[bosiemoncrieff]

Just saw Mahler 7 at Disney hall. The acoustics are so good. We sat behind the orchestra, which is normally trash, but other than a bit too much horns and percussion, it sounded fine. After reading some analysis and listening to a decent pre show lecture, I think I’m finally beginning to understand and appreciate Mahler. He’s much more irreverent, ironic, humorous (and the pre show lecturer claimed Jewish) than his severer forebears - wagner Brahms and bruckner.

i will endeavor to read and listen more.

 

[liamo]

I’d like to “get” Mahler before I die but I’m not holding my breath……..

 

[FLTWS]

Mahler I "got" from get-go in 1970 with my first exposure to the 2nd Symphony. Verdi still eludes me but then I'm not a big opera-phile. Late Mozart, late Wagner, late Puccini, some Strauss, and a few one offs like Purcell's "Dido & Aeneas" and Berg's "Lulu".

Of late I've been focused on Beethoven's piano sonata's.

 

[belgiangenius]

the arse is more "old and dusty" if I had to describe it, but rag is no doubt a cleaner amp. It seems to disappear in the chain.

Still waiting for yggy to ship - ordered 1/23. I’d be curious to test the flavors against Gungnir.

I'm still waiting on the Yggy LIM upgrade I ordered on Jan. 4 (12 weeks and counting). I pinged Schiit for an update yesterday and was told they are still awaiting parts. Sounds like the parts ordering situation is going even more sideways this year.

 

[KoshNaranek]

Mahler I "got" from get-go in 1970 with my first exposure to the 2nd Symphony. Verdi still eludes me but then I'm not a big opera-phile. Late Mozart, late Wagner, late Puccini, some Strauss, and a few one offs like Purcell's "Dido & Aeneas" and Berg's "Lulu".

Of late I've been focused on Beethoven's piano sonata's.

If you want a good introduction to Chopin, watch "Forest of Piano" on Netflix.

 

[bosiemoncrieff]

I hope the yggy comes before my European tour - this year I fly out in late May. Lise Davidsen in London, Parsifal in Paris, Sokolov in Amsterdam, Meistersinger in Berlin, and Bruckner in Hamburg.

But if they haven’t shipped early January units yet, I’m in for a loooooong wait.

 

[bosiemoncrieff]

One particular pleasure to upgrading to the Rag is that I can listen to K1000 while the speakers provide some of the bass oomph that the headphones lack. For golden era Wagner, the crack and sputter of the record player is too much to tolerate on K1000 (the Salks seem to soften the sound and give it depth—making it in some weird way "less accurate but more real"). However, Mahler 5 (Abbado) and 6 (Salonen) were glorious on cans and towers alike.

I am learning to appreciate Mahler's sense of humor and whimsy. It's taken many years.

 

[Whazzzup]

Mahler, ymmv, is a bit boring to me. It’s like a test, if you can grasp this from my hand grasshopper

 

[JanMc]

I don't know how anyone can listen to Mahler's Fifth and not GET it. Just the trumpet intro is enough to get my attention. Of course, some Prokofiev or Shostakovich gets my attention more.

 

[CJG888]

Try this:

Especially No. 11.

Even better on vinyl!

 

[FLTWS]

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I have several versions of M5 (well all his symphonies actually). The keys to good performance for me are the handling of that devilish 2nd movement which can often come across as "What?!" and the handling of the "almost" horn chorale theme that will burst forth again in full sail at the end of the 5th movement. And the runaway close of the final passages of that 5th movement which require tremendous ensemble playing from the musicians. I like a 4th movement that is normally slower than most, romantic wallowing, gets me every time, LOL! As with all of Mahler's symphonies the horns are given equal footing with the strings making for interest.

For that 2nd M5 movement I like Barbirolli, (on the EMI label) I think he "gets" it. My overall favorite, and first exposure/love for this work is Solti's, hard driven, first go with the Chicago SO. But if you go for his first make sure you get the re-mastered release, it's not just re-issued and the bass is much cleaner in the re-master. My recommendations:
FIRST GO

This:

Not this: original CD release

Solti also did 2 live recordings of the 5th. The 1991 “Live” with Chicago, and his very last recording done July 1997, before he passed away in Oct of that year, with the Tonehalle-Orchestra Zurich. The 91’ live is with the Chicago again but I feel the recording is not as good as the 1970 (re-mastered) or the Tonehalle recording which is very good for “Live”.
But that's just my take.

This:

Not this:

But, as a dedicated Mahlerite you know I need them all.

All 4 of these are London/Decca’s, The difference is the recording locales. The original 1970 was made in Medinah Hall, Chicago and is vivid and dynamic, clean and clear. The 1991 “Live” was with Chicago but they must have been on tour as the recording location was the Musikverein, Vienna and it is too soft around the edges for my liking. The 1997 recording was made in the Tonehalle’s regular performance hall and it’s a keeper for me as well.

There are many, many very good recordings of the 5th and it gets performed often live by orchestra's around the world as its a real crowd-pleaser. Among 5th’s Barbirolli, Bernstein, Abbado, Tennstedt, and Boulez come to mind. But with 24 different recordings it’s tough for me to keep track.

I think this is all I have

 

[Luckyleo]

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I have several versions of M5 (well all his symphonies actually). The keys to good performance for me are the handling of that devilish 2nd movement which can often come across as "What?!" and the handling of the "almost" horn chorale theme that will burst forth in full sail at the end of the 5th movement. And the runaway close of the final passages of that 5th movement which require tremendous ensemble playing from the musicians. I like a 4th movement that is normally slower than most, romantic wallowing, gets me every time, LOL! As with all of Mahler's symphonies the horns are given equal footing with the strings making for interest.

For that 2nd M5 movement I like Barbirolli, (on the EMI label) I think he "gets" it. My overall favorite, and first exposure/love for this work is Solti's, hard driven, first go with the Chicago SO. But if you go for his first make sure you get the re-mastered release, it's not just re-issued and the bass is much cleaner in the re-master. My recommendations:
FIRST GO

This: Not this: original CD release



Solti also did 2 live recordings of the 5th. The 1991 “Live” with Chicago, and his very last recording done July 1997, before he passed away in Oct of that year, with the Tonehalle-Orchestra Zurich. The 91’ live is with the Chicago again but I feel the recording is not as good as the 1970 (re-mastered) or the Tonehalle recording which is very good for “Live”.
But that's just my take.

This: Not this:

But, as a dedicated Mahlerite you know I need them all.

All 4 of these are London/Decca’s, The difference is the recording locales. The original 1970 was made in Medinah Hall, Chicago and is vivid and dynamic, clean and clear. The 1991 “Live” was with Chicago but they must have been on tour as the recording location was the Musikverein, Vienna and it is too soft around the edges for my liking. The 1997 recording was made in the Tonehalle’s regular performance hall and it’s a keeper for me as well.

There are many, many very good recordings of the 5th and it gets performed often live by orchestra's around the world as its a real crowd-pleaser. Among 5th’s Barbirolli, Bernstein, Abbado, Tennstedt, and Boulez come to mind. But with 24 different recordings it’s tough for me to keep track.

I think this is all I have
I've not tried Mahler in 20+ years. Put on the Vanska/Minn Orch. #5. Wow! Thank you very much!

 

[CJG888]

My favourite Mahler 5 is still:

 

[Whazzzup]

Ok number 9 for me

 

[Luckyleo]

My favourite Mahler 5 is still:

listening this very minute.....2nd movement of part 1...... Yikes!!!! Who knew??? Probably millions of people, but it's new to me. Thanks!