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Rob_G
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« on: 21:39:23, 11-02-2007 » |
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I love Mahler, his music and everything else. Soon Esa Pekka Salonen's terrific LA Phil performance of No 7 with be on iTunes to download !!  Here's the great man in 1908, not so long ago! (click to make bigger) |
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« Last Edit: 21:44:09, 11-02-2007 by Rob_G »
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Tantris
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« Reply #1 on: 21:42:25, 11-02-2007 » |
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What's the general consensus on the best version of the Mahler's sixth symphony?
I've always liked the Szell and Horenstein versions, and found the 'classic' Karajan a bit dull. Which one should I go and buy tomorrow?
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Rob_G
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« Reply #2 on: 21:43:44, 11-02-2007 » |
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It's really funny you should ask that Tantris, as right as this very moment I'm playing Boulez's VPO version. Very fine it is too.
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Tantris
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« Reply #3 on: 21:48:02, 11-02-2007 » |
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I really like Boulez in the ninth symphony, but haven't heard him inthe sixth - it got mixed reviews when it was issued.
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Rob_G
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« Reply #4 on: 21:51:57, 11-02-2007 » |
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Well I read all the reviews I could find Tantris of the Boulez recording and I can wholeheartedly recommend. It's got a fantastic Finale abd the VPO sound awesome
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offbeat
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« Reply #5 on: 22:16:17, 11-02-2007 » |
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Many years back saw boulez conduct mahler 9 at the albert hall - a really great performance and what surprised me was it was a very romantic interpretation and i always got impression boulez was cold and clinical
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #6 on: 22:18:46, 11-02-2007 » |
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Yes, Boulez and the VPO are very impressive indeed, but I think Abbado/ BPO just have the edge.
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Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #7 on: 22:20:56, 11-02-2007 » |
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Was Mahler a tyrant as a conductor? I read a book (biography) about him. His wife Alma had to bring him coffee at specific time. Also with orchestra he was a tyrant. I don't think he would last in the atmosphere of today.
I do agree that he is a great man and a great composer.
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #8 on: 22:29:20, 11-02-2007 » |
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some friends of mine think that his music is too depressing. I did not find it is depressing, though the songs of the earth (or something Erde) are dark I think. Is it so?
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #9 on: 22:29:25, 11-02-2007 » |
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Opilec, Abbado's recording is over two discs with the split between the 2nd and 3rd movements, so no reprogramming possible. Abbado has the scherzo placed third. It's an SACD and the sound really is something.
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Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #10 on: 22:43:58, 11-02-2007 » |
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Mmmm, shall give this some thought over the next few days. I picked up the Kubelik set last autumn and I do like his way with Mahler, especially in the early symphonies.
I've got the Abbado/ Lucerne disc - definitely worth getting. There's a DVD too IIRC.
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Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
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roslynmuse
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« Reply #11 on: 22:52:29, 11-02-2007 » |
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I agree about Kubelik in the early symphonies - I've always liked his No 3. Haitink in No 1, Klemperer (live with Ferrier) in No 2, Szell No 4. The best Das Lied for me was the BBC NSO/ Leppard/ Janet Baker and I'm ashamed to say I can't remember who the tenor is (John Mitchinson?) I always liked Rattle's first recording of No 10 (Bournemouth SO) too. And Fischer-Dieskau/ Schwarzkopf in Des Knaben Wunderhorn, Baker/ Barbirolli in the other song cycles and either Rattle or Nagano in Das Klagende Lied.
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Tam Pollard
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« Reply #12 on: 23:18:22, 11-02-2007 » |
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I'm not sure there is much of a consensus as far as the 6th goes. I'm not made keen on the Szell (which to these ears doesn't have quite the magic of his 4th), but I agree about the Karajan. My favourites are all andante-scherzo. I'm very fond of Jansons LSO Live issue (and so had high hopes for his recent repeat with the Concertgebouw, sadly it was a bit of a letdown). The Mackerras/BBC Phil issue is extremely good and as Opilec says has the advantage of being on a single disc - sadly I think it has only been released as a BBC Music cover disc, so good luck tracking it down. I've only heard the Boulez once, and it didn't really engage me (though I'd be reluctant to dismiss it on the basis of just one listen). So, if push comes to shove, I'd probably pick the recent Abbado Berlin (also andante-scherzo). Sadly it comes on two discs (the timings should allow it to fit on one, and if you get the US import it does, but the annoying decision to make it a hybrid sacd, means it has to go on two). It didn't impress me overly on the first listen but the more times I have heard it the more it has grown. The percussion is wonderful in the first movement (as it is for Jansons LSO), one of the key criteria for me, and the finale is absolutely devastating.
Opilec, interesting list. I'm not sure I could bring myself to narrow it down that much, but I'd go for something like this:
1 - Bernstein/Concertgebouw (honourable mentions to Mackerras/RLPO and Haitink/Concertgebouw, the live 'Christmas' issue)
2 - Rattle/CBSO (honourable mention Walter/NYPO and Bernstein/LSO)
3 - Haitink/Concertgebouw or Rattle/CBSO
4 - Szell/Cleveland (honourable mention Harding/MCO)
5 - Rattle/BPO (honourable mentions Bernstein/VPO and Mackerras/RLPO)
6 - Abbado/BPO (Jansons/LSO and Mackerras/BBCPO)
7 - Abbado/BPO (Bernstein/NYPO, the Sony issue, Solti/CSO and Haitink/Concertgebouw)
8 - Sinopoli/Philharmonia (Solti/CSO or Rattle/CBSO)
9 - Bernstein/BPO
Das Lied - Ferrier/Walter/VPO (Haitink/Concertgebouw if you must have stereo
Adagio from the 10th - Sinopoli/Philharmonia (I cannot really get on with any of the completions, they all just fell wrong to me, but I'm probably in a minority on this).
regards, Tam
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Rob_G
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« Reply #13 on: 23:25:30, 11-02-2007 » |
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Oh Tam, Id have to disagree with you on No 8, its has to be Tennstedt on the recent DVD release, with Kenneth Riegel's amazing Doctor Marianus, equal to Rene Kollo on the Solti.
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roslynmuse
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« Reply #14 on: 23:42:16, 11-02-2007 » |
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Hi Opilec, yes, the Baker/Leppard Das Lied was on CD on the series that was a precurser of BBC Legends (Carlton?). Much better than the Baker/Haitink.
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