Mahler Symphonies Favorite Recordings - Page 187

My husband loves Mahler because he loves anything with great dynamic range and melody. The Berg which is still an atonal work is hard for him to get into. I told him that it was the Viennese, musical equivalent of Der Blaue Reiter and Die Brücke, and that he should think about the events of 1935 in Vienna in the period leading up to the Anschluß (1938).

What's really funny is that he asked if it was the same music we had heard conducted by Rattle, admittedly because he read the notes and they used the same ones from the Rattle concert. When I said that it was the same music, he replied that now he understood why I was complaining so much back then. This was a much more lively and dynamic performance. I would love to hear what Eschenbach could accomplish with those virtuoso Berliners; certainly more than the mishmash that Rattle is creating.

I hope you weren't still under headphones when you were on the walk, or the ghosts of Mahler and Brahms might have scolded you!

Bunny, I'm sorry to hear that the Philadelphians' playing was a little rough. I only have one recording from their current era (Eschenbach/Bartok Concerto for Orchestra etc.), and on that disc their playing is very, very good. I hope the disparity is because they had an off night for your concert or were underrehearsed in those pieces and not because they just overly prepared for the Bartok recording to sound good on disc. It seems like the orchestra is just begging to be led back into the company of the great American symphonies. Maybe Ormandy's ghost will come back and whip them into shape.

-Jay

Read two reviews of the concert today (and yesterday). NY Times felt that although there were some good ideas and flashes of brilliance in the M4, Eschenbach's vision of the symphony was not coherent. They also noted that the soprano gave a weak performance (a soloist "discovered" by Eschenbach). Classics Today also has reviewed the concert (Dan Davis), but found the Mahler to be quite good, citing great play by the soloists, percussion and brass sections. Both Tommasini (Times) and Davis (C/T) agreed that the soprano was not good. Her voice was just too small for the size of Stern Hall, as I noted before. The performance of the Mahler was neither as bad as Tommasini thought nor as wonderful as Davis has described. I thought that interpretatively it had a lot going on that was very good. Perhaps some ideas need more work, but it was far better than the Rattle that Tomassini seemed to love. Now that so many complaints about Eschenbach have been made public and he has announced that he will be leaving at the end of next season, Tommasini seems to have declared war on him. It's really too bad because the man really has a great feel for so much music.

The one thing not in dispute was the quality of the Berg Violin concerto. Both critics gave top grades to the performance, the soloist (Leonidas Kavakos whose imposing stature dwarfed Eschenbach), and the playing of the orchestra and I just loved listening to the piece. It was an extraordinary performance of a work that is not performed enough.

ooh, someone on this forum that actually DOESN'T bash Zander

Actually, Zander is liked by most of the posters here. I like some of his work but not all of it and find him to be uneven. His lectures, however, are quite good.

Believe it or not, I was googling for pictures of Mahler and a picture of Mt. Mahler came up. Then I googled Mt. Mahler and got some more information.

Anyone here familiar with the Martinon CSO M3 from the 60's? It's part of a set of CSO Mahler symphonies which is quite expensive and apparently out of print. I got to listen to it recently, and it is quite striking.

Well, I've managed to locate another great M6!. This one is by Hans Zender who you may know from his great M7 reviewed by Tony Duggan at Musicweb, and recommended to me originally by Mark from HFR. After hearing the M7 I wanted more of Zender's Mahler, and so began a quest for the other recordings he had done, the M6 and M9. I'm here to say that the M6 is a great M6 (Scherzo 2nd). I was listening to it on ipod as I ran my errands today, and despite all of the distraction, it was clear from the very first bars that this was an interpretation of great weight. I cannot imagine what the passers by thought as I stopped during the fourth movement, my eyes closed and jaw clenched as I waited for that first hammer to fall, transfixed and unable to keep moving. If you can find it, snap it up! You won't regret it.

Hans Zender, Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra, 2000 (Cpo Records).



I've also located his Mahler 9th, but haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. Will report back when I do.

Was browsing around Rhapsody today, and came upon a performance of the DLvDE that I hadn't heard on.



Bruno Walter conudcting NYPO
Mildred Miller (Mezzo Soprano), Ernst Haefliger (Tenor)

Sony Classical Great Performances series.

It's quite and excellent recording! I can't seem to find it on Amazon or any other site, and the only other place I see this recording included is in the 'Original Jacket' series by Sony. Does anyone know the year of this recording?

ADDENDUM: I found the recording at Amazon.de here but can't seem to find it anywhere else
Scott

You should wait before you order that. Those remasters usually show up sooner or later at yourmusic and bmg music club.

Btw, Walter's Das Lied is included in the Original Jackets Collection that I picked up for cheap at bmg.

I suppose I will wait, at least I can listen to it on my phone and on Rhapsody.

I'm thinking about heading to Carnegie Hall to catch Eschenbach's M2. Worth it?

Seeing M2 live can be a life-changing experience. Read up on the work beforehand and know what to expect; and listenot a CD a few times. Chances are you will have an unforgettable evening.

I have a couple renditions of M2. One of my all-time favorite pieces.

I just saw Bunnyears' writeup on this same conductor at Carnegie and thought I'd ask here first.

Thanks for the advice!