Mahler Mania, Rebooted

[jlaurson]

   My top three (top 2 & best SACD version) as per a few years ago in the Mahler Survey:


Mahler, Symphony No.2,
Boulez / WPh
DG



Mahler, Symphony No.2,
Mehta
Decca


Mahler, Symphony No.2,
Fischer /BFO
Channel Classics SACD

[Pat B]

   My top three (top 2 & best SACD version) as per a few years ago in the Mahler Survey:

Speaking of which, any chance you'll have time to restore the remaining entries?

[jlaurson]

Speaking of which, any chance you'll have time to restore the remaining entries?

Yes, I will... that sort of work comes in fits... but I definitely look forward to getting the remaining 9 essays up.

it's heartening, actually, even to hear interest to that end expressed! Thanks.

[snyprrr]

Am I ready for Mahler?

I tried him back in my DSCH days, and, of course, liked DSCH better. I had the old (Walter?) Sony 6th, the classic EMI 5th with that British conductor,... but, mm, I never really got into Mahler. Right now I'd be more interested in any particular recording that gives me something special... I guess I'd go back and try 6 again?

I loved how No.1 was used in Caan's film 'The Gambler', but it's slower there than any recording I've found.

So, if there was only one Mahler recording for snyprrr, what would you recommend?

Sorry, seem to have bypassed Mahler and went straight to Late DSCH.

[Brahmsian]

Nachtmusik II. Andante Amoroso is awesome!!! 

[Jay F]

Natchmusik II. Andante Amoroso is awesome!!! 

Natch.

[Brahmsian]

Natch.

Oops.   

[Jay F]

Oops.   

It is awesome, though. It's my second or third favorite movement in Mahler. The andante moderato in No. 6 is my favorite, and the two Nachtmusiks in No. 7 tie for second and third. I have no idea why people think No. 7 isn't one of Mahler's better works. I like it more than any except No. 6 (and sometimes No. 2).

[Moonfish]

I have been paying homage to M1 this week. Today:

Mahler: Symphony No 1    Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich/Zinman

[asin] B000MNP2Y4[/asin]

I had not heard Zinman's Mahler before so I approached this recording with trepidation as I had read some pretty mixed reviews (about the cycle). From a sound perspective I was very impressed - clear and crisp, but still embedded with warmth. I need to hear it over again, but it came across as an extremely competent and well defined recording. In terms of performance it was perhaps a bit more technical than passionate ( I prefer the latter in Mahler), but these are just simple impressions of his M1.  What is the general view of Zinman's Mahler cycle here at GMG? As it ended I was severely tempted to listen to it again...

[kishnevi]

I got it as it came out individually.  Some of it is meh, some very good, one is plain lousy,  and one is my favorite performance of that symphony...but I will not say which is which so you can discover and judge for yourself. 

[Moonfish]

I got it as it came out individually.  Some of it is meh, some very good, one is plain lousy,  and one is my favorite performance of that symphony...but I will not say which is which so you can discover and judge for yourself.

Most cycles seems to be a blend of ups and downs. No wonder the "pros" recommend building a collection of individual releases! I guess cycles just serve as a prelude to Mahler mania? However, it would be pretty sad if one's interest in Mahler declined due to a bad initial cycle exposure.....     Hmm, I doubt I will be able to ID your favorite performance? Besides, it will take years..   

[Brahmsian]

Bumping for Herr Karl. 

[Papy Oli]

Sept 2014 :

[snyprrr]

Not Walter's 6th...no such thing. He didn't like it, didn't record it. I don't think he ever conducted it.

Klemperer's 7th. Try the middle movements (Nachtmusik I, Scherzo, Nacthmusiik II). Some seriously weird stuff going on there, Mahler's and Klemperer's 

Sarge

Well, I was looking for 7ths on Amazon yesterday- just to see who/what/where/when- obviously eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeverybody picks the pretty exact same performances. Concerning that Klemperer Scherzo- if I liked that (and I'm assuming you think it's an extreme performance?), does that mean I'm going to be disappointed by others? (this is my fear of starting out with a most extreme performance in - ehhhm- good "old" sound). I mean, in Mahler 7, if I may be bold, I'd like the kitchen sink! Sound + outrageous awesomeness- good tempo management (at least good to the ears- or whatever- you know).

I'm juuust saying- Abbado 'live' is less than $1,- maybe I need "Premium Recs" and "Budget Recs"? hahaha!!!

I'm just not going to pay a lot for that muffler!!

So,- I must admit that when approaching Mahler I begin to get weary of Bernstein popping up all the time with unanimous TheOne&Only- I'm just saying, not that I have a problem- per se- with it, haha! But, reeeally?? no one? (no, I know everyone has a clutch of pet faves, with sound and without)


frankly, is it too much to ask to have it all in one recorded performance i n good sound? is it? really? it's just madness!!!!


at this point I will believe anything you say! I want TRANSCENDENCE!! RAPTURE!!!  HAPPY ENDING!!! (ok, not for Mahler!)


