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The I'm Addicted To Mahler Thread

29K views 177 replies 55 participants last post by  flamencosketches 
#1 ·
ATTENTION MAHLER ADDICTS


Let's face it Mahler fans. We're some sick people that need lots and lots of therapy! :D

Here is where you can come clean and share your latest Mahler purchases and reveal your collection to everybody. No matter how big or small. I'm always impressed when I run into Mahler fans.

Here is my collection:

- Symphony No. 1 "Titan" And Symphony No. 10 "Adagio"
Orch: NY Philharmonic
Cond: L. Bernstein
Label: Sony

- The Complete Symphonies (12-CD set)
Orch: NY Philharmonic
Cond: L. Bernstein
Label: Sony

- Symphony No. 4 (Hybrid SACD)
Orch: Chicago Symphony
Cond: Fritz Reiner
Label: RCA

-Symphonies 1-10 (10-CD set)
Orch: Bavarian Radio Symphony
Cond: Rafael Kubelik
Label: DG

-Symphony No. 5
Orch: Atlanta Symphony
Cond: Yoel Levi
Label: Telarc

-Symphony No. 7
Orch: Atlanta Symphony
Cond: Yoel Levi
Label: Telarc

-Symphony No. 8
Orch: Atlanta Symphony
Cond: Robert Shaw
Label: Telarc

-Symphony No. 6
Orch: Atlanta Symphony
Cond: Yoel Levi
Label: Telarc

-Symphony No. 4
Orch: Atlanta Symphony
Cond: Yoel Levi
Label: Telarc

-Symphony No. 2/Symphony No. 10 (2-CD set)
Orch: Atlanta Symphony
Cond: Yoel Levi
Label: Telarc

-Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection"
Orch: Vienna Philharmonic
Cond: Zubin Mehta
Label: Decca

-The Complete Symphonies (10-CD set)
Orch: London Philharmonic
Cond: Klaus Tennstedt
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 9
Orch: Berlin Philharmonic
Cond: Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 10
Orch: Berlin Philharmonic
Cond: Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 5
Orch: Berlin Philharmonic
Cond: Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 8
Orch: City of Birmingham Symphony
Cond: Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 7
Orch: City of Birmingham Symphony
Cond: Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 6
Orch: City of Birmingham Symphony
Cond: Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 4
Orch: City of Birmingham Symphony
Cond: Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 2 (2-CD set)
Orch: City of Birmingham Symphony
Cond; Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 9
Orch: Czech Philharmonic
Cond: Karel Ancerl
Label: Supraphon

-Symphony No. 5
Orch: Vienna Philharmonic
Cond: L. Bernstein
Label: DG

-Symphony No. 1/Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels
Orch: Czech Philharmonic
Cond: Karel Ancerl
Label: Supraphon

-Symphony No. 1; Songs of the Wayfarer
Orch: Bavarian Radio Symphony
Cond: Rafael Kubelik
Label: DG

-Symphony No. 8
Orch: Chicago Symphony
Cond: Georg Solti
Label: Decca

-Symphony No. 6; Zemlinsky: 6 Maeter Link
Orch: Royal Concertgebouw
Cond: Riccardo Chailly
Label: Decca

-Symphony No. 10
Orch: Cincinnati Symphony
Cond: Jesus Lopez-Cobos
Label: Telarc

-Symphony No. 5
Orch: Berlin Philharmonic
Cond: Karajan
Label: DG

-Symphony No. 4
Orch: Chicago Symphony
Cond: James Levine
Label: RCA

-Symphony No. 3 (2-CD set)
Orch: City of Birmingham Symphony
Cond: Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 7
Orch: Chicago Symphony
Cond: Claudio Abbado
Label: DG

-Symphony No. 6
Orch: Vienna Philharmonic
Cond: Pierre Boulez
Label: DG

-Symphonies 1 & 9
Orch: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic
Cond; Andrew Litton, Libor Pesek
Label: Virgin Classics

-Symphony No. 5
Orch: Vienna Philharmonic
Cond; Lorin Maazel
Label: DG

-Symphony No. 4
Orch: Berlin Philharmonic
Cond: Karajan
Label: DG

-Symphony No. 10
Orch: Bournemouth Symphony
Cond: Sir Simon Rattle
Label: EMI

-Symphony No. 1; Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen
Orch: NY Philharmonic
Cond: Kurt Masur
Label: Teldec

