviously, many aren't so clear-cut. But still, his cycle is one of the best if you're looking for intensity and action. Still, he doesn't really sacrifice detail in order to achieve this, so it's a pretty decent balance of two things I appreciate. The only one I'd call a "dud" in this entire cycle is the 3rd, and then there are a couple that are just okay. Overall, though, this might be favorite set.



(i should note that again that before the last few days, I was very familiar with 1, 7, 8- the rest are new to me)...

(another note: 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8 are all first recordings- it'll take a while to see, but that's 5/10 on my list that are first recordings. More familiarity with other may change that eventually).

[karlhenning]

(i should note that again that before the last few days, I was very familiar with 1, 7, 8- the rest are new to me)...

So (like myself), you are new to the Mania?

[ibanezmonster]

So (like myself), you are new to the Mania?

lol, well, I was familiar with Solti's 1st, 7th and 8th, but the rest of the cycle ended up being even better than I expected.

One thing that I just realized after talking to my little brother was that the 6th is the only of his 10 symphonies that ends in a minor key. I just never thought of that until now...

[Amfortas]

  I am so deeply afflicted with Mahler-mania that I can't even participate in this thread. It's just Mahler, Mahler, Mahler almost all the time for me....that music....incredible....that Andante Comodo, that Stürmisch bewegt, mit grösster Vehemenz....no life without it....

[Herman]

it'll pass

[Jay F]

I am so deeply afflicted with Mahler-mania that I can't even participate in this thread. It's just Mahler, Mahler, Mahler almost all the time for me....that music....incredible....that Andante Comodo, that Stürmisch bewegt, mit grösster Vehemenz....no life without it....

And a "nicht schleppend" and "etwas bewegter" to you, Amfortas.

[Amfortas]

And a "nicht schleppend" and "etwas bewegter" to you, Amfortas.

"Dunkel is das Leben, ist der Tod" back atcha!

[Jay F]

"Dunkel is das Leben, ist der Tod" back atcha!

Right now "Im Tempo Eines Gemaechlichen Laendlers" (M9, Abbado VP)

[DavidW]

Jens that was one of the funniest youtubes I've seen in awhile!   Thanks for that.

[Roberto]

This was my new Mahler album this week:
[asin]B0000034LX[/asin]

I think I am going and give a chance to it. 
(I like Inbal's 3rd and 10th but I don't his 7th.)

[MishaK]

5- Solti

Try his later, digital remake, recorded live on tour in Vienna in 1990.

[asin]B0000041ZH[/asin]

Same impact, but more fluidity and color, and far better sonics. The one included in the complete Solti Mahler cycle is the old 1970 5th, recorded in Urbana-Champaign, which -- I admit is a bit more athletic, if that's what you want -- but is also seriously shrill, and the brass blow out the equipment in the climax of the scherzo, giving you just undefined noise.

[knight66]

Mahler 2: LPO Jurowski live recording

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Vladimir+Jurowski+mahler

I am surprised no one has picked up on this performance. It got a rave review in Gramophone: which I know for some here may rule it out of court.

I have linked to a couple of other comments and sourced the best price I could find it at when I ordered it.

I know this best of all Mahler's symphonies and yet, as promised, it felt fresh and often raised goosebumps. There is a great deal of almost gossamer delicacy and elbow room without a moment of dragging. Overall the timing means it has to go onto two discs. But mere timings can be deceptive.

I love the rubato and the portamanto, neither of which sound like indulgences. The big moments are not underplayed. It feels organic rather than containing hysterical gear changes.

The orchestra sound is terrific and the recording is close in without undue highlighting of individual players.

The landler in the second movement is delicate rather than rustic. The dialogue of plucked strings quite playful. The third movement points and lifts the rhythms and the momentry drama towards the end of the movement comes through and makes its mark and the last two minutes shift like a mirage from playful to forboding.

I could go on. But really, I feel this is worth getting hold of, even if like me you thought you really did not need yet another Mahler 2.

Mike

[ibanezmonster]

Try his later, digital remake, recorded live on tour in Vienna in 1990.

[asin]B0000041ZH[/asin]

Same impact, but more fluidity and color, and far better sonics. The one included in the complete Solti Mahler cycle is the old 1970 5th, recorded in Urbana-Champaign, which -- I admit is a bit more athletic, if that's what you want -- but is also seriously shrill, and the brass blow out the equipment in the climax of the scherzo, giving you just undefined noise.

Cool! 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

From: Havergal Brian, 'The Mahler Revival' (1930) in: Havergal Brian on Music, Volume Two: European and American Music, ed. Malcolm MacDonald, p. 83-85:


"Was there an absence of vitality in the music that caused the first impressions of the Bruckner and Mahler Symphonies to fade away so quickly? Such interest as remained from the pioneer performances has been kept alive by a few enthusiasts who possessed the scores. It is entirely a speculative question if the same repeated performances which followed the new works by Strauss had been given to Bruckner and Mahler, whether they would have just as quickly obtained a sympathetic and interested following as did Strauss. Supposing that the symphonic poems of Strauss and the symphonies of Tchaikovsky had met with the same indifference as those of Bruckner and Mahler, would there ever have been a public clamouring for them? A symphonic work cannot be thoroughly enjoyed or appreciated until it is really known. Intimate understanding is only gained by repeated hearing."


"We feel quite sanguine of the ultimate success of the Bruckner and Mahler symphonies."

[DavidRoss]

The Orchestra of Paris doesn't come to mind as one of the great Mahler orchestras, but y'all still might enjoy this:

http://www.christoph-eschenbach.com/mahler/