Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Symphony Orchestra with Ilona Steingruber
Conducted by Otto Klemperer
2. Das Lied von der Erde, symphony for alto (or baritone), tenor, & orchestra
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Vienna Symphony Orchestra with Elsa Cavelti , Anton Dermota
Conducted by Otto Klemperer
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection"; Das Lied von der Erde,Gustav Mahler,Otto Klemperer,Elsa Cavelti,Wiener Symphoniker,Ilona Steingruber,Anton Dermota,Vox (Classical),Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music,Orchestral & Symphonic,Romantic Symphony,Symphonic
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Barber's Adagio
Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000025TX Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Adagio For Strings, Op. 11
- Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
- Fantasia On 'Greenleaves'
- String Quartet No. 1,. Op. 11: 'Andante Cantabile' - Tchaikovsky
- Symphony No. 5 In C Sharp Minor: 'Adagietto'
Customer Reviews:
Superb.......2007-05-15
This is probably the best performance of Barber's Adagio you can find and I have heard them all. One other note is Williams' Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis... it is spellbinding. This cd is definately worth the price if you are into slower strings.
Powerful and Moving.......2007-02-07
Barber's adagio.......2007-02-01
I personally discovered another cd called Cathedral Classics recorded by Dale Warland Singers which gives a superior recording of the same music.
Dale Warland gives an unmatched quality that is available on the Internet.
My inner beauty.......2007-01-20
Oscar Wilde plays Barber?.......2005-07-12
The performance of the Barber is not only the worst performance of the Adagio that I've ever heard; it's probably the worst performance of any piece by a major orchestra that I've ever heard, live or recorded. The complete lack of synchronization between the various string sections is embarrassing; the sloppy entrances are distracting and graceless. The orchestra sloshes from phrase to phrase like water in a bucket being carried over rough terrain. One wonders whether Bernstein was bothering to conduct at all, or was making everyone guess. This performance would have been unacceptable from my Youth Orchestra 25 years ago.
The other tracks are considerably better, but it's hard to make up for such a pathetic effort on the lead track.
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The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II
Gabriel Faure , Frederic Chopin , Antonio Vivaldi , Gustav Mahler , Claude Debussy , Sir Neville Marriner , Maris Jansons , Lorin Maazel , Sir Adrian Boult , Miklos Rozsa , Riccardo Muti , Stephen Cleobury , Sir John Barbirolli , New Philharmonia Orchestra , Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus , Academy of St. Martin in the Fields , and Berlin Philharmonic Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00002439O Release Date: 2003-03-11 |
Tracks:
- Sheep May Safely Graze - Sir Neville Marriner
- Serenade In G 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' - Sir Neville Marriner
- Violin Concerto No.1 In G Minor, Op.26 - II. Adagio - Yedudi Menuhin
- Nocturne No.2 In E Flat Op.9 No.2 - John Ogdon
- Miserere Mei, Deus - Stephen Cleobury
- Schindler's List - Tasmin Little
- Traumerei - Dame Moura Lympany
- Dance Of The Sylphs - Sir Neville Marriner
- Water Music - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
- Symphony No.9: II. Largo - Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
- Jean De Florette - Toots Thielemans
- Concerto For Lute And Two Violins - II. Largo - Anthony Bailes
- Cello Concerto In E Minor Op.85 - III. Adagio - Jacqueline De Pre
- Waltz No.15 In A Flat - Dame Moura Lympany
- Romance - Piers Lane
- Pavane - Maurice Handford
- Woodbrook - Micheal O Suilleabhain
- Time To Say Goodbye - Orchestra
Tracks:
- The Four Seasons - Concerto No.1 In E 'Spring' - Yehundi Menuhin
- Dance Of The Blessed Spirits - New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Double Violin Concerto In D Minor - II. Largo Ma Non Tanto - Yehudi Menuhin
- Prelude No.7 In A Op.28 No.7 - Tzimon Barto
- Cantique De Jean Racine - MONKS AND CHOIRBOYS OF DOWNSIDE ABBEY
- The Lark Ascending - Hugh Bean
- 'Pathetique Sonata Op.13 - II. Adagio Cantabile - Leonard Pennario
- Pie Jesu - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
- Salut D'Amour - Richard Hickox
- La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin (The Girl With Flaxen Hair) - Dame Moura Lympany
- The Coventry Carol - Medeval Babes
- Pavane For A Dead Princess - New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Liebestraum No.3 In A Flat - John Ogdon
- Panis Angelicus - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
- Piano Concerto No.2 In F Op.102 - II. Andante - Dmitri Alexeev
- Agnus Dei - Peter Barley
- Symphony No.5 In C Sharp Minor - IV. Adagietto - New Philharmonia Orchestra
- My Heart Will Go On - Orchestra
Customer Reviews:
The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Eveer, Volume II.......2006-08-28
Great music listein to while you read in bed.......2005-08-21
A must buy for the non-snobbish classical music fan........2004-10-22
A bliss of spirit........2004-09-18
Joy, Tears, Love.
Good LUCK!
Boring.......2004-05-11
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25 Thunderous Classics
Manufacturer: Vox (Classical) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004Y6SQ Release Date: 2000-09-05 |
Tracks:
- Also Sprach Zarathustra (Sunrise) - R. Strauss
- Mars (The Planets) - Holst
- Overture 1812 - Tchaikovsky
- Entry Of The Gladiadtors - Fucik
- Sabre Dance - Khachaturian
- Procession Of The Sardar - Ippolitov Ivanov
- Night On Bald Mountain - Mussorgsky
- Anvil Chor (II Trovatore) - Verdi
- The Thunderer March - Sousa
- Thunder & Lightening Polka - J. Strauss
- Prelude To Act III : Lohengrin - Wagner
- The Ride Of The Valkryies - Wagner
- Montagues & Capulets (Romeo & Juliet Ballet Suite) - Prokofiev
- The Storm: Symphony No. 6 In F Major, 'Pastorale' - Beethoven
- Rondeau - Edward Carroll
- Overture: Fireworks Music - Handel
- March To The Scaffold: Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
- LesToreadors - Bizet
- William Tell Overture: Finale - Rossini
- Revolutionary Study - Abbey Simon
- Fanfare For The Common Man - Copland
- Sym No. 1 'Titan' IV Sturmisch Bewegt (Excerpt) - Mahler
- Augurs Of Spring From Rite Of Spring - Stravinsky
- Russian Dance From Petrouchka - Stravinsky
- The Great Gate At Kiev From Pictures At An Exhibition - Mussorgsky
Customer Reviews:
Good selection.......2005-10-02
thunderous applause.......2005-08-31
This is a who's-who of great pieces of music you have heard all of your life, and never knew the names and stories! I listened to it over and over in the car and had my own concert! A friend borrowed it to add music to his Home Movies and it was perfect!
