An overview:
I. Here are my top ten Mahler cycles in order of preference, yet none of them are entirely perfect or ideal:
1. Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Columbia/Sony--the discount DSD remastered box set. I only really like 6 & 7 from Bernstein's later DG cycle, & maybe 1 & 3; yet, even so, I prefer the Columbia 7 & 3. While I think Bernstein's best 2nd is the live one with the LSO from Ely Cathedral in England (where the DVD release is preferable sound-wise). The Columbia 9th here has been much helped by the new & improved sonics, as has the whole cycle. By the way, these are the same DSD remasters that were used in the excellent Japanese hybrid SACDs:
2. Riccardo Chailly, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Berlin RSO, Decca on CD, but sound-wise I prefer the individual hybrid SACDs of 3 & 9 (even on my conventional CD player), which are among the best performances from Chailly's cycle in my estimation.
3. Riccardo Chailly, Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig, which is virtually complete, as it includes Symphonies Nos. 1-2, 4-9 on Accentus Music DVD & Blu-ray.
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4. EMI 150th Anniversary box set, with various conductors & orchestras:
Provided to YouTube by Warner ClassicsLieder eines fahrenden Gesellen: I. Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht (Schnell - Langsamer) · Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Wi...
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150th Anniversary Box - Mahler Complete Works. Warner Classics: 6089852. Buy 16 CDs or download online. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker, New Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Berliner...
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5. Bernard Haitink, Concertgebouw Orchestra--the recently remastered box set has made me realize that I've underestimated this excellent cycle in the past.
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6. Rafael Kubelik, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, on DG--In my opinion, Kubelik is at his best in 1, 3, 5, 7, & 9 - though in some cases I prefer his later live Audite recordings: such as in No. 7 for example. I'm also not crazy about DG's sound on CD. The following most recent remasters may sound better, but I've not heard them yet:
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7. Vaclav Neumann, Czech Philharmonic, on both Supraphon & Tower Records Japan hybrid SACDs. Like the Concertgebouw, the Czech Philharmonic is one of the great Mahler orchestras in the world, & they deserve to be heard in these symphonies: whether it is with Neumann, Karel Ancerl in 1 & 9, or the exceptionally well recorded Zdeněk Mácal cycle on the audiophile Exton label.
I've most liked Neumann in the 8th, which is a 'classic' award winning recording & one of the better Mahler 8ths on record, in my opinion,
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Though I should point out that Neumann's Mahler conducting is more understated than Bernstein's, for instance, but very musical in its own way.
& on Tower Records Japan hybrid SACDs:
In addition, I'd like to hear Neumann's later Canyon Classics/ Exton (7) hybrid SACD recordings too, also with the Czech Philharmonic--which, according to David Hurwitz are even better than the ones in the Supraphon box set,
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8. Eliahu Inbal, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, on Denon--not the top Mahler orchestra on my list, but it's a well played cycle by a fine Mahler conductor, & the Denon PCM digital sonics were exceptional for their time. I've probably most liked the 7th & 10th Symphonies from Inbal's cycle. I should point out that he plays the Adagio in the 5th very slowly, & beautifully, bringing it in at 11:34:
Symphony No. 5, IV. Adiagetto. So, it's definitely not in the Bruno Walter camp (at 7: 35):
Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor: IV. Adagietto. Considering that this movement was a "love letter" to Mahler's future wife, Alma, according to her, I think it loses a sense of urgency & passion when it is played so slowly. & again, Inbal's 1st movement of the 5th is on the slow side as well, especially when you compare it to Mahler's piano roll. I expect some listeners may feel that Inbal drags the music in places. But I don't dislike his 5th, rather I value hearing different interpretations:
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フランクフルト放送交響楽団 インバル(エリアフ), ロビンソン(フェイ), シュライアー(ペーター), ドナート(ヘレン), ゾッフェル(ドリス), ケイヒル(テレサ), ネス(ヤルド・ヴァン), マーラー, インバル(エリアフ), ゲス(マルティン) - Mahler: Complete Symphony - Amazon.com Music
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Title: Symphony n1 (Originally published as a symphonic poem titled "Titan")Composer: Gustav MahlerConductor: Eliahu InbalOrchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony...
