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Originally Posted by Facade19 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
New favorite list of recordings.
1. Bernstein on Sony
2. Solti with the LSO on DECCA
3. Cobos-Lopez on Telarc
4. Levi on Telarc
5. Chailly on DECCA
6. Bernstein on DG
7. Barenboim on Warner
8. Solti on DECCA
9. Bernstein on Sony (yup, finally Abbado has been dethroned, )
I have been listening to the entire Bernstein/Sony cycle, with the exception of the 5th, all of the symphonies are top-notch. Sound quality is excellent and I think I would recommend the Bernstein/Sony Cycle over the Bertini cycle (though the Bertini cycle is fantastic!).
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Hey Facade....
Some excellent choices here. The Levi 4th is one of my favorites and would actually be my favorite if it were not for Von Stade's less than perfect performance. Her voice doesn't fit the music for me, at least it doesn't anymore, her vocal with Abbado 30 years ago was better. I think a youthful voice is needed for that movement.
I love Bernstein in the 1st as well, and I think he probably understood the work better than anyone, but if you haven't heard his 2nd recording of it, with the Concertgebouw, I would definitely check that out as I feel it beats out the Sony version by a considerable margin.
Chailly's 5th is one of the better ones, but I think after hearing Barshai's few times, you will never listen to the Chailly's again. Barshai's 5th contains the best conducted and most well-performed version of every movement in my opinion.....and I'm sure you love the adagietto, Barshai's adagietto has to be what Mahler heard in his head, it makes so much more sense than any other I've heard.
Lastly, I know you love the 9th symphony, and that is my absolute favorite piece of music. I love Abbado, I love Bernstein, I love numerous others.....for years my favorite was Haitink's original 1970 recording. I also always had a deep appreciation for Karajan's digital take.
BUT........the greatest recording of the work I've ever heard is Ozawa's very new and hard to find recording on Sony Japan....you have to order it from HMV Japan, possibly ebay. I'm telling you man, whatever the cost and aggravation, you will be very pleased..........it is such Mahleresque performance. It will make you rethink the symphony and see more of its potential. A piece like the 9th, and there's only one Mahler 9th, is just limitless in how great it can be. For me, and I'm not ashamed to make myself look like a blubbering lunatic.......the 9th is the most profound and awesomely constructed piece of art by any human being.