Good Music at a Great Price.......2004-03-06
You will like this!.......2004-02-19
This CD is at the top of them all. They may be short, but not that short. Wondrous music.
I can almost guarantee that you will like this music.
Well worth the price!
Good for the novice.......2002-06-08
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The Most Soothing Lullabies In The Universe
Manufacturer: Denon Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0001NBNE8 Release Date: 2004-04-06 |
Tracks:
- CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 1, Larghetto
- DEBUSSY: Clair de Lune
- MANFREDINI: Concerto grosso in C, I. Largo (Pastorale)
- MOZART: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Andante
- BEETHOVEN: Moonlight Sonata, Adagio
- BACH: Goldberg
- SIBELIUS: Swan of Tuonela
- LISZT: Liebestraume
- SCHUMANN: Dreaming
- MASSENET: Meditation from "Thais"
- VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Greensleeves
Tracks:
- HANDEL-WEINER: Sicilienne
- A. CORELLI: Concerto grosso in G, Pastorale
- VERDI: "When the evening becomes peaceful"
- CHOPIN: Three Preludes
- MOZART: Clarinet Concerto in A, II. Adagio
- BRAHMS: Piano Sonata No. 3, II. Andante espressivo
- TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake (excerpt)
- MENDELSSOHN: Three Songs Without Words
- MAHLER: Symphony No. 3, IV. Sehr Langsam
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Most Romantic Classical Music in the Universe
Gabriel Faure , Felix Mendelssohn , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Fryderyk Chopin , Franz Liszt , Erik Satie , Robert Schumann , Antonin Dvorak , Gustav Mahler , Sergey Rachmaninov , Leos Janacek , Cesar Franck , George Frideric Handel , Jules Massenet , Sergey Prokofiev , Catalan Traditional , and Various Artists Manufacturer: Denon Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00011V890 Release Date: 2004-01-13 |
Tracks:
- BIZET Aragonaise from Carmen
- DEBUSSY Clair de Lune
- SAINT-SAS The Swan
- BEETHOVEN Moonlight Sonata, Adagio
- TARREGA Recuerdos
- FAURE Aprun rrie
- ,MENDELSSOHN Song without Words Op. 19 #6
- TCHAIKOVSKY Serenade for Strings, Elegia, Larghetto elegaico
- CHOPIN Ballade No. 1
- LISZT Liebestraume
- SATIE Gymnopedies No. 1
- SCHUMANN Abendlied
- MENDELSSOHN Song without Words Op. 62 #5
- DVORAK Serenade for Strings, Larghetto
- BEETHOVEN Fse
Tracks:
- MAHLER Symphony No. 5, Adagietto
- RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2, Adagio
- JANACEK Idyll for Strings, Adagio
- FRANCK Violin Sonata, Recitativo-Fantasia
- HANDEL Largo from Xerxes
- CHOPIN Etude in E Major
- TCHAIKOVSKY Swan Lake (excerpt)
- MASSENET Meditation from "Tha
- PROKOFIEV Romeo & Juliet
- TRADITIONAL Nocturne in F
- TCHAIKOVSKY Nocturne in F
- RACHMANINOFF Prelude
Customer Reviews:
very romantic to make love by.......2007-06-11
Great Mood Music.......2006-08-11
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Mahler: Symphony No. 2 / Mehta, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Gustav Mahler , Zubin Mehta , Ileana Cotrubas , Christa Ludwig , and Wiener Philharmoniker Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004TEUZ Release Date: 2000-06-13 |
Tracks:
- Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - 'Resurrection': I. Allegro maestoso - Mit durchaus ernstem und feierlichen Ausdruck
- Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - 'Resurrection': II. Andante moderato - Sehr gemachlich
- Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - 'Resurrection': III. In ruhig fliesender Bewegung
- Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - 'Resurrection': IV. Urlicht - Sehr feierlich, aber schlicht
- Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - 'Resurrection': V. Im Tempo des Scherrzo - Wild herausfahrend
- Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - 'Resurrection': Maestoso. Sehr zuruckhaltend -
- Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - 'Resurrection': Sehr langsam und gedehnt
- Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - 'Resurrection': Aufersteh'n ja auffersteh'n wirst du : Langsam, Misterioso -
- Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - 'Resurrection': O glaube, mein Herz, o glaube : Etwas bewegter
Amazon.com
"Beg to report safe delivery of a strong, healthy last movement to my Second. Father and child doing as well as can be expected." So ran Mahler's jubilant message on completion of his "Resurrection" Symphony, which after several years' painful gestation had come together in his mind with a sudden flash of inspiration. It had begun as a single-movement funeral rite, and gradually taken shape under the influence of Schubert's music, but the choral conclusion of Beethoven's Ninth was its Grail. Zubin Mehta's 25-year-old recording is a superb addition to the ranks of contending interpretations. It is lighter on its feet than Bernstein's classic version, with all the elements in Mahler's tonal landscape brought out in high relief: by turns lush, austere, grandiose, and intimate. Here is the Vienna Phil at its best, with two incomparable voices on the bridge--Christa Ludwig's steely mezzo and Ileana Cotrubas's soaring soprano. The "Legendary" on the cover is not hype: This is still as good as it gets. --Michael ChurchCustomer Reviews:
An attempt at an informed opinon.......2007-03-20
Answer: They are both on this CD!!
Ok, that said even Ileana Cotrubas can't carry this over the Klemperer/Schwazkopf recording. In my opinion (and this is probably because I was introduced to the other recording first), the tempos on this disc are too fast, and take away from the dramatic buildup that I think Klemperer does better. In the third movement the quicker tempo is nice but in the second section of the fifth movement (track six) the "swinging" of the violins for example doesn't have the same effect. Anyway you really can't go wrong with either recording, and if you think I'm a complete ignoramus, thats ok. I can see that this opinion may not be taken too well by some.
bad recording.......2006-11-11
Musically Flawless.......2006-06-03
This is one of the two greatest Mahler seconds. Here Mehta, who can often be an oddly questionable interpreter, lightens the music at just the right level, making it brilliantly unique. Instead of allowing the music to sink into itself, like most imitations of Bernstein's classic reccording.