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By the way, Inbal also made a later recording of the 7th with the Czech Philharmonic on Exton hybrid SACD:
Inbal conducts Mahler: Symphony No.7.
9. Claudio Abbado, various orchestras: Berlin, Vienna, Chicago, on DG--Abbado was probably at his best in the 7th, whether it was with the Chicago SO or his later 7th with the Berlin Philharmonic (though I prefer Bernstein & maybe Klemperer & Kubelik live on Audite in the 7th). I also like Abbado's first Berlin recording of the 8th too,
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Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupMahler: Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major "Symphony of a Thousand", Pt. 1: I. Veni, creator spiritus (Live From Phil...
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10. Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, on DG--the critics raved about the Berlin 6th & Lucerne 9th in this box set. They are very good performances, but I have other preferences in these two symphonies.
I don't know the Gielen & Bertini cycles, & only partly know Rattle's Birmingham cycle (though I've liked his 2nd & both the Bournemouth & Berlin 10ths).
Segerstam's Danish cycle is erratic. Sometimes his interpretations are quirky, other times quite slow, but on the whole it's a good, well recorded cycle & the orchestra playing is excellent.
I find Tennstedt's EMI Mahler cycle to be likewise excellent at times--such as in the 2nd, but overall, I think his set is slightly overrated. Tennstedt's Mahler seems to have been better live, such as in his various live 5ths.
As for Sir Georg Solti, or the "screaming skull" (as members of the CSO called him), I prefer his earlier 1960s LSO Mahler recordings--before Solti had a bad ear infection in the 1970s that I've been told adversely effected his hearing--to the later Chicago SO box set cycle; though his Chicago 8th is a much lauded recording by the critics.
Lastly, Giuseppe Sinopoli's Mahler with the Philharmonia Orchestra is best avoided, in my view, though his 2nd & 8th are good, surprisingly.
II. Partial sets & individual recordings:
1. F. Charles Adler--1, 2, 3, 6, & 10, with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra:
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of AmericaSymphony No. 10 in F-Sharp Minor (arr. O. Jokl) : I. Adagio · Vienna Symphony OrchestraMahler: Symphony No. 10 - Symph...
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Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) - Symphony No.3 in D Minor: Ein Sommermorgentraum.🎧 Qobuz https://bit.ly/30UBppp Tidal https://bit.ly/3CmcOHR🎧 Spotify https://sp...
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Symphony no 6 by Gustav Mahler1. Allegro energico ma non troppo2. Andante moderato3. Scherzo. Wuchtig4. Finale: Sostenuto-Allegro moderato-Allegro energicoWi...
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2. Bruno Walter--1, 2, 4, 5, 9, with the New York Philharmonic & Columbia Symphony Orchestra:
I've never heard a better, more Viennese sounding 4th:
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Nor should we forget that Mahler dedicated his 9th Symphony to Walter:
Provided to YouTube by Sony ClassicalSymphony No. 9 in D Major: I. Andante comodo (2019 Remastered Version) · Bruno Walter · Gustav Mahler · Columbia Symphon...
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Here too are Walter’s recollections of Mahler:
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3. Sir John Barbirolli--1, 5, 6, 9 & two orchestral song cycles with Dame Janet Baker (which is a 'desert island' disc of mine):
Provided to YouTube by Warner ClassicsSymphony No. 1 in D Major "Titan": I. Langsam. Schleppend. Wie ein Naturlaut · Sir John BarbirolliMahler: Symphonies No...
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4. Otto Klemperer-- 2, 4, 7 & 9, and an exceptional "Das Lied von der Erde":
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5. Gunther Herbig, 5, 6, 9 - Saarbrucken RSO & Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Herbig is an unsung conductor, but in my view he is one of the better Mahler conductors (& orchestra builders) of the digital era (along with Chailly). For example, he appears to have listened very carefully to Mahler's piano roll of the 1st movement of the 5th, in developing his interpretation:
Provided to YouTube by Curb RecordsSymphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor: I. Trauermarsch · Günther Herbig · Berlin Symphony OrchestraMahler: Symphony No. 5 in C S...