-10 Symphonies (12-CD set)
Orch: Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic
Cond: Claudio Abbado
Label: DG

-The Symphonies (10-CD set)
Orch: Royal Concertgebouw
Cond: Bernard Haitink
Label: Philips

-Symphony No. 9
Orch: Chicago Symphony
Cond; Pierre Boulez
Label: DG

-The Symphonies (12-CD set)
Orch: Royal Concertgebouw
Cond; Riccardo Chailly
Label: Decca

-Symphonies 1-10 (15-CD set)
Orch: Frankfurt Radio Symphony
Cond: Eliahu Inbal
Label: Brilliant Classics

-Symphony Nos. 1-10 (14-CD set)
Orch: Vienna Philharmonic
Cond: Lorin Maazel
Label: Warner Classics
 
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#139 · (Edited)
Mahler 3rd is one of my all time favorites, had a love hate relation with this symphony going back to early sixties when as a young man I attended a live performance of this symphony with Houston Symphony orchestra conducted by its principal conductor Sir John Barbirolli, I was not ready for Mahler and the performance just dragged on and on, I yawned and yawned but could not get up and leave because of my seat location, the work eventually ended and I was relieved.

My next brush with M3 was some 20 years later, this time a broadcast on our local FM station, it was a performance conducted by Jascha Horenstein, the station used high quality Ampex tapes for this playback, this time my reaction was entirely different, the last movement, Langsam, was emotionally one of the most powerful pieces of music that I experienced in my life, clearly for me Mahler had arrived in its full glory.
In my record collection I have good many M3’s, many vinyl’s including Haitink/Concertgebouw but I no longer listen to vinyl because of the surface noise , many on CD and 3 SACD’s.

To me the last movement of M3, Langsam, is emotionally one of the most powerful pieces of music written by any composer, strangely I find the last movement of Robert Schumann Fantasy in C, Langsam, an equally powerful emotional work, Murray Perahia is one of the few pianists able to convey the power of this movement.
 
#140 ·
My name is Flamenco and I'm a Mahlerholic-- wait.

I tried to resist, but... yeah. I'm sure you all know the drill.

The only ones I've heard are the fourth, first, second, and eighth. My preferences are in that order, eighth being a distant last, though I still recognize it as a great work. Mahler was a master craftsman, and decades ahead of his time. He presaged the Postmodern, and brought the late Romantic to its apex. He was a hell of a melodist. He knew his way around a motive, but didn't obsessively dwell on his themes like say Brahms. All in all, I really like his music. I joined the hive.

I have a lot of reading to do in this thread, and a lot of listening to do as well. My next goal is to get a box set of the complete symphonies. I am strongly leaning toward Kubelik as I have preferred his account of every symphony that I've sampled. (Others I like are Bernstein and Reiner in the 4th).

I can only take so much Mahler. A symphony every other day, or once a week, otherwise it starts to get stale, a lot more quickly than is the case with other composers, for some reason.

A total 180 from my attitude on Mahler about a month ago :D
 
#141 ·
My name is Flamenco and I'm a Mahlerholic-- wait.

I tried to resist, but... yeah. I'm sure you all know the drill.

The only ones I've heard are the fourth, first, second, and eighth. My preferences are in that order, eighth being a distant last, though I still recognize it as a great work. Mahler was a master craftsman, and decades ahead of his time. He presaged the Postmodern, and brought the late Romantic to its apex. He was a hell of a melodist. He knew his way around a motive, but didn't obsessively dwell on his themes like say Brahms. All in all, I really like his music. I joined the hive.

I have a lot of reading to do in this thread, and a lot of listening to do as well. My next goal is to get a box set of the complete symphonies. I am strongly leaning toward Kubelik as I have preferred his account of every symphony that I've sampled. (Others I like are Bernstein and Reiner in the 4th).

I can only take so much Mahler. A symphony every other day, or once a week, otherwise it starts to get stale, a lot more quickly than is the case with other composers, for some reason.

A total 180 from my attitude on Mahler about a month ago :D
Welcome to the Mahlerian hive! :tiphat:

The best of Mahler is still ahead of you, methinks! The Ninth, Das Lied von Der Erde, the Sixth, and the Third all contain some of his very best music. But who am I kidding, it's all great! Just pace yourself. It's overwhelming stuff.
 