Music has to move, it has to speak, it has to breathe..
Never has Mahler been so logically accessible and tended for. The experience gained from this recording is greatly edifying, if not spiritual.
Technically however, its not perfect: one thing that makes it somewhat lacking. Sometimes the orchestra is not really synchronized. Precision is sometimes sacrificed for Mehta's ingenious creativity. However, to me these sort of flaws just make the piece more homely and natural.
The Vienna is of course fantastic in sound. Brilliant, but deep and always resonant.
This is some masterpiece material. A truly excellent CD.
No finer Mahler recording.......2006-01-09
How did Zubin Mehta become Mr. Slick?.......2005-10-01
(I don't believe in doublng up on the same review, but I am posting this one twice--for Metha's Mahler Fifth and Mahler Second--for the purpose of comparison.)
How did Zubin Mehta move from the highly promising conductor of the Mahler Second heard on Decca with the Vienna Phil. to the veteran hack we hear on the Mahler Fifth from New York? As a student Mehta studied in Vienna, and he fully desrved to lead the Philharmonic when he recorded this "Resurrection," at the height of his populairty in L.A. But from the moment he took over the New York Phil., succeeding the controversial Pierre Boulez, he started on a decline into slick, routine, uninvolved conducting that has few highlights to redeem it.
His numerous NY Phil. recordings for CBS are essentially forgotten, and with good reason. Listen to his return engagement condcuting the Mahler Fifth, and what do you hear? Impatient, rushed tempi, blatant phrasing that dumbs down Mahler's musical intent, indifference to emotion and inner meaning, apparent ignorance of Mahler style. None of those defects exist in the excellent and idiomatic reading of the Ressurection. The gaudy brass playing in the Fifth sticks out like a sore thumb, a far remove from the brilliant and musically satisfying brass on the Vienna recording.
The other sad waste of conducting talent must be Lorin Maazel, whose superficiality and apparent boredom are equal to Mehta's. It's too bad the NY Phil. is burdened with Maazel now--no doubt they are headed into a totally forgettable era to mirror the one Mehta reigned over thirty years ago.
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Mahler: Symphony No. 4
Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000I9GF Release Date: 1999-03-16 |
Tracks:
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Bedachtig. Nicht eilen
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Tempo 1
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Wieder wie zu Anfang. Sehr gemachlich, behaglich
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Wieder plotzlich langsam und bedachtig
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: In gemachlicher Bewegung. Ohne Hast
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Nicht eilen
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Ruhevoll
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Viel langsamer
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Anmutig bewegt
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Andante
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Vorwarts. Poco piu mosso
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Sehr behaglich
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Wieder lebhaft
- Symphony No. 4 In G Major: Tempo 1. Sehr zart und geheimnisvoll bis zum Schluss
Customer Reviews:
mahler symphony#4.......2007-01-07
Not the best performance of this symphony.......2006-09-17
Amazingly fresh and vital.......2005-10-26
Because I have dissed the 1990 DG Bernstein/Wittek Mahler #4.......2004-12-01
Still one of the most musical Mahler Fourths........2004-03-23
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Mahler: The Complete Symphonies
Dame Janet Baker , Jennie Tourel , Lili Chookasian , Martha Lipton , Israel Philharmonic Orchestra , New York Philharmonic , Hans Vollenweider , Adele Addison , Dame Gwyneth Jones , Erna Spoorenberg , Lee Venora , Lucine Amara , Reri Grist , John Mitchinson , and Richard Tucker Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000589BP Release Date: 2001-01-30 |
Tracks:
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt I: Langsam. Schleppend. Wie Ein Naturlaut - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt I: Immer Sehr Gemachlich - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt I: Sehr Gemachlich - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt I: Vorwats Dragend - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt II: Kraftig Bewegt - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt II: Trio. Recht Gemachlich - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt II: Tempo Primo - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt III: Feierlich Und Gemessen, Ohne Zu Schleppen - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt III: A Tempo. Ziemlich Langsam - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt III: Sehr Einfach Und Schlicht Wie Eine Volksweise - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt III: Weider Etwas Bewegter, Wie Im Anfang - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt IV: Sturmisch Bewegt - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt IV: Sehr Gesangvoll - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt IV: Wieder Wie Zu Angang. Sturmisch Bewegt - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt IV: Sehr Langsam - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.1 in D 'Titan': Movt IV: Wieder Vorwarts Drangend - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.10, 'Adagio': Andante - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.10, 'Adagio': Andante Come Prima - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.10, 'Adagio': A Tempo (Fliessend) - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.10, 'Adagio': Measure 104 - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.10, 'Adagio': Measure 194 - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.10, 'Adagio': A Tempo - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
Tracks:
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt I: Allegro Maestoso - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt I: Sehr Massig Und Zuruckhaltend - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt I: Schnell - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt I: Tempo I - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt I: Tempo Sostenuto - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt II: Andante Moderato - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt II: Energisch Bewegt - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt II: Wieder In's Tempo Zuruckgehen. Tempo I - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt III: In Ruhig Fliessender Bewegung - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt III: Vorwarts - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt III: Zum Tempo I. Zuruckkehren - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
Tracks:
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt IV: ' Urlicht' - Sehr Feierlich, Aber Schlicht - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt IV: Etwas Bewegter - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Im Tempo Des Scherzos. Wild Herausfahrend - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Langsam - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Im Anfang Sehr Zuruckgehalten - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Maestoso - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Wieder Zuruckhaltend - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Sehr Langsam Und Gedehnt - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Langsam. Misterioso - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Etwas Bewegter 'O Glaube' - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Mit Aufschwung, Aber Nicht Eilen 'O Schmerz!' - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.2 in c 'Resurrection': Movt V: Piu Mosso 'Sterben' - Lee Venora/Jennie Tourel/The Collegiate Chor/Abraham Kaplan
- Sym No.5 in c#: IV. Adagietto. Sehr Langsam - New York PO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand', Part One: Veni, Creator Spiritus! - Adele Addison/Lucine Amara/Lili Chookasian/Jennie Tourel/Richard Tucker/Ezio Flagello...