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Provided to YouTube by Kontor New MediaSymphony No. 6 in A minor, "Tragic": I. Allegro energico, ma non troppo. Heftig, aber markig · Gunther Herbig, Saarbru...
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Provided to YouTube by Kontor New MediaSymphony No. 9 in D Major: I. Andante comodo · Günther Herbig, Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester SaarbrückenMahler: Symphony ...
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6. Carla Maria Giulini--1, 9, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, on EMI & DG:
Provided to YouTube by Warner ClassicsSymphony No. 1 "Titan": I. Langsam. Schleppend. Wie ein Naturlaut · Chicago Symphony Orchestra · Carlo Maria GiuliniMah...
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7. Karel Ančerl--1, 9, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, on Supraphon Gold:
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8. Jascha Horenstein--1, 3, 4, 9, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, etc.
Symphony No 3 by Gustav Mahler1. Kräftig. Entschieden 2. Tempo di menuetto. Sehr mässig 3. Comodo. Scherzando. Ohne Hast 4. Sehr langsam. Misterioso 5. Lust...
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9. Bernard Haitink, Concertgebouw Orchestra, live xmas matinee concerts, Philips: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, & 9, and Songs of a Wayfarer. The incomplete Berlin Philharmonic Philips cycle is good too, but I prefer these live recordings:
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10. Rafael Kubelik, Bavarian RSO-- live concert performances, on Audite: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 as well as an excellent The Song of the Earth, with Janet Baker and Waldemar Kmentt.
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I've not heard Kurt Sanderling's Mahler on Berlin Classics, but would like to.
III. Of the conductors that knew & worked with Mahler, or saw him conduct his music:
Hermann Scherchen is thought to have played in an orchestra under Mahler's baton, but I don't know his Mahler well,
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etc.
While Leopold Stokowki was in the audience at the premiere of the 8th, which Mahler conducted & where F. Charles Adler served as the chorus master.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesSymphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major: Pt. 1, Veni, creator spiritus (Live) · New York Philharmonic · Gustav Mahler · ...
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Gustav Mahler. Symphony 2 (Leopold Stokowski) 1975
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Interestingly, Bernstein once said that he was strongly influenced by F. Charles Adler's Mahler records (& he may possibly have attended Alder's concerts in Saratoga Springs, New York). However, curiously, I've never read any comments by Bernstein about Walter's influence on his Mahler conducting. Which doesn't entirely surprise me because to my ears Bernstein's early Columbia Mahler recordings sound closer to Adler's in conception, but without the use of violin slides: which, in contrast, are apparent in Adler's Vienna 2nd for example,
Provided to YouTube by Naxos Digital ServicesSymphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection": I. Allegro maestoso (Live) · F. Charles Adler · Wiener SymphonikerBruc...
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Provided to YouTube by Naxos Digital ServicesSymphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection": VI. Finale. Langsam - Misterioso (Live) · Anny Felbermayer · Sonja Dra...
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But apart from getting to know the varied interpretations of those that worked with Mahler, such as Wilhelm Mengelberg's two Mahler recordings & his Mahler supervised, hand marked conducting scores that are in the possession of the Concertgebouw Orchestra (which both Haitink & Chailly studied before making their Amsterdam cycles), along with the recordings by Oskar Fried & the Mahler proteges Walter & Alder--as well as possibly Klemperer, Scherchen & Stokowski (in the 8th)--to my mind, the best way to get a sense of how Mahler conducted his own music is to listen to the composer's 1905 piano rolls for M. Welte & Sohne in Leipzig, & especially his playing of the 1st "Trauermarsch" movement to his 5th Symphony:
–G. MAHLER – Symphony n. 5:1. TrauermarschGustav Mahler, Piano roll (1905)–
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As usual with my more lengthy posts on TC, they're not meant to be tackled all at once, listening-wise, but rather over time, if you wish.
![Mahler Symphonies [Blu-ray] / Leipzig / Mahler / Chailly](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71RQZ7xug6L._SX385_.jpg "Mahler Symphonies [Blu-ray] / Leipzig / Mahler / Chailly")