#142 ·
I'm listening to the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen for the first time. The second song "Ging heut morgen ubers Feld", which he would recycle for the first symphony. These melodies are all incredible. Some of the most lyrical, joyful themes in all classical music. Another misconception about Mahler is that I always associated him with miserably dark and intense music, and there is that side to his music. Again I was quite a bit off.
 
#144 ·
^^ I'm amazed at you astonishing capacity to absorb new music quickly. Your comments often show that you really are absorbing it and not just listening! You obviously have a great gift as a listener.
:D I've been doing it all my life, spent a lot of my childhood in my dad's record store, etc. Being a musician probably helps a bit too.

But that's a great compliment, especially as I am new to classical music in the past few months (hence the voracity). Thanks!

Collector that I am, it pains me that I have to keep listening to these great symphonies on Youtube. I just got paid, so I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a set today. Probably the Kubelik on DG, though some others are still in consideration...

... does anyone have an opinion on the Abbado set on DG? I like the bits and pieces I heard, and I like that it is so much cheaper than any other set I've been looking at :p
 
#145 ·
I have quite a few Mahler sets, including the Abbado one. What will suit you might depend a lot on how you like your Mahler (there do seem to be very strong individual differences). The first Bernstein set in its current remastered form is good and so is the Abbado. The Tennstedt has good things in it as does the Kubelik. Some of the Solti's are good. The Boulez and Gielen sets are excellent (and possibly best choices for a set). But, when I look at which recordings I listen to most regularly of each symphony, it seems to me that they are not parts of sets or are are stand-alone great performance in an often more average set. And, there again, no single set (even a self-assembled one) is going to be enough in the end so it might make sense at this stage to let price help to guide you.
 
#146 ·
Ended up pulling the trigger on the Bernstein/NYPO on Sony Classical. I couldn't decide between my other options, so I decided to go for what I see as the classic of classics in Mahler, the recordings that introduced a generation to Mahler's music from the guy famous for putting Mahler on the map. Some here have recommended against it to me, saying he doesn't know when enough's enough. That may be so. But I like what I've heard of his Mahler, emotionally dense though it sometimes may be. I am usually pretty good at hearing the music over the interpretation, especially armed with a score... yeah. I'm excited to go through this set. As I mentioned I've only heard 4 of the symphonies.

Plus it was cheap! Only a couple bucks more than the Abbado. So thank you Enthusiast for that "let price guide you" comment. Who knows how many more days or weeks I would have spent contemplating which one to get :lol:

If it was cheaper, it would have been no contest, Kubelik/Bavarian Radio Symphony. I think the Bernstein one is pretty far off but it's OK. I like hearing a variety of interpretations.
 
#150 ·
What Mahler symphonies are we addicted to at the moment? For me, it is No.2 in C minor and No.5 in C-sharp minor. The Resurrection symphony is just a massive achievement and a towering work of art. Mahler was speaking to several generations down the line with this music, and he wasn't just talking nonsense, there is some real intense spirituality here. I hear a lot of social history in this piece too. Very uplifting.

The next one I will explore is No.6. I still haven't heard 6, 7 or 9. I like all those that I have heard except for 3 and 8. Mahler is not someone I rate as a favorite (yet) but his music is always a huge joy to listen to, and one of the few composers I will gladly dedicate a whole hour and a half to listen to a full symphony.
 
#151 ·
7 & 8 lately. I think no.8 is fantastic and it's too bad so many mention it as their least favorite. I don't listen to Bernstein for 8. I like Boulez, Tennstedt, Gielen on Sony, and Ozawa. And I plan on picking up the Kubelik. Probably the complete set.
 
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#152 ·
I love the Bernstein/NYPO cycle so far, but I almost wish I had gotten the Kubelik instead. It was so much more expensive though. In any case, I believe it shall be my next cycle, if and when I'm ready to make that move. I would recommend you go for the whole set, as I love everything off it that I've heard. I have not however heard his 8th.

I also love what I've heard of the Bertini cycle. Any fans of his here?

I agree that the 8th is a good symphony, and a massive achievement. It just doesn't really jive with me on an emotional level, and I tend to prefer Mahler when he employs a bit more moderation. The 2nd symphony is a phenomenal example of how to write a choral symphony under restraint, and still produce an extremely powerful effect. When the chorus finally comes in in the 5th movement... that ultra-soft singing kills me every time.
 
