Mimi Ezust wrote:

>My favorite is still the original Haitink with Elly Ameling at her very
>best.  I have a gazillion others, but THAT one knocks me out the most.
>Fortunately, it is the one included in the boxed set.

Here, here!  or rather hear, hear!  That one rarely, if ever, gets
mentioned (on the Mahler list anyway) but I agree it is excellent.  My
other faves from a long list of good or better performances include Szell,
Kletzki, Bernstein/Grist, Salonen, and I suppose Reiner....and not too far
behind those Kondrachine, Welser-Most, Mengelberg, Barbirolli, and Chailly.

Ameling also sings on Previn's version, which is a solid performance though
not quite up to the standards set on the Haitink recording.  I understand
that this is available in Great Britain at budget prices on HMV's store
label.

Another budget recording worth a listen is Haenchen's.

Tim Dickinson
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