DavidMahler
Headphoneus Supremus
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- Jul 8, 2007
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As of now, I currently own at least 35 versions of every Mahler symphony....for the 2nd and 9th I own over 45. I try to get my hands on every available Mahler recording.
I've been very sick lately and Mahler's music has grown to be an even more important part of my life than it was before and I listen to his music daily, hours at a time as part of therapy for my mood.
I wanted to share which recordings of the works are my absolute favorite these days. My opinions often change on which recording I think is best, but I thought I'd share my recent thoughts since I 've been living with the music consistently and daily.
For the 1st symphony I choose Bernstein's final recording of the work with the Concertgebouw.
For the 2nd I choose Zubin Mehta's 1975 recording with Vienna. Christa Ludwig's performance is one of the best and the orchestra is just amazing on this!
For the 3rd I have two favorites........John Barbirolli's with Halle Orchestra on BBC. But I find myself listening more often to Riccardo Chailly's with the Concertgebouw which all in all is probably a slightly less potent performance, but the sound quality is ideal and the orchestra is just incredible.
For the 4th I have some weird opinions.......Lorin Maazel's recording with Vienna and Kathleen Battle has the finest vocal ever recorded for this work, but the conducting is just awful and so I never can listen to the symphony as a whole when I choose this recording. George Szell is often a favorite, and definitely a great allround recording. But the one I've learned to like the most is Michael Tilson Thomas's recording with San Francisco..........The third movement is definitely "too slow" BUT its perfectly played and moves me more than any other version.....the final movement is sung wonderfully as well.
For the 5th.......There is only one recording I will listen to. Rudolf Barshai with the German Youth Orchestra is not only my favorite recording of this work, but in fact I feel it is the finest Mahler recording I've ever heard. No joke.
For the 6th I love Thomas Sanderling's out of print recording. However, I think I've never heard an awful version of this symphony......all of the ones I've heard please me to a major degree.......Sanderling is just my favorite.
For the 7th....I think Bernstein's original on Sony with NYPD is the best performed, but the recording bothers me a lot because the sound has no center....almost like the Stereo Sgt Pepper or Revolver, with the vocals on one side and the drums on the other.....with the Bernstein 7th, the instruments sound like theyre in different rooms. I like Barenboim's a lot, but I even prefer Gielen's wonderful approach with the Baden Baden
For the 8th....my least favorite Mahler symphony......I love Chailly's monumental performance. Why is this my least favorite.....because while its a wonderfully written piece, it is Mahler at his most Grandiose, an ingredient which Mahler's music is often inherently borne with. It's just a little too big for me, but I still appreciate it!
For Das Lied von der Erde.........the greatest alto to ever sing this piece is/was Janet Baker, but I never thought she met a conductor which could match her vision.....this includes Kubelik, Haitink, and Leppard. My favorite recording of this work is Klemperer's with Wunderlich and Ludwig. The best soloist combo ever for this work AND the conducting is brilliant. Yes the inner movements are a little slower than usual, but it doesn't hurt the overall feel whatsoever.
For the 9th, my favorite piece of music, I have learned to adore Seiji Ozawa's recent recording on Sony. This CD is not available in the USA, not even on Amazon..... I bought it from HMV Japan......if you are a lover of this work, you MUST try to acquire this performance. It is unparalleled in my opinion.
For the 10th......Simon Rattle owns this work. His second recording with Berlin is a wonderful attempt at this Semi-Mahler work.
For the Ruckertlieder / Kindertotenlieder Janet Baker / Barbirolli / Klemperer on EMI is a wonderful compilation.
For the Das Knaben Wunderhorn I would stick with Szell which has Fischer-Dieskau and Schwarzkopf.
For the Songs of A Wayfarer.........I'm still not convinced any recording is perfect, but I do prefer the baritone in this work, I will get back to you with more formulated opinion.
