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In Reply to: RE: A second Mahler symphonies cycle thread, if you don't mind posted by Frihed89 on August 12, 2012 at 01:19:30
...no one conductor does all of the symphonies equally well. Mahler seems to be particularly sensitive to interpretation so choosing interpretations for individual symphonies is the way to go. I have a number of interpretations of each and found that some conductors brought life to their performances and others were completely off base--but no one conductor got it right on all of the symphonies, in fact no one conductor was my top choice on more than one symphony. So here is my (provisional) list:
1st: Bruno Walter / Columbia Symphony (2 CDs includes 2nd)
2nd: Otto Klemperer / Phiolharmonia Orch.
3rd: Claudio Abbado / Berlin Philharmonic
4th: George Szell / Cleveland Orchestra
5th: John Barbirolli / New Philharmonia Orchestra
6th: George Szell / Cleveland Orchestra
7th: Yoel Levi / Atlanta Symphony
8th: George Szell / Cleveland Orchestra
9th: Bernard Haitink / Royal Concertgebow (2 CDs includes DLVDE)
DLVDE: Otto Klemperer, Christa Ludwig / New Philharmonia Orch.
Follow Ups:
There is simply no weak spot in his cycle.On their own each symphony is highly recommendable.
Edits: 08/20/12
But what counts for me is the art.
1 -- Walter, NBCSO (1939)
Kreutzer, Danish Radio SO (stereo)
Scherchen, VSOO
2 -- Walter, NYPSO (1948)
Scherchen, VSOO
3 -- Adler, VSO
Kondrashin, Moscow PO (stereo)
Scherchen, Leipzig
4 -- Mengelberg, COA
Sejna, Czech PO
5 -- Scherchen, ORTF (a bit abridged, but OMG!)
6 -- Scherchen, Leipzig (abridged)
Scherchen, Berlin (I only)
7 --
8 -- Mitropoulos, VPO
Levine, BSO (stereo)
Scherchen, Berlin (I only)
9 -- Zander, Boston PO (stereo)
Mitropoulos, NYPO
Walter, VPO
10-- Martinon, CSO (stereo)
Scherchen, Leipzig (I only)
F. Schmidt (I & III only)
DL-- Thorborg, Schuricht
Thorborg, Walter, VPO
I agree. Mahler is not one for a complete set from one conductor.I also agree with much of your list, esp. the 2nd and 4th. Abbado surprisingly good in the 3rd, though I prefer Horenstein.
And the only DLVDE for me is Walter-Ferrier. Guess I have to live with "limited dynamics." Mono, too. Sometimes you sacrifice when you want the best. ;-)
Edits: 08/14/12
If I asked ten Mahler lovers for the same list, no two lists would be the same and, if i even knew what I liked or was looking for, my list would be different.
The same would be true if I asked for a recommendation on the complete cycle, which is what I have been trying to do for 2 weeks. In the last two days, I have read a lot of reviews of various cycles. The four I am thinking about seem to be well above average, with no lame performances + they are good recordings. Based on these, I am leaning toward Gielen or Bertini. This will allow me to get my feet wet, without struggling to hear and put my finger on the differences in any number of recordings of each symphony.
This may not seem like the most valid approach, but it sure beats buying the album with the nicest looking cover among the 3 for sale in a classical music shop.
Observe, before you think
I have both of these. I bought the Gielen one-at-a-time as they became available. I bought the Bertini as a set and I remember it was much less than the Gielen set.
The Gielen set is consistently well done with excellent sonics.
.
I think there are a couple of revered members here on this site who more or less stopped listening after the mid-50's (or at least they're not impressed with any performance since the mid-50's). Whatever floats your boat! ;-)
... and occasionally one of them gives the great ones a run for their money.
If so, details, please!
Russell
That's Gielen, but truth be told, I think that the eighth tries to do too many things and ends up being confused, so I probably shouldn't be recommending anything. I did hear it Lorin Maazel do it live when he stepped down from his post at the NY Phil--his grand finale with them, and that performance made more sense than on anything I've heard on record. But even after that, I still can't say that I'm much of a fan.
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