Hi-Rez Highway New high resolution SACD releases, players and technology.

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Hi-Rez Highway ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Report on Mahler 8 tonight at Davies Hall

Posted by TGR (A) on November 19, 2008 at 23:04:59

I just returned home from the opening performance of a set of 4 of Mahler's 8th with the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. These performances are being recorded and represent the last recording to be made of the MTT/SFS Mahler cycle, which began back in 2001. I have been fortunate to have been present for many of these.

To begin with the summary, this was a magnificent performance, both thrilling and emotionally overwhelming, and received an extremely long standing ovation, for once firmly deserved. There are 3 performances left, and if you are in the Bay Area over the next few days I recommend that you try to scrounge a ticket - even though tonight's performance was sold out, I was able to get a returned ticket.

I was at one of the performances of Mahler 8 that MTT conducted in 2006, which was supposed to be recorded then, and frankly, I was really glad at the time they didn't record it. It was an OK, low voltage performance with so-so solists where MTT uncharacteristically spent most of his time directing traffic, not cutting loose and really bringing on the passion and conviction that he normally does with Mahler. There was no explanation at the time, none that I knew of anyway, about why the recording was delayed, but it seems clear that MTT wanted to get more experience with the work, and it seems that he conducted it with the SFS on tour in Europe several times, and with some of these soloists.

This performance was thrilling, from the start - chills were going up my spine in the opening chorus. The soloists this time were superb all the way across, and included James Morris as Pater Profundus, and Laura Claycomb (MTT's soprano in this recording of Mahler 4) singing the two lines of Mater Glorisa - luxurious casting indeed, but her singing of the two lines was the start of what turned out to be an extremely moving ending.

The soloists were well-matched, which is a good thing since they have a lot of duets, trios, etc. in this piece, and I think you may be hearing more about soprano Erin Wall in the future, who sang Magna Peccatrix with great beauty but also power. There wasn't a dud soloist. Well, rising star Quinn Kelsey (Pater Ecstaticus) sounded in his lower registers like a young Thomas Hampson, but doesn't show the goods as well as he rose in pitch - not a fair comparison, really.

The orchestra played at a very high level, with only two obvious mistakes from the lead trumpet early in the first movement which I believe were a function of overplaying. The chorus was magnificent (it received a larger ovation than the orchestra) as were the boys and girls choirs.

MTT dispersed his forces to make full use of Davies Hall - Claycomp sang her part from the mid-hall, from the first balcony, and of course MTT deployed a brass choir at the rear of the second balcony for the final peroration of the work.

I can't imagine how the 8th can be faithfully captured in 2 channel, and even multichannel can't possibly cope with the dynamic range and frequency range (boy, you can really feel the presence of the pedal notes from the organ - thankfully, Davies has a real and significant pipe organ). I normally sit fairly close in, but the only seat I could get that was more or less in the center of Davies was in the first tier - and at full cry, it was LOUD. At the same time, there is much in the score that is delicate and intricate, and MTT was able to bring these threads to the fore as well.

For me, the 8th has always been an oddball Mahler symphony, and one that I just didn't get, despite moments of terrific beauty. Tonight, I could see what Mahler was trying to achieve, picked up some of the similarities with Das Lied von der Erde, and also had some comprehension of how the two movements are tied together.

I look forward to the release of the SACD.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Parts Connexion

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---