New and recent Mahler recordings

[HighlandDougie]

Listening now to the Barshai. Gawd! Stunning or what? Yes!

Oh dear, much as I hate disagreeing with BBM (and Barbirollians), no, not stunning. It would no doubt have seemed stunning had one been at the concert but, on CD, its shortcomings as an performance and recording are only too apparent. I know that it has acquired almost mythic status as a performance but I'm not all sure why that should be the case. It starts well but, for me, rather goes downhill after the second movement. The third movement - that pivot between the Mahler of the "Knaben Wunderhorn" and the 6th symphony et seq - simply didn't hold my attention. It's unfair comparing the Jünge Deutsche Philharmonie with, say, the Tonhalle Orchestra but, at this level, their playing isn't quite good enough. Maybe the recording is to blame - it says the "Philharmonie, Berlin" but it sounds as if someone has added some reverberation. Clear but quite distant. In case I was just being in an anti-Mahler 5th mood, I've just listened to the first Mahler 5 which came to hand - Markus Stenz - and that was much more engaging. I realise that I'm probably in a minority of one on the Barshai (and it didn't irritate me as does Lenny and the VPO) - am I missing something?

[cloughie]

Now he should conduct Dyson!

Did he write a funeral march? That would be Dyson with death!

[mahlerei]

Has anyone else watched the Semyon Bychkov live stream of Mahler 2 with the LSO, et al

Hi Bbm

Once again, Bychkov isn't a conductor I associate with Mahler. That said, I was channel hoping some years ago and found him conducting a terrific performance of the M2 with, I think, the Orchestre de Paris. Then, in 2006, he was involved in this unusual video, featuring the same piece (but with a different orchestra):

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/July07/Vision_Mahler_101421.htm

[Bryn]

Hi Bbm

Once again, Bychkov isn't a conductor I associate with Mahler. That said, I was channel hoping some years ago and found him conducting a terrific performance of the M2 with, I think, the Orchestre de Paris. Then, in 2006, he was involved in this unusual video, featuring the same piece (but with a different orchestra):

http://www.musicweb-international.co...ler_101421.htm

An alternative review (though that that different in its overall thrust, perhaps):

http://www.classical-music.com/review/mahler-189

[BBMmk2]

Hmmm, I found the performance totally absorbing. Hmmm

[BBMmk2]

What do members think of the Bavarian/Haitink recording of M9?

[richardfinegold]

What do members think of the Bavarian/Haitink recording of M9?

superb!

[Petrushka]

superb!

+1

[Barbirollians]

I'll have to be nice to MrsBBM!

I see it's on amazon prime, so I can listen today. Then the LSO have their recent Mahler 2 with Ssemyon Bychkov from a concert a few nights back on YouTube!! I will have to listen to that too! Oh my goodness! ll

Listening now to the Barshai. Gawd! Stunning or what? Yes!

I agree with you BBM I think that the Barshai Mahler 5 is stunning in its impact. I do hear what HD says and perhaps the Scherzo is the least successful movement but it is heart on the sleeve Mahler but tempered by a deliberate lack of self-indulgence as exemplified by the brisk Adagietto.

It is not a performance for everyday and I would not promote it above Walter or Barbirolli for example but it's an extraordinary life enhancing account.

[BBMmk2]

I agree with you BBM I think that the Barshai Mahler 5 is stunning in its impact. I do hear what HD says and perhaps the Scherzo is the least successful movement but it is heart on the sleeve Mahler but tempered by a deliberate lack of self-indulgence as exemplified by the brisk Adagietto.

It is not a performance for everyday and I would not promote it above Walter or Barbirolli for example but it's an extraordinary life enhancing account.

Likewise Barbs.

Have enjoyed immensely, Jansons new recording of M’s 7th

[Barbirollians]

What do members think of the Bavarian/Haitink recording of M9?

Does it top the legendary 1969 studio account ?

[Alison]

Does it top the legendary 1969 studio account ?

To sit on the fence, a valuable supplement to it!

I still think the sound of the Haitink era Concertgebouw takes some beating.

[BBMmk2]

Does it top the legendary 1969 studio account ?

I’ll let you know!

[richardfinegold]

Does it top the legendary 1969 studio account ?

Didn’t you just ask us the same question?

[Barbirollians]

Didn’t you just ask us the same question?

I don't think so . I thought I asked what people thought of the 1969 Haitink did I not rather than how it compared to any other recording of the work he made ...