777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777


might as well throw a few 6s in there too


666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666


aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[snyprrr]

Well, I was looking for 7ths on Amazon yesterday- just to see who/what/where/when- obviously eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeverybody picks the pretty exact same performances. Concerning that Klemperer Scherzo- if I liked that (and I'm assuming you think it's an extreme performance?), does that mean I'm going to be disappointed by others? (this is my fear of starting out with a most extreme performance in - ehhhm- good "old" sound). I mean, in Mahler 7, if I may be bold, I'd like the kitchen sink! Sound + outrageous awesomeness- good tempo management (at least good to the ears- or whatever- you know).

I'm juuust saying- Abbado 'live' is less than $1,- maybe I need "Premium Recs" and "Budget Recs"? hahaha!!!

I'm just not going to pay a lot for that muffler!!

So,- I must admit that when approaching Mahler I begin to get weary of Bernstein popping up all the time with unanimous TheOne&Only- I'm just saying, not that I have a problem- per se- with it, haha! But, reeeally?? no one? (no, I know everyone has a clutch of pet faves, with sound and without)


frankly, is it too much to ask to have it all in one recorded performance i n good sound? is it? really? it's just madness!!!!


at this point I will believe anything you say! I want TRANSCENDENCE!! RAPTURE!!!  HAPPY ENDING!!! (ok, not for Mahler!)


777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777


might as well throw a few 6s in there too


666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666


aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I didn't write that!

[Ken B]

Well, I was looking for 7ths on Amazon yesterday- just to see who/what/where/when- obviously eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeverybody picks the pretty exact same performances. Concerning that Klemperer Scherzo- if I liked that (and I'm assuming you think it's an extreme performance?), does that mean I'm going to be disappointed by others? (this is my fear of starting out with a most extreme performance in - ehhhm- good "old" sound). I mean, in Mahler 7, if I may be bold, I'd like the kitchen sink! Sound + outrageous awesomeness- good tempo management (at least good to the ears- or whatever- you know).

I'm juuust saying- Abbado 'live' is less than $1,- maybe I need "Premium Recs" and "Budget Recs"? hahaha!!!

I'm just not going to pay a lot for that muffler!!

So,- I must admit that when approaching Mahler I begin to get weary of Bernstein popping up all the time with unanimous TheOne&Only- I'm just saying, not that I have a problem- per se- with it, haha! But, reeeally?? no one? (no, I know everyone has a clutch of pet faves, with sound and without)


frankly, is it too much to ask to have it all in one recorded performance i n good sound? is it? really? it's just madness!!!!


at this point I will believe anything you say! I want TRANSCENDENCE!! RAPTURE!!!  HAPPY ENDING!!! (ok, not for Mahler!)


777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777


might as well throw a few 6s in there too


666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666


aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

FWIW my attitude to Mahler is ABB, anybody but Bernstein.  Mehta before Bernstein!

[kishnevi]

FWIW my attitude to Mahler is ABB, anybody but Bernstein.  Mehta before Bernstein!

Mehta=metaBernstein?

[Ken B]

Mehta=metaBernstein?

The very thought makes me queasy.

I had Lennie NY Mahler at 17 or 18, when I suffered from Mahleria. The cure is either a surfeit of Lennie's orgasmatron mahler machine, or a strong dose of Stravinsky. I took both. But Lennie's Mahler prompts an anaphylactic response.

[snyprrr]

The very thought makes me queasy.

I had Lennie NY Mahler at 17 or 18, when I suffered from Mahleria. The cure is either a surfeit of Lennie's orgasmatron mahler machine, or a strong dose of Stravinsky. I took both. But Lennie's Mahler prompts an anaphylactic response.

that looks swollen!

seriously, I understand you're sentence better than any musical des cription. So lenny's just a wanker, like some guy playing a guitar solo with his... errrr???  It's really quite funny!

FWIW my attitude to Mahler is ABB, anybody but Bernstein.  Mehta before Bernstein!

My problem is- back in the day, all the different Cycles had the same "Series Covers', so, I can't remember if it was a Lenny 5, or Abbado 7, or Levine 2, cause i can't distinguish the covers.


I'd prefer perhaps a grotesque performance, I don't know- aye aye- help me. I mean, DDD, GreatCity Symphony Orchestra, Super Engineer, Magical Conductor, Perfect tempi, HAND CRAFTED INSTRUMENTS!!,- Lushness- Terror- Solos- Cigarette

I mean,


I mean


I'll look at some more reviews, but I'm going to need more than just a vote AGAINST Lenny!!

[Sergeant Rock]

I'd prefer perhaps a grotesque performance, I don't know- aye aye- help me. I mean, DDD, GreatCity Symphony Orchestra, Super Engineer, Magical Conductor, Perfect tempi, HAND CRAFTED INSTRUMENTS!!,- Lushness- Terror- Solos- Cigarette

I mean,


I mean


I'll look at some more reviews, but I'm going to need more than just a vote AGAINST Lenny!!

In 7 Klemperer and Bernstein are my Top 2 but you've apparently ruled them out. So, look at Barenboim/Staatskapelle Berlin, Boulez/Cleveland and Abbado/Chicago (his later Berlin recording is much the same as an interpretation but the Berlin Phil is no Mahler orchestra).

Sarge