For Das Klangende Lied I like Tilson Thomas though I admit this work is not essential
Anyway, I'm just trying to pass the time as I am sick and restless.
Thanks for reading
I've been very sick lately and Mahler's music has grown to be an even more important part of my life than it was before and I listen to his music daily, hours at a time as part of therapy for my mood.
I wanted to share which recordings of the works are my absolute favorite these days. My opinions often change on which recording I think is best, but I thought I'd share my recent thoughts since I 've been living with the music consistently and daily.
For the 1st symphony I choose Bernstein's final recording of the work with the Concertgebouw.
For the 2nd I choose Zubin Mehta's 1975 recording with Vienna. Christa Ludwig's performance is one of the best and the orchestra is just amazing on this!
For the 3rd I have two favorites........John Barbirolli's with Halle Orchestra on BBC. But I find myself listening more often to Riccardo Chailly's with the Concertgebouw which all in all is probably a slightly less potent performance, but the sound quality is ideal and the orchestra is just incredible.
For the 4th I have some weird opinions.......Lorin Maazel's recording with Vienna and Kathleen Battle has the finest vocal ever recorded for this work, but the conducting is just awful and so I never can listen to the symphony as a whole when I choose this recording. George Szell is often a favorite, and definitely a great allround recording. But the one I've learned to like the most is Michael Tilson Thomas's recording with San Francisco..........The third movement is definitely "too slow" BUT its perfectly played and moves me more than any other version.....the final movement is sung wonderfully as well.
For the 5th.......There is only one recording I will listen to. Rudolf Barshai with the German Youth Orchestra is not only my favorite recording of this work, but in fact I feel it is the finest Mahler recording I've ever heard. No joke.
For the 6th I love Thomas Sanderling's out of print recording. However, I think I've never heard an awful version of this symphony......all of the ones I've heard please me to a major degree.......Sanderling is just my favorite.
For the 7th....I think Bernstein's original on Sony with NYPD is the best performed, but the recording bothers me a lot because the sound has no center....almost like the Stereo Sgt Pepper or Revolver, with the vocals on one side and the drums on the other.....with the Bernstein 7th, the instruments sound like theyre in different rooms. I like Barenboim's a lot, but I even prefer Gielen's wonderful approach with the Baden Baden
For the 8th....my least favorite Mahler symphony......I love Chailly's monumental performance. Why is this my least favorite.....because while its a wonderfully written piece, it is Mahler at his most Grandiose, an ingredient which Mahler's music is often inherently borne with. It's just a little too big for me, but I still appreciate it!
For Das Lied von der Erde.........the greatest alto to ever sing this piece is/was Janet Baker, but I never thought she met a conductor which could match her vision.....this includes Kubelik, Haitink, and Leppard. My favorite recording of this work is Klemperer's with Wunderlich and Ludwig. The best soloist combo ever for this work AND the conducting is brilliant. Yes the inner movements are a little slower than usual, but it doesn't hurt the overall feel whatsoever.
For the 9th, my favorite piece of music, I have learned to adore Seiji Ozawa's recent recording on Sony. This CD is not available in the USA, not even on Amazon..... I bought it from HMV Japan......if you are a lover of this work, you MUST try to acquire this performance. It is unparalleled in my opinion.
For the 10th......Simon Rattle owns this work. His second recording with Berlin is a wonderful attempt at this Semi-Mahler work.
For the Ruckertlieder / Kindertotenlieder Janet Baker / Barbirolli / Klemperer on EMI is a wonderful compilation.
For the Das Knaben Wunderhorn I would stick with Szell which has Fischer-Dieskau and Schwarzkopf.
For the Songs of A Wayfarer.........I'm still not convinced any recording is perfect, but I do prefer the baritone in this work, I will get back to you with more formulated opinion.
For Das Klangende Lied I like Tilson Thomas though I admit this work is not essential
Anyway, I'm just trying to pass the time as I am sick and restless.
Thanks for reading