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand', Part One: Imple Superna Gratia - Adele Addison/Lucine Amara/Lili Chookasian/Jennie Tourel/Richard Tucker/Ezio Flagello...
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand', Part One: Infirma Nostri Corporis - Adele Addison/Lucine Amara/Lili Chookasian/Jennie Tourel/Richard Tucker/Ezio Flagello...
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand', Part One: Tempo I. (Allegro, Etwas Hastig) - Adele Addison/Lucine Amara/Lili Chookasian/Jennie Tourel/Richard Tucker/Ezio Flagello...
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand', Part One: Infirma Nostri Corporis - Adele Addison/Lucine Amara/Lili Chookasian/Jennie Tourel/Richard Tucker/Ezio Flagello...
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand', Part One: Accende Lumen Sensibus - Adele Addison/Lucine Amara/Lili Chookasian/Jennie Tourel/Richard Tucker/Ezio Flagello...
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand', Part One: Qui Paraclitus Deceris - Adele Addison/Lucine Amara/Lili Chookasian/Jennie Tourel/Richard Tucker/Ezio Flagello...
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand', Part One: Gloria Patri Domino - Adele Addison/Lucine Amara/Lili Chookasian/Jennie Tourel/Richard Tucker/Ezio Flagello...
Tracks:
- Sym No.3 in d, Part One: Movt I: Kraftig. Entschieden - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part One: Movt I: Langsam. Schwer - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part One: Movt I: Tempo I - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part One: Movt I: A Tempo - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part One: Movt I: Immer Dasselbe Tempo (Marsch). Nicht Eilen - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part One: Movt I: Im Alten Marschtempo (Allegro Moderato) - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part One: Movt I: Tempo I - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt II: Tempo Di Menuetto. Sehr Massig - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt II: A Tempo - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt II: Ganz Plotzlich Gemachlich. Tempo Di Menuetto - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt III: Comodo. Scherzando. Ohne Hast - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt III: Wieder Sehr Gemachlilch, Wie Zu Anfang - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt III: Etwas Zuruckhaltend - Sehr Gemachlich - John Ware
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt III: Tempo I. Mit Geheimnisvolles Hast! - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt III: Wieder Sehr Gemachlich, Beinahe Langsam - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt IV: Sehr Langsam. Misterioso. Durchaus Ppp - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt IV: Piu Mosso Subito - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt V: Lustig Im Tempo Und Keck Im Ausdruck - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
Tracks:
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt VI: Langsam. Ruhevoll. Empfunden - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt VI: Nicht Mehr So Breit - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt VI: Tempo I. Ruhevoll! - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt VI: A Tempo (Etwas Bewegter) - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt VI: Tempo I - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Sym No.3 in d, Part Two: Movt VI: Langsam. Tempo I - Martha Lipton/Women's Chor Of The Schola Cantorum/Hugh Ross...
- Three Ruckert Songs: Ich Atmet Einen Linden Duft - Jennie Tourel
- Three Ruckert Songs: Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen - Jennie Tourel
- Three Ruckert Songs: Um Mitternacht - Jennie Tourel
- Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Das Irdische Leben - Jennie Tourel
- Kindertotenlieder: Nun Will Die Sonn' So Hell Aufgeh'n! - Jennie Tourel
- Kindertotenlieder: Nun Seh' Ich Wohl, Warum So Dunkle Flammen - Jennie Tourel
- Kindertotenlieder: Wenn Dein Mutterlein - Jennie Tourel
- Kindertotenlieder: Oft Denk' Ich, Sie Sind Nur Ausgegangen - Jennie Tourel
- Kindertotenlieder: In Diesem Wetter! - Jennie Tourel
Tracks:
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt I: Bedachtig. Nicht Eilen - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt I: Tempo I - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt I: Wieder Wie Zu Anfang. Sehr Gemachlich, Behaglich - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt I: Wieder Plotzlich Langsam Und Bedachtig - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt II: In Gemachlicher Bewegung. Ohne Hast - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt II: Nicht Eilen - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt III: Ruhevoll - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt III: Viel Langsamer - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt III: Anmutig Bewegt - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt III: Andante - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt III: Vorwarts. Poco Piu Mosso - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt IV: Sehr Behaglich - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt IV: Wieder Lebhaft - Reri Grist
- Sym No.4 in G: Movt IV: Tempo I. Sehr Zart Und Geheimnisvoll Bis Zum Schluss - Reri Grist
Tracks:
- Sym No.5 in c#: Part I: I. Trauermarsch. In Gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie Ein Kondukt - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.5 in c#: Part I: II. Sturmisch Bewegt. Mit Grosster Vehemenz - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.5 in c#: Part II: III. Scherzo. Kraftig, Nicht Zu Schnell - James Chambers
- Sym No.5 in c#: Part III: IV. Adagietto. Sehr Langsam - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.5 in c#: Part III: V. Rondo-Finale. Allegro - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
Tracks:
- Sym No.6 in a 'Tragic': I. Allegro Energico, Ma Non Troppo (Heftig, Aber Markig) - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.6 in a 'Tragic': II. Scherzo. Wuchtig - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.6 in a 'Tragic': III. Andante Moderato - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.6 in a 'Tragic': IV. Finale. Allegro Moderato - Allegro Energico - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
Tracks:
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt I: Langsam (Adagio) - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt I: Nicht Schleppen - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt I: Allegro Risoluto, Ma Non Troppo - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt I: A Tempo (Sempre L'istesso) - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt I: Subito Allegro I. Ziemlich Ruhig - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt I: Adagio (Tempo Der Einleitung) - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt I: Maestoso. Allegro Come Prima - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt II: Nachtmusik I. Allegro Moderato - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt II: Sempre L'istesso Tempo. Nicht Eilen, Sehr Gemachlich - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt II: Tempo - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt III: Scherzo. Schattenhaft, Fliessend, Aber Nicht Zu Schnell - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt III: Trio - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt III: Wieder Wie Zu Anfang (Nicht Eilen) - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt IV: Nachtmusik II. Andante Amoroso - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt IV: (Figure 197) - Raymond Sabinsky
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt V: Rondo-Finale. Tempo I (Allegro Ordinario) - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt V: Gemessen! Nicht Schnell! Tempo II (Allegro Moderato Ma Energico) - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt V: Tempo I (Halbe Wie Die Viertel Des Tempo I) - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.7 in e: Movt V: Sempre L'istesso Tempo - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
