Doc Sarvis
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Zander's Mahler:
I decided to list this post as a separate thread, because I thought it would also be of interest to folks who don't frequent the Mahler thread.
I think the Zander cycle currently underway on Telarc is a GREAT place to start a Mahler journey. I now have them all (1,3,4,5,6, and 9), and eagerly await the rest of the series (I heard that 2 is next; that ought to be something really special). These are all wonderful performances with great sonics; I have not found a particularly weak link among them. To my mind they slaughter the MTT series (which I also like); it's too bad tha they aren't all available on SACD (only 1, 3, 5 and 6 are, to my knowledge).
Of course, the really nice feature is the discussion disc. Every one of the symphones comes with a separate 80-minute lecture on the work being played! These are quite interesting, especially for new listeners, and they will help anyone to understnd the works being considered. For example, the ninth comes with a reprint of the first two pages of the score, and the lecture disc provides amazing insight into how they should be conducted.
Bottom line: I recommend the Zander set to all, and especially those new to Mahler. Experienced Mahlerites will have favorites besides these, of course, but there is nothing wrong with any one of the Zander set.
P.S. If you get a chance, there is a great interview with Zander in this month's issue of The Absolute Sound.
I decided to list this post as a separate thread, because I thought it would also be of interest to folks who don't frequent the Mahler thread.
I think the Zander cycle currently underway on Telarc is a GREAT place to start a Mahler journey. I now have them all (1,3,4,5,6, and 9), and eagerly await the rest of the series (I heard that 2 is next; that ought to be something really special). These are all wonderful performances with great sonics; I have not found a particularly weak link among them. To my mind they slaughter the MTT series (which I also like); it's too bad tha they aren't all available on SACD (only 1, 3, 5 and 6 are, to my knowledge).
Of course, the really nice feature is the discussion disc. Every one of the symphones comes with a separate 80-minute lecture on the work being played! These are quite interesting, especially for new listeners, and they will help anyone to understnd the works being considered. For example, the ninth comes with a reprint of the first two pages of the score, and the lecture disc provides amazing insight into how they should be conducted.
Bottom line: I recommend the Zander set to all, and especially those new to Mahler. Experienced Mahlerites will have favorites besides these, of course, but there is nothing wrong with any one of the Zander set.
P.S. If you get a chance, there is a great interview with Zander in this month's issue of The Absolute Sound.