#153 ·
That ultra soft choral singing can be heard in the 8th as well. Part 1 can be an ear full if you're not in the mood. But all of the symphonies have loads of great music among them. The Bernstein set is well worth having. I have all but 2 & 8 from the first set, plus the complete DG set. If you shop around the Kubelik set can be had for under 35. I've heard good things about Bertini but I haven't listened to any of them yet. The Gielen set is hard to beat for fidelity and great orchestra playing. I was lucky to buy it for only 20 dollars on sale at JCP Musik, otherwise I would have held off.
 
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#155 ·
I have a rather short attention span. I am usually unable to sit still for a long time. Only a few great movies and plays manage to keep my attention for their whole duration. In terms of music, it's even worse. I can usually only listen to short excerpts before my attention drifts away. Mahler is the one exception. There is something about his works that is akin to great movies and plays. Maybe it is the unsurpassed narrative quality? I'm not too much into analysis. But Mahler's music does not require analysis to be enjoyed, despite its complexity. Another unique quality!
 
#157 · (Edited)
Rattle's CBSO cycle is mixed, as with every other conductor. There are winners and also-rans which is why I am so strongly against the idea of buying cycles. Do note that in some cases he has done more than one recording of some of the symphonies. Many claim his Birmingham 2nd is one of the best but I have never been convinced by his approach. His 8th is very good (but this NYOGB performance is better) as is his Berlin 9th and 10th. I think a recent Berlin 6th is good & better than the Birmingham (but I would choose either Barbirolli/Proms/Testament or Sanderling/St. Petersburg) etc., etc.!

From a personal viewpoint, the 7th was one of the most difficult for me to grasp in its entirety.
 
#158 ·
Fair enough! As an obsessive music collector (not to the extent of some here, but nonetheless) there is an appeal to buying cycles, as you can often get a whole set for the price of two individual symphony CDs. Yes yes I hear you all say "that's what Spotify/streaming is for". That is just not my style. I like having the physical media, and I like not being dependent on having wifi to listen to music.

Well, I appreciate your perspective, Becca, and in any case I will not be buying any Mahler cycles any time soon.
 
#161 ·
I like having lots of recordings of great works, just so long as they add something or tell me a slightly different truth about the piece, and sets by conductors who have something to say about Mahler can be a cheap option. I am not sure that I acquired any of my "absolute but current" favourite Mahler recordings in sets - I purchased the "nearly a set" Jansons, Boulez and Gielen Mahler that I have separately and one by one - but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy dipping into the Kubelik set or the Neumann or the Berstein or the Abbado or ...
 
#162 ·
Well, I have been on a bender over the past month or so. I just yesterday got done listening to the entire Mahler symphonies and Lieder in chronological order over a couple of weeks, and now I think I might have to do it again... :lol: I don't regret the time spent one bit. I have gained much insight about some of this music, especially the 3rd (which I never liked before, and now think is amazing), the 4th (which I always liked but now I hear it differently), the 7th (ditto), the 8th (which I am still working on appreciating) and the 9th (an absolutely amazing work...)...

I see some discussion about the Naxos Mahler cycle in the earlier pages of this ancient thread. It seems most were dismissive then. I'm wondering if public opinion has come around at all since then. I am listening to the Michael Halász/Polish National RSO recording of Mahler's 1st and I think it sounds great!



I really do think this is a great performance. Any opinions on other entries in the cycle?

I also picked up the Antoni Wit Mahler 8th. I'm on a mission to finally enjoy this massive symphony and will buy whatever recordings I need to get me there... :lol: ... anyway, I listened to the Veni Creator Spiritus from that recording yesterday and it blew me away, so much clarity. I have heard Solti, Bernstein, and Haitink in this work in the past and I don't think any of them got it quite right, though Solti delivered a great performance; I just don't quite know if it's what Mahler intended. (Who am I to say that about a great conductor.)

I can't be the only one addicted to Mahler lately...?

@Becca, if you're reading this, I've come around to your opinion re: Mahler cycles. It really is better listening to different conductors for the different symphonies than full cycles. But I'll be damned if the Bernstein/NYPO cycle doesn't come close to nailing each one of the symphonies in its own way. I wouldn't have had it any other way, getting into Mahler for the first time. Now that I know all of the symphonies, it's been extremely rewarding hearing other recordings.
 