Tracks:
- Kindertotenlieder: Nun Will Die Sonn' So Hell Aufgeh'n! - Janet Baker
- Kindertotenlieder: Nun Seh' Ich Wohl, Warum So Dunkle Flammen - Janet Baker
- Kindertotenlieder: Wenn Dein Mutterlein - Janet Baker
- Kindertotenlieder: Oft Denk' Ich, Sie Sind Nur Ausgegangen - Janet Baker
- Kindertotenlieder: In Diesem Wetter! - Janet Baker
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part I: Veni, Creator Spiritus! - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part I: Imple Superna Gratia - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part I: Infirma Nostri Corporis - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part I: Tempo I. (Allegro, Etwas Hastig) - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part I: Infirma Nostri Corporis - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part I: Accende Lumen Sensibus - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part I: Qui Paraclitus Diceris - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part I: Gloria Patri Domino - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
Tracks:
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Poco Adagio - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Piu Mosso. (Allegro Moderato) - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Waldung, Sie Schwankt Heran - Leeds Festival Chor/London Sym Chor
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Ewiger Wonnebrand - Vladimir Ruzdjak
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Wie Felsenabgrund Mir Zu Fussen - Donald McIntyre
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Gerettet Ist Das Edle Glied - Leeds Festival Chor/London Sym Chor/Highgate School Boys Choir
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Jene Rosen, Aus Den Handen - Leeds Festival Chor/London Sym Chor
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Uns Bleibt Ein Erdenrest - Leeds Festival Chor/London Sym Chor
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Ich Spur' Soeben - Leeds Festival Chor/London Sym Chor
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Hier Ist Die Aussicht Frei/Freudig Empfangen Wir - John Mitchinson
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Hochste Herrscherin Der Welt - John Mitchinson
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Jungfrau, Rein Im Schonsten Sinne - John Mitchinson/Leeds Festival Chor/London Sym Chor
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Aussert Langsam. Adagissimo - LSO/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Dir, Der Uberuhrbaren/Du Schwebst Zu Hohen - Gwyneth Jones
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Bei Der Liebe, Die Den Fussen - Erna Spoorenberg
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Bei Dem Bronn, Zu Dem Schon Weiland - Anna Reynolds
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Bei Dem Hochgeweihten Orte - Norma Procter
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Die Du Grossen Sunderinnnen - Erna Spoorenberg/Anna Reynolds/Norma Procter
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Neige, Neige, Du Ohnegleiche - Gwyneth Jones
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Er Uberwachst Uns Schon - Highgate School Boys Chor
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Vom Edlen Geisterchor Umgeben - Gwyneth Jones
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Komm! Hebe Dich Zu Hohern Spharen! - Gwenyth Annear
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Blicket Auf Zum Retterblick - John Mitchinson
- Sym No.8 in E flat 'Sym Of A Thousand': Part II: Alles Vergangliche - Leeds Festival Chor/London Sym Chor
Tracks:
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt I: Andante Comodo - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt I: Etwas Frischer - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt I: Tempo I Subito - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt I: Mit Wut. Allegro Risoluto - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt I: Schattenhaft - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt I: Wie Von Anfang - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt I: Plotzlich Bedeutend Langsamer (Lento) Und Leise - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt I: Schon Ganz Langsam - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt II: Im Tempo Eines Gemachlichen Landlers. Etwas Tappisch Und Sehr Derb - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt II: Poco Piu Mosso Subito (Tempo II) - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt II: Tempo III - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt II: A Tempo II - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt II: Tempo I - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt II: Tempo II - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt II: Tempo I Subito - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt III: Rondo - Burleske. Allegro Assai. Sehr Trotzig - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt III: L'istesso Tempo - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt III: Sempre L'istesso Tempo - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt III: Nicht Eilen - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt III: Piu Stretto - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt IV: Adagio. Sehr Langsam Und Noch Zuruckhaltend - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt IV: Plotzlich Wieder Langsam (Wie Zu Anfang) Und Etwas Zogernd - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt IV: Molto Adagio Subito - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt IV: A Tempo (Molto Adagio) - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt IV: Stets Sehr Gehalten - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt IV: Fliessender, Doch Durchaus Nicht Eilend - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt IV: Tempo I. Molto Adagio - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
- Sym No.9 in D: Movt IV: Adagissimo - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
Amazon.com
For many of us, Leonard Bernstein's first Mahler cycle for CBS (compiled here, remastered and cheaper than ever) has stood the test of time since it initially came out on LP in the late 1960s. Upon completing this traversal of nine symphonies (and the "Adagio" movement from the unfinished 10th), Lenny and the New York Philharmonic achieved something no one else had and proved that Mahler was, simply put, worth recording in the first place. It's still a marvelous set of recordings that belongs in every record collection.Using the same budgeted design as on their (surprisingly pricey) Original Jacket series of box sets, Sony has unleashed a true bargain here: 12 CDs that average a little over five bucks a pop. Lenny's second cycle for Deutsche Grammophon may boast greater sonics, plenty of wonderful moments, and the complete song cycles, but it costs more than twice as much. Here, we get a younger Lenny, sounding fresh and expressive and delivering still-unparalleled interpretations of the First, Third, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth, and pretty great performances of the rest. The intensity on these discs is infectious and the price can't be beat. A must-have. --Jason Verlinde
Customer Reviews:
Groundbreaking but partly outdated.......2007-03-26
How do these recordings stand today? The interpretations of the third, fourth, and seventh are very fine, even exceptional, and, despite their age, the recordings are sonically impressive as well. NYPO plays marvellously. The seventh, in particular, is a reference disc.
The remaining recordings are not really for the desert island, however. The fifth, for instance, is very unsuccessful and badly recorded too. Bernstein's later account on DG is clearly an improvement. The same holds for the second symphony, which you also find on DG in a later, much improved and moving interpretation. But here we have also a crowded field of classic performances, such as Klemperer's second (EMI) and Walter's fifth (SONY). Both are preferable to Bernstein's recordings, old or new.
The first, sixth, eight and ninth are quite good but not exceptional. No one beats Kubelik's first (DG). Mitropoulos (BMG Great Conductors) and Barbirolli (EMI) own the sixth. The eight - well, here we have Horenstein (BBC) and Mitropoulos (Orfeo) as classic, first choices. And for the ninth, Ancerl (Supraphon), Barbirolli (EMI), Klemperer (EMI) and Walter (SONY) sound far more attractive and fresh than Bernstein's mannered account.
If you're a collector this box is of course essential - regardless all critical considerations. But if you just look for an excellent and consistent Mahler box, go for Gary Bertini's cycle on EMI, which you get for a super-bargain price. It's a contemporary and future classic.
Thus I recommend a pick of individual Bernstein SONY CDs: the third, the fourth and the seventh. Add his fifth and second from his DG recordings, and his 1966 Das Lied von der Erde (Decca). These recordings are what I take to be the "essentials" of the Bernstein Mahler legacy.
Outstanding Mahler Compilation.......2007-01-29
Leonard Bernstein just express the true passion that Mahler put on his work. It's incredible that (using the 8ve Symphony as an example) with fewer instruments than in the Abbado version, the feeling is even better. Simply outstanding.
Great price, great compilation. Lot of Mahler.
Bernstein or Tennstedt: read on...........2006-07-12
No. 1 Bernstein. More poetic and earthy than T and my very first choice out of the dozens of others I've heard.
2 Bernstein. Simply the greatest Mahler 2; T is earthbound by comparison.
3 Tennstedt. Actually this is a tougher one to decide as B is marginally better in the first movement and he produces the best sixth movement of any version I've heard. Overall T has it, partly due to the excellent sound quality.
4 Overall B is better but there are so many points of comparison to take into consideration that it's a tough one to decide. T has the better soloist in the finale. My far-and-away first choice in the Fourth is Horenstein on EMI/CfP.
5 Tennstedt. Bernstein's CBS Fifth was the weakest link. However, Rudolf Schwarz (Everest) produces the very finest Fifth:
I always maintain that you can tell pretty much straight away when a Mahler conductor gets it right and Schwarz gets it 100%
6 Tennstedt. From the angry crunching heavy tread of the opening through to the nightmare ending, this is a very dark view of the Sixth, but it works. Barbirolli on EMI is my definite first choice in the Sixth. Bernstein's quick-march approach sounds like parody.
7 Bernstein. Nobody has produced a better Seventh and probably never will. T's version is very good though and I think he out-performs all other competition.
8 This one is the hardest of all to separate, but in the end I opt for Bernstein as his version as the feel of a live performance and the recording is almost as good as T's digital one.
9 Bernstein. Again my favourite version. T's weakest link of his whole set.
So Bernstein scores more points, but take into account the generally better sound of the Tennstedt set (especially in nos. 3,5,6) and things are evened up slightly. My advice overall? Go for both sets; at the asking prices you will have a superb Mahler Symphonies collection which will last you a lifetime. But don't forget those other versions of 4, 5 and 6. A point about sound quality: most of the above are analogue recordings, made many years ago, but across the board they are in almost every way superior to most modern digital ones (though to be fair one or two are not so great). I have a very good stereo system which reproduces very neutral sound; what goes in at the CD player end comes out unchanged at the loudspeaker end and so what I hear is the 'real thing'. For example Bernstein's 2 is stunning. One of the very best is the oldest of them all - Schwarz's Fifth, made in 1958. Maybe the art of recording has been replaced by science (and not for the better)? In the final analysis, to my mind the above versions render most of the rest of the Mahler symphonies discography redundant and surplus to requirements.
Comparing the two Bernstein Mahler cycles.......2006-06-27
Cycle #1:
By general consensus the performance of Sym. #3 is one of the glories of this cycle and perhaps the most inspired Mahler condcuting Bernstein did on disc. It has all the freshness of discovery--LB was new to Mahler in 1961. Sony's 20-bit remastering makes the original analog sound quite good. In fact, there's no need to fear the sound quality of these NY Phil. recordings, none of which are bad. Expect the deep sound stage and wide stereo separation that Columbia Records favored at the time.
Bernstein also put his stamp on Sym. #7 in such a way that no one would ever hear it the same again. Previously, 'The Song of the Night,' as this work was dubbed, had almost no life either on disc or the concert stage (a Mahler champion as prominent as Bruno Walter never performed it). Not only did LB prove that this was coherent music, he made an unforgettable drama out of the Seventh. This is his signature recording of the work.
Two other great performances stand out: Sym. #2 and #4, each rendered with amazing imagination and a huge range of emotions. The accusation that LB went over the top in the Second is unjustified--he is often tender and delicate--but there's no doubt that he takes an apocalyptic view of the finale. Whatever you think about his approach, he single-handedly revolutionized the way that the Resurrection Sym. was played. In Sym. #4 the classic recording was by Bruno Walter, but LB added more depth, imaginaiton, and excitement. Lyric soprano Reri Grist has come in for a good deal of criticism in the vocal finale, but I think she fits beautifully into LB's overall conception.
In the middle of the pack, as it were, we get LB's readings of Sym. #1 and #9. He went on to conduct greater readings of both works, especially the Ninth. In person LB's First was a real showpiece, but somehow Sony's sonics are not up to the conductor's vision. In the cse of the Ninth, the NY version would qualify as an outstanding performance if there weren't so many truly great ones from Karajan, Bruno Walter, James Levine, and Barbirolli, among others. Bernstein himself would add two of the greatest, both on DG.
I find a few problems wiht Sym. #5, #6, and #8 in the first cycle. For many critics all three are great recordings. For some reason, I have never warmed up to either of LB's versions of Sym. #5, where for once he does manipulate and exaggerate to the point that the spirit of the work seems lost in histrionics. Sym. #6 is too brisk in the first movement to let the music expand to its visionary potential, and in the other movements Bernstein seems less expressive than he could be. The Eighth is unmathced in the excitement and joyousness of Part 1, and for some listeners the whole symphony remains on that exalted level. I find that LB is too studied in Part 2, and my attention wasn't held. He does elicit very beautiful singing and playing, however. It should be noted that this performance is with the London Sym. and a host of fine English singers.
To the end of his life Bernstein resisted Deryck Cooke's completion of the Tenth Sym., agreeing to conduct only the shattering Adagio. which Mahler had essentially finished in full score. Bernstein's reading with the NY Phil. is one of the most searing accounts this magnificent fragment has ever received, equaled by his later live reading with the incomparable Vienna Phil.
Cycle #2:
It should be said right off that DG's digital sonics are in a different league from what LB got in New York. Even though several venues were involved (Vienna, Amsterdam, New York), and many recordings were under live concert conditions, the DG engineers triumphed. They favor closer mike posiitons, solo highlighting, and a vivid sound stage compared to their predecessors in New York. As to the interprettions, with a few exceptions--the most prominent being Sym. #6--Bernstein did not drastically change his views from the first cycle, and in some cases the readings feel almost identical (Sym. #2 and #7, for example).
The most interest centers on the works where LB clearly outdoes his younger self. At the top of the list I would put Sym. #6 and #9. In the former he achieved one of the classic Mahler reacordings of the modern era. His Sixth has slowed down by 2 min. in the first movement, giving the music room to expand properly. The Andante is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. The finale is an explosion of genius on Mahler's part that LB resonates with perfectly. Almost the same can be said of the Ninth, where the conducting reaches deeply moving areas of expression. The finale is drastically slow (as is Levine's, to similar devastating effect), which some critics find excessive. But it's a truism that no tempo is right or wrong; everything depends upon being drawn into the world of the music. LB achieved a great Ninth but would surpass himself with a live performance from Berlin in 1979, also on DG.
Almost as great is Sym. #1, which on DG receives a flawless performance packed with excitement. I'm not sure that LB's reading actually changed, but the superlative sonics and the spine-tingling playing of the Concertgebiuw weren't matched in New York.
The next thing to ask is where Bernstein fell short of his earlier versions. The Sym. #2, #3, and #4 from New York were one of a kind, representing LB's early and most exciting explorations of Mahler's world. Their counterparts on DG are also strong, but I don't think they rise to the heights he achieved earlier. The only sharp criticism I have is with the use of a boy soprano in the finale of the Fourth; musical as he is, a boy is too undeveloped to capture what Mahler intended. It should be said, however, that if the earlier NY versions didn't exist, these would be outstanding performances.
I feel much the same about Sym. #7, where LB's first recording set a standard that only two or three rivals have come close to, but his DG remake, which was a return to the NY Phil. in oncert from Lincoln Center(as are Sym. #2 and #3), feels fractionally less overwhelming. It's in better sound, however. The one symphony I can't compare is the Fifth, which doesn't satisfy me in either cycle. The DG version with the Vienna Phil. convinces many listeners, and some critics call in unsurpassable, but I am not on its wavelength.
That leaves Sym. #8, which Bernstein didn't live to record for commercial release. DG reached into its vaults for a live 1975 radio tape from Vienna, and although it has flaws in execution, including some rough singing in Part 2, LB's conducting is superlative, more ocmpelling than his version from London. Paired with this symphony is a 1974 reading of the Adagio from Sym. #10, also with the Vienna Phil. As you'd expect, it's an inspired, searing reading, just like the NY version.
How ot sum up? If money were no object, I'd own both cycles for the pleasure of Bernstein's unqiue inspiration. If I had to pick and choose, I'd take Sym. #2, #3, and #4 from New York, Sym. #8 from London, and the rest form the DG cycle.
Mahler complete symphonies........2006-02-24
Average customer rating:
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Mahler: Symphony No. 2
Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000NA20LO Release Date: 2007-05-29 |
Customer Reviews:
A straight-faced reading but very good sound.......2007-07-01
As to the interpretation, I don't know what the two earlier reviewers are heaing that is dazzling, new, and exciting. This Mahler Second is almost faceless. Zinman provides somewhat faster tempos, but is that all one can base a Mahler recording on? In terms of emotional depth and dramatic richness, there's very little here. I've always considered Michael Tilson Thomas to be a superficial Mahler conductor, but he's Furtwangler compared to zinman. Sheer virtuosity cana't carry the day because the Zurich Tonhalle doesn't have it. It saddens me to think that there is an audience out there for "mahler lite," a betrayal of this great artist's intentions as surely as a Rembrandt comic book.
Homerun for Zinman.......2007-06-21
Right from the start Fisher does something I don't like. At the beginning of the first movement the score calls for a wild upsurge from the bass section where the basses accelerate. This happens three times in the first movement. Fisher slows way down and then speeds up to achieve this affect - Rattle and Blomstedt also do this. To me it sounds terribly mannered and ruins the very affect Mahler asked for. Zinman, to his credit, does not employ this mannerism and the first movement sounds much better for it.
In the second movement Fisher tries his hand at rubato but it doesn't sound convincing. MTT also does this but manages to pull it off better. Zinman is more subtle and achieves more coherence without sounding stiff. Also, the timing is about 10:30, not 11 as stated by the previous review. The third movement is diabolical in Zinman's hands, played at a flowing tempo but with all the right decisions.
Zinman puts the fourth movement across better than Fisher for two reasons. First, I don't care for the excessive vibrato from Fisher's Contralto. Zinman's Contralto sounds better to me even though she is miked a bit closely. Second, Zinman allows us the hear the wonderful brass chorale in the beginning, where Fisher's brass chorale is very low and subdued. I suspect he has the brass play from a distance or off stage. Maybe the score calls for this but I prefer the chorale to be loud enough so I can at least hear the dam thing. Most conductors play the chorale the same way as Zinman.
In V both recordings are excellent and I think it's a toss up. Fisher's ending may be a touch more cataclysmic but I don't care for his Soprano. I also find Fisher's off stage instruments are too far away and too difficult to hear. Zinman's perspective is better but his percussion is not always as loud as Fisher. But this is really a matter of taste. Zinman does just about everything extremely well and gives us a beautiful ending. At the end of the day I prefer Zinman, but both performances are fine.
Very nicely done........2007-06-01
Zinman's sudden decrescendo on the symphony's very first note - a string tremelo - might make you think that this is going to be a lightweight presentation of Mahler's gargantuan "Resurrection" symphony. But you'd be deceived in thinking that, as Zinman pours on dazzling brilliance with his bright cymbals and trumpets at the symphony's first ugent climax. This is the real deal. So; that being the case, let's jump to what matters most: the finale's ending.
The dueling mezzo and soprano - Anna Larsson and Juliane Banse - work very well together on their tutti passage, if also a tad operatic sounding. When we get to the unison choral proclamation of "aufverstehen" (rise up), we get plenty of organ peddle, just as Mahler indicates. Best yet, when the chorus cuts out, we get more organ peddles and plenty of deep bells (played ad lib., as opposed to the spare interjections that Mahler wrote out). These are very nice sounding bells!!! - a refreshing change. At the very end, you can hear the alternating salvos from the high and low pitched tam-tams (large orchestral gongs), but not quite as much as on Ivan Fischer's excellent performance on Channel Classics. Still, this is a very well balanced and well nuanced ending with plenty of heft and excitement to go around.
Everything else in the finale is as exciting and driven as it should be too. My one and only complaint with the fifth movement, is one that I have for more than half the recordings of Mahler 2 out there! At the final climax of the long march episode, Mahler writes a series - five in total - of quick strokes on the deep tam-tam that accompany the trumpets. These five rapid strokes are followed up by three interspersed ones. Well; as is so often the case, you simply can't hear them. This may seem like a minor point, but just listen to how much more effective this very same passage is on the underrated Leonard Slatkin recording (Telarc). But beyond this, I have no complaints. At "geschlagen" (to strike), the unison bass drum and cymbal strokes lift you right out of your chair, just as they should. All in all, this is a fine presentation of the long finale, with no excess dragging in the slower, quieter passages that dominate so much of its landscape.
Anna Larsson is excellent in the fourth movement, if also a bit more hushed and rapt sounding than usual. I'll take it, so let's move on (backwards).
At nearly 11 minutes with the second movement, and closer to 10 minutes with the scherzo, Zinman is a tad slower with the second movement than I care for, and a tad faster with the scherzo than I like too - I wish those numbers were flip-flopped. But the musicality involved is never in question, as the four major sections of the orchestra are very well balanced: strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion. The harps are also more front and center than they usually are too. In the second movement, Zinman does a marvellous job of hamming it up at that remarkable passage for pizzicato strings, harps, and piccolo flute (my favorite section in the entire symphony, other than the ending).
Although Ziman's scherzo is rather fast and fleet, he still get his clarinets - among others - to shape their phrasing with lots of crescendos and decrescendos. One passage that does fall somewhat flat, is the one where the four trumpets suddenly begin serenading back and forth to each other (accompanied by harps, arpeggiated strings, and trilling flutes). But the scherzo's main climax has plenty of heft, if also wanting just a tad in explosive power. Overall, I prefer the slower than normal tempo that both Klemperer and Ivan Fischer use for this movement. But Zinman still manages to plow up more fertile ground here than Boulez (DG), who truly just skated upon the surface in his scherzo movement (very odd). Zinman also makes the most of Mahler's wooden sounding col legno markings (hitting the strings with the wooden back of the bow). All of this brings us back to where we started: the first movement, which is a microcosm of the numerous moodswings Mahler conjures up throughout the symphony.
Simply stated, I like Zinman's first movement. He stears a course that's between Walter's strict classicism (if such a thing exists in Mahler), and Bernstein's "live for the moment", overt romanticism. At the central climax, Zinman is quite clear in dealing with its dense textures and rhythmic polyphony (dissonant trumpets; descending strings; suspended cymbal crescendo), with plenty of heft at the orchestra's fortissimo, unison octave jump (descending, accompanied by two bass drum strokes) that cap this passage, and lead back into the recapitulation. You may have heard one or two central climaxes that are more powerful, but few that are as well balanced and just plain musical sounding. I alo like the strict, mentronomic tempo that Zinman keeps during the movement's final funereal procession - there's no rushing into that last climax (capped with a ringing gong stroke).
Until now, I've been focusing on what happens in this recording in the most musical and objective means that I can muster. After all, how one reacts to what they hear is always a personal matter. At this point, it's difficult to make "best ever" type proclamations when so many outstanding recordings already exist. All I can tell you is that this is yet another really fine presentation of Mahler's eternal "Resurrection" symphony. Let's face it, we're really spoiled for choices when it comes to the Mahler symphonies. For that, let's be thankful. Now bring on Zinman's Mahler 3rd - I'll bet it's going to be next to outstanding.
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Mahler: Symphony 2
Gustav Mahler , Isabel Bayrakdarian , Lorraine Hunt Lieberson , Michael Tilson Thomas , and San Francisco Symphony Manufacturer: San Francisco Sym ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0006A9F5A Release Date: 2004-11-09 |
Customer Reviews:
Hunt-Lieberson and symphony's ending steal the show.......2006-12-27
In the final analysis, although the mezzo is nowhere as good, I just feel that the Blomstedt/SFSO M2 flows better from begining to end. I also like the stronger organ and firmer sounding chorus. MTT's strange tempo anomolies grow tiresome upon repeated listening too. If you want to hear darn near everything done right in this large and multi-faceted work, I recommend the recent Ivan Fischer/BFO Mahler 2nd on Channel Classics. If a more historical perspective is your interest, you can't beat Walter or Klemperer - especially his live stereo one from Munich with Janet Baker.
OH MY GOD!.......2006-06-19
The performance and recording of the massive work are massive, phenomenal. I have LOTS of recordings of this piece, and I've listened to each and every one of them LOTS and LOTS. Mahler is a God to me. He (and Bruckner) got me through my teenage-years... This performance is special. There is so much power, SO much beauty, SO much intensity, SO much care taken... I've never heard such ferocity (and irony, and agony, and ecstacy) in the first movement, such delicacy (and verve) in the second and third movements, and as for the last movement -- hot damn, son of a gun -- the things Michael Tilson Thomas does with it are just spectacular.
This is my favorite, my absolute favorite. Please give it repeated listenings. There are so many rewards in store for you.
Mahler 2-wow !!.......2005-10-24
Absolutely Thrilling.......2005-05-19
The symphony begins with an arresting funeral march in dark minor. The stirring of the low string in fff is frightening as they call together the whirling activity. The movement is in sonata form, with a double development, each capped of with terribly exciting climaxes. The lovely andante is calming in its gentle swing, but is still filled with the passion of the first movement. The enigmatic scherzo, with its wonderfully vertiginous orchestration, is a dark compilation of Jewish melodies. The lovely forth movement, with its wonderful vocal writing, acts as an