BaL 19.03.11 Mahler Symphony no. 10

[Bryn]

I've never quite understood why people are reluctant to listen to "completed" works on the grounds that they are not the total work of the original composer, whether this be Mahler's 10th, Elgar-Payne 3rd, Mozart's Requiem, Schubert's completed 7th, 8th & 10th, Bruckner's 9th or Puccini's Turandot. Is it better to pretend the music doesn't exist, or is it better to hear another musician's/composer's idea of how it might have been? Provided that no attempt is made to deceive the listener, it hardly matters who wrote it.
Consider Jeremiah Clarke's "The Prince of Denmark's March". Does it matter that it was composed by a lesser composer than Purcell (to whom it was once attributed)? Or the Minuet in G formerly attributed to Bach, but now thought to be by Petzold? How much does the name on the top right-hand corner of the music really matter. Surely, it's what the person sitting/standing in front of the music produces that matters.

Agreed, and then there's the thorny issue of BWV 565.

[Chris Newman]

Agreed, and then there's the thorny issue of BWV 565.

And Beethoven's Tenth.....

.... by the way, I too like the Bournemouth Mahler 10, though I have to remind my pacemaker when that massive bang is about to come. Wigglesworth is a tad more refined at that point on BBC MM and Wheeler on Naxos a damp squib.

[Flosshilde]

The programme began with a run-through of the conductors who have refused to conduct a performance of the completed 10th on the grounds that it wasn't all Mahler - SJ's comment that they were quite happy to conduct Mozart's Requiem, which had less Mozart that the 10th has of Mahler, rather showed up their (& my) prejudice

One reason for me deciding that I should listen to it was SJ's comment that following on from the 9th & its 'dying' ending the 10th suggested a new life, making it essential in understanding the journey through Mahler's symphonies.

[Bryn]

The programme began with a run-through of the conductors who have refused to conduct a performance of the completed 10th on the grounds that it wasn't all Mahler - SJ's comment that they were quite happy to conduct Mozart's Requiem, which had less Mozart that the 10th has of Mahler, rather showed up their (& my) prejudice

One reason for me deciding that I should listen to it was SJ's comment that following on from the 9th & its 'dying' ending the 10th suggested a new life, making it essential in understanding the journey through Mahler's symphonies.

For all my misgivings re. the lack of mention of far too many recordings, the point re. Mahler's not putting the finishing touches to the 9th and Das Lied von der Erde were well made too, I thought.

[Alison]

I found SJ somewhat less opinionated than usual in the conversational format.

I have always found the Rattle BPO account altogether too strident, weighty
and self aware for this most humane of works. So unmoving to my ears.

[Panjandrum]

I often use Amazon UK, although there have been occasions when I have found Amazon France to be considerably cheaper.

I've noted that too (EMI's 30CD VW Collector's Edition for €28 for example). Unfortunately, those dastardly frenchies don't always fulfill to the UK.

[mathias broucek]

When listening, I was surprised at the extent to which they were making the case for the piece rather than comparing editions and performances.

However it's clear from the discussions above that many people have dodged the 10th as somehow a bit "dodgy".

Wouldn't it be great if they could come back and say quite a lot more about the performances! For example, we never really learned what SJ thought about Chailly or whether the Goldschmidt was a good performance (a la the Horenstein 8th) or just historically interesting (a la Walter's 1938 9th).

[338]

I do not post very often but do read and enjoy a lot of them.When it comes to Mahler 10 though i have to respond as it, along with DSCH 4 and Bruckner 8,has long been my top 3.I first got to know the piece via the Ormandy LP version followed by the Morris and Rattle/Bournemouth versions,also on LP.All my LP's have long since gone but I now have at least 12 CD versions plus some off-air recordings.The most recent CD version I have got from Ebay was the Philadelphia/Levine one which I was not that struck by.I must try to get the VPO-Harding version as many people praise it.If I had to choose my favourite recording I think I might go for the Morris one,although I have only got it as an MP3 download,but if you asked me again I would probably choose another version.

[Nachtigall]

The Ormandy/Philadelphia LP version (1965) was how I too got to know and love this symphony, which in many ways does sound like the ne plus ultra of symphonic statements. I now possess that version on CD, but have just been listening on headphones (while doing the ironing) to the Daniel Harding/VPO recording. I think you'll like that, 338, if only for the sound of the Vienna strings in the final movement – such warmth and bittersweet richness.