Duane Connerney wrote:
>I am interested in exploring the music of Mahler. I have heard a couple
>of his symphony's and have been very impressed. Could someone point me in
>the direction of some of the "must have" interpretations of his symphonys.
Here are my favourites:
1) A) SOdBR/Kubelik 1968 B) Concertgebouw/Bernstein.
Kubelik is the 10 pointer I measure all other 1st after. That one is as
I imagine a perfect mahler 1. Fast tempi, yet exact, and very balanced
ammounts of energy. Bernstein is also magnificent; more maessig then
Kubelik, but very loaded and heavy feeling, but a "safe" Bernstein Mahler,
perhaps even his best one IMO. Adam Fischer would be my third choice, a
slower, but very convincing live recording. Boulez also good.
2) VSO/Klemperer 1952
Has a thiny "chamberworksound" which Klemperer always bring to Mahelr (I
don't know how it come) and which I think does not very well there. But
very well made generally. Very "wunderhorny" as I feel it. Though I agree
I have FAR from heard every Mahelr 2
3) A) NYPO/Bernstein B) KoelnSO/Bertini 1986
The 3rd must have meant somethign special for Bernstein thats clear. I
like personally Bernsteins approach though I might in some "objective"
(don't shoot me for the word) agree that Bertini is more well made, like
if Bertini has made out more in the repeatitions and Bernstein improvises
more. But Bernstein feels much for the symphony, and I have extensively
reviewed Bernsteins recording. Should anyone be interested I supply the
review privately on request. I couldn't live without any of those.
4) A) BPO/Haitink 1999 B) Szell
The 4th symphony intrigues me, and I have changed opinion on it many times,
right now I am in a "I-like-it-period" due to the interesting alternative
to atonalism it is. Haitink is the wunderhorn sound which I can listen to
every time. Damn that smiling face Mahler showed when he was friend with
kids and animals, that face he didn't need to act. It was real, yet was he
a powermongerer. I can't think of any really bad Mahler 4 I have heard of.
5) VPO/Boulez
Boulez best in his cycle? Probably. Scherchens old recording (1952?)
interesting also, unfourtunately with heavy (so 15 minutes deleted or so)
cuts in the scherzo.
6) VPO/Boulez or Sanderling
The emotionally most difficult and strongest of Mahelrs symphonies IMO.
I tend to perfer Sanderlings compassionate version to Boulez raw power,
though I liked it too. Zender perhaps my third choice.
7) A) SaarBSO/Zender B) Halasz
A difficult symphony. Halasz (on NAXOS, no biased opinion thanx!) drew
my interest and I still like it, now like Zender and Rosbaud (where can
one buy the latter?). I feel very strongly that I haven't heard any
performance of this symphony which satisfies me really. Could well be
I don't get much of the work.
There are MIDI sequences as part of a study on the first movement of the
7th symphony which might be of interest to take alook at for the one who
wants to investigate. Study is made by Joseph Monzo and is located at:
http://www.ixpres.com/interval/monzo/mahler/mahler7th.htm
8) Can this one be made well? Soltis is difficult as I think the sound is
all too thick. Jaervi has clear sound but zzzzzz....until the finale when
all wake up. Agreed I haven't heard Horenstein which is Duggans and others
septentriontal suggestion for the laurel.
Das Lied von der Erde) NYPO/Walter 1948. Excellent recording with Svanholm
and Ferrier. Then comes the other Walter and added naxos version with
Irelands SO, a sweet but not bad one if one likes the singing in that one.
9) Not the faintest bluppiest calzoniest idea. I have no good ideas of the
work; it makes not much sence to me, I have listened too little and to too
few recordings.
10) Rattle the only one I have heard in full, but I liked it enough to
dare to suggest to give it a try. I don't "believe" in the reconstruction
generally though.
Now Mahler-nuts tell me the secret of Horensteins recordings. Why do those
appeal so much to so many of you?
Mats Norrman
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