#166 ·
Well, I have been on a bender over the past month or so. I just yesterday got done listening to the entire Mahler symphonies and Lieder in chronological order over a couple of weeks, and now I think I might have to do it again... :lol: I don't regret the time spent one bit. I have gained much insight about some of this music, especially the 3rd (which I never liked before, and now think is amazing), the 4th (which I always liked but now I hear it differently), the 7th (ditto), the 8th (which I am still working on appreciating) and the 9th (an absolutely amazing work...)...

I see some discussion about the Naxos Mahler cycle in the earlier pages of this ancient thread. It seems most were dismissive then. I'm wondering if public opinion has come around at all since then. I am listening to the Michael Halász/Polish National RSO recording of Mahler's 1st and I think it sounds great!



I really do think this is a great performance. Any opinions on other entries in the cycle?
.
Strangely enough I asked others about the same cycle some years back
I now have it and it's a decent cycle but some performances are better than others. Personally I rate the 5th, 3rd and 7th highly and there's decent performances of most of the others but the 9th is uncompetitive, for me. I do not share your enthusiasm for the recording of the 1st Symphony though, the finale in particular lacks any sparkle. I have silly amounts of Mahler 1sts and Halasz would struggle to get in my top 50, tbh, but it's not bad just serviceable. Like Becca has said, whilst cycles are great to introduce people to Mahler's symphonoes I echo that single discs are the way forward with Gustav.
 
#163 · (Edited)
At this point of my listening journey I can say without a doubt that I hold the Mahler symphonies in highest esteem. If I could only listen to one composer's symphonies, Mahler wins by a long shot. I wouldn't worry about opinions on conductors or recordings. If it sounds good to you that's all that matters. Naxos has their hits and misses like any other label, but they do have an incredible catalog of fine recordings including many re-issues from now defunct labels. There are members here who love or hate Boulez, Ozawa, Rattle, etc. Who's right or wrong?
 
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#164 ·
Incidentally, Boulez and Rattle are two conductors that I really want to explore further in Mahler. They may represent opposite extremes of interpretation, the incisive and streamlined on one hand, the rich and emotional on the other, to generalize. I'm less interested in Ozawa at the moment, though I do want to hear his Mahler recordings with the Saito Kinen Orchestra.

I agree that Mahler's is my favorite symphonic cycle by a pretty wide margin. The only one I MIGHT choose over his on a desert island is Haydn's, for sheer quantity (and relative consistency). Sorry, Beethoven fans. My love for Beethoven's symphonies is more capricious.
 
#165 ·
There's another Mahler set that rarely gets mentioned that I think any Mahlerite should at least give a listen. It's a collection of broadcasts from the New York Philharmonic - Mahler's orchestra - and not a Bernstein in the entire set. The sound quality is obviously not up to modern standards, but there's not a dud performance in the entire box. Many of them were performed before the so-called critical editions were published, and it's also apparent that the orchestra of 60-80 years ago wasn't as familiar with the music as they are today. You can still get it through Amazon and other places. But if you're really into Mahler, give it a hearing!

Barbirolli M1, M9
Mehta M2
Boulez M3
Solti M4
Tennstedt M5
Mitropoulos M6, M10
Kubelik M7
Stokowski M8
Walter DLVDE
Steinberg Songs of a Wayfarer

Forehead Chin Hairstyle Eyebrow Human
 
#169 · (Edited)
There's another Mahler set that rarely gets mentioned that I think any Mahlerite should at least give a listen. It's a collection of broadcasts from the New York Philharmonic - Mahler's orchestra - and not a Bernstein in the entire set. The sound quality is obviously not up to modern standards, but there's not a dud performance in the entire box. Many of them were performed before the so-called critical editions were published, and it's also apparent that the orchestra of 60-80 years ago wasn't as familiar with the music as they are today. You can still get it through Amazon and other places. But if you're really into Mahler, give it a hearing!

Barbirolli M1, M9
Mehta M2
Boulez M3
Solti M4
Tennstedt M5
Mitropoulos M6, M10
Kubelik M7
Stokowski M8
Walter DLVDE
Steinberg Songs of a Wayfarer

View attachment 125830
Pretty tough to find this at a reasonable price. There's a used copy on Amazon for $141 plus s&h.
 
#170 ·
^I wonder if the Mitropoulos Mahler 6 included is this same recording:



I have been eyeing it as it's cheap and Mitropoulos seems to have been quite the important Mahlerian conductor historically speaking, a huge influence on Lenny Bernstein, etc. I am still looking to really fall in love with the 6th symphony. As it stands, frankly, I consider it one of his weaker symphonies, though I know I am probably in the wrong here.
 
#171 ·
^I wonder if the Mitropoulos Mahler 6 included is this same recording:



I have been eyeing it as it's cheap and Mitropoulos seems to have been quite the important Mahlerian conductor historically speaking, a huge influence on Lenny Bernstein, etc. I am still looking to really fall in love with the 6th symphony. As it stands, frankly, I consider it one of his weaker symphonies, though I know I am probably in the wrong here.
I think it's one of Mahler's strongest. But I'm not a Mahlerian, generally, so you can ignore me. And I'll never say I told you so.
 
#172 · (Edited)
I came to the mahler sixth late after spending a great deal of time absorbing one, two, three, four, five and nine. Eight is still a work in progress to find a satisfying recording. I believe it helps to spend time with these other symphonies before moving onto the sixth and seventh because I feel they’re more intense, dense and complex—but for me, perhaps Mahler at the full height of his power... Listen to the force that the sixth starts off with: it’s like a steamroller starting up, and perhaps six and seven are a little bit more mystifying as to the meaning of their deeper nature. But I found them very rewarding and those are the two that I come back to the most since I feel that I’ve absorbed everything else with great satisfaction and enjoyment... I believe Dimitri Mitropoulos is well worth hearing, that he was a true Mahlerian. The problem for some is that he was pre-stereo and some listeners don’t care for vintage recordings. So he falls within the less popular era of classical recordings that were mono. Nevertheless, I feel that he understood the sixth because he plays the order of the middle two movements according to Mahler’s final published score and he was actively playing Mahler after the war going into the 1950s and 1960s before Leonard Bernstein truly put Mahler on map and created a momentum of interest that is still continuing to today. I believe DM is historically important in playing Mahler. There’s a richness to six and seven that can keep the listener coming back with great interest. But I believe that sometimes it takes time to be ready for them.
 
#173 ·
I came to the mahler sixth late after spending a great deal of time absorbing one, two, three, four, five and nine. Eight is still a work in progress to find a satisfying recording. I believe it helps to spend time with these other symphonies before moving onto the sixth and seventh because I feel they're more intense, dense and complex-but for me, perhaps Mahler at the full height of his power... Listen to the force that the sixth starts off with: it's like a steamroller starting up, and perhaps six and seven are a little bit more mystifying as to the meaning of their deeper nature. But I found them very rewarding and those are the two that I come back to the most since I feel that I've absorbed everything else with great satisfactions and enjoyment... I believe Dimitri Mitropoulos is well worth hearing, that he was a true Mahlerian. The problem for some is that he was pre-stereo and some listeners don't care for vintage recordings. So he falls within the less popular era of classical recordings that were mono. Nevertheless, I feel that he understood the sixth because he plays the order of the middle two movements according to Mahler's final published score and he was actively playing Mahler after the war going into the 1950s and 1960s before Leonard Bernstein truly put Mahler on map and created a momentum of interest that is still continuing to today. I believe DM is historically important in playing Mahler. There's a richness to six and seven that can keep the listener coming back with great interest. But I believe that sometimes it takes time to be ready for them.
I love 7. That is one that made sense on the first listen. It's just 6 and 8 that I still find quite difficult at this stage. But my opinion on 6 goes back and forth.

Mono or not, what I heard of the Mitropoulos sounds great, I think I will be getting this one.
 
#175 ·
I've got the Mitropoulos 1955.OCT.04 #6 recording on Memories Reverence instead (coupled with #1, 5 & 9). He was able create tension with ease, and he also let the music breath without being slow. Quite remarkable.

There's also a Mitropoulos #6 dated 1959.AUG.31 on IMG Artist's Great Conductors of the 20th Century series. Slower, but much better sound.
 
#176 ·


For a highly recommendable recent Mahler 6, including HD images, please take a look and listen to Abbado and his Lucerne orchestra. There is a bluray set available of Symphonies 1-7, through the link above.

As to Mahler 8, I can add that this it is a dish best served live. Never has a recorded version moved me as much as a live performance of Mahler 8. But if a live concert is not available in a theatre nearby, I would recommend Chailly in his RCO cycle and Boulez in his DG cycle. Both are very worthwile throughout their cycles and both offer a transparant view, without too much drama.
 
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