Mahler - Page 3 - Classical Music Forums

Gustav · #31 (**permalink**) Jan-23-2008, 04:45

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Originally Posted by World Violist

What kind of irks me about Mahler, though, is that some conductors/orchestras can't afford such huge forces as Mahler requires... so some orchestras aren't big enough to handle Mahler.

which recording are you referring to?

EricIsAPolarBear · #32 (**permalink**) Jan-23-2008, 15:36

I think the two best recordings I have of Mahler are Chailly's 3rd and Karajan's 9th.

World Violist · #33 (**permalink**) Jan-24-2008, 01:20

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Originally Posted by Gustav

which recording are you referring to?

I'm just referring to some orchestras that just can't or don't want to pay for 10 harpists and whatever the heck else Mahler comes up with. I've read it somewhere.

shsherm · #34 (**permalink**) Jan-25-2008, 02:31

Perhaps the finest performance I ever heasd was the Chicago Syphony conducted by Solti performing Mahler 5th on January 23rd,1970 which just happened to be my birthday and I thought that I could not have a better present. My favorite quote about Mahler is in the jacket notes of the 1st by the Boston Symphony conducted by Leinsdorf. About 1960. "Mahler is not for Milquetoasts".

World Violist · #35 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 05:35

Milquetoasts??? Hmm... I might have thought the cliche "not for the faint of heart." I suppose "milquetoast" could be just as good, though; nobody knows what it means... that I know of...

Yagan Kiely · #36 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 05:54

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I have to go at the mention of 7

I can't understand why the 7th is so unknown...

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Is anything by him quick and lively? Presto? Vivace? even Allegro? :S

Is there are Symphony that doesn't have a lively bit???

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Then, you might be interested in Bruckner also, just a thought.

Bruckner's music is one big crescendo. That said, I do really enjoy is music.

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THe emotional intensity is almost unparalleled.

I'd say that R.Strauss beats him, just.

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I like Bruckner a lot, too. I find his 9th Symphony especially powerful (what is it with those 9ths? )

Shosta's 9th is my favourite of his symphonies.

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Then I heard Bernstein's first recording of it. It was PERFECT! I mean, after the second (klezmer) theme comes in, the violins take it over and Bernstein just makes it so amazing! It's like, da.............. da.............................. da.............................................. dum........ da-dum........ da-dum......... da-da-da-da-da-dum, da-dum.

Bernstein has to be up in the top three (1 for me) of Conductors or Romantic music.

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What kind of irks me about Mahler, though, is that some conductors/orchestras can't afford such huge forces as Mahler requires... so some orchestras aren't big enough to handle Mahler.

When WASO played his 6th they did a marvellous job with the Hammer. Not metallic, but just an extremely loud dull thud.

Rondo · #37 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 07:15

I've heard some of Bernstein's Mahler, and Im going to step out of the mold here and admit that I never really understood what all the "hoop-la" about his interpretation is. Compared to masters such as Klemperer, Abbado, Rattle, Zander or Solti, I really don't.

Gustav · #38 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 07:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yagan Kiely

Is there are Symphony that doesn't have a lively bit???

That's a good question, Schubert's "Unfinished" comes to my mind as a symphony that doesn't have an obvious "lively" bit.

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Originally Posted by Yagan Kiely

Bruckner's music is one big crescendo. That said, I do really enjoy is music.

I don't understand this, please elaborate.

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Originally Posted by Yagan Kiely

I'd say that R.Strauss beats him, just.

what do you mean by that? For instance? Strauss and Bruckner are so different, i would never compare those two. Funny thing is, "emotional intensity" really doesn't apply here for neither composers. Not that there aren't "emotional" moments in their music, but this was not their principal aims when they compose. I am not an expert in Strauss, so far I have only gotten as far as hearing the "Eine Alphensinfonie", and I find it very analogous to Mahler's 3rd. Orchestral poem on nature, pretty detached from "emotional intensity" really.

Yagan Kiely · #39 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 08:11

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That's a good question, Schubert's "Unfinished" comes to my mind as a symphony that doesn't have an obvious "lively" bit.

A Mahler symphony.

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I don't understand this, please elaborate.

It's a joke, much like saying Vivaldi wrote 1 concerto 500 times.

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what do you mean by that? For instance? Strauss and Bruckner are so different, i would never compare those two. Funny thing is, "emotional intensity" really doesn't apply here for neither composers. Not that there aren't "emotional" moments in their music, but this was not their principal aims when they compose. I am not an expert in Strauss, so far I have only gotten as far as hearing the "Eine Alphensinfonie", and I find it very analogous to Mahler's 3rd. Orchestral poem on nature, pretty detached from "emotional intensity" really.

The quote was about Mahler, not Bruckner. BUT: Strauss is an Operatic composer. His operas are soem of the most emotional I have heard. The Alpine Symphony is not emotional in topic no. Metamorephosen? Salome? Elektra? Rosen? You can't judge from one tone poem.......

Gustav · #40 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 08:52

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Originally Posted by Yagan Kiely

A Mahler symphony.

Which one? Just like you said earlier, there is some lively elements in just about every symphony, Mahler is no exception, now which of his symphonies lacked a lively bit?

anon2k2 · #41 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 10:04

Ah, Mahler. One of my favorites. I get chills running up and down my spine from so many of his works.

"Urlicht" and the deafening scream at the beginning of the last movement of the 2nd. The Opening solo trumpet call of the 5th, the "Alma" theme of the 6th, the haunting moodiness of the 9th, the plain wierdness of the minor keyed "Frere Jacques".

If it weren't so depressing at times, I'd listen to it more, but never the less, I have more Mahler recordings than any other composer.

Yagan Kiely · #42 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 11:12

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Which one? Just like you said earlier, there is some lively elements in just about every symphony, Mahler is no exception, now which of his symphonies lacked a lively bit?

That was my question. Is there a [Mahler] symphony that doesn't have a lively bit? AND I was being half rhetorical – I personally doubt there is. But someone prove me wrong (Ignoring 10).

World Violist · #43 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 16:29

The sixth symphony is pure genius, the way all the other themes come to sort of "haunt" the whole piece, especially the last movement, where themes are suddenly interrupted by others, sometimes hurled into those absolutely terrifying "twilight zones" (As an author of a book on Mahler symphonies so aptly put it). And then there are the three hammer-blows of destiny which are just amazing, the way he used that "dum, dum, da-dum dum dum" rhythm before they're struck.

Gustav · #44 (**permalink**) Feb-12-2008, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yagan Kiely

That was my question. Is there a [Mahler] symphony that doesn't have a lively bit? AND I was being half rhetorical – I personally doubt there is. But someone prove me wrong (Ignoring 10).

none, not that it matters, all of his symphonies (including das lied) include "lively bits" more or less.

Yagan Kiely · #45 (**permalink**) Feb-13-2008, 00:39

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none, not that it matters, all of his symphonies (including das lied) include "lively bits" more or less.

I know. I was referring to the person who asked that and stated that he hasn’t heard anything that wasn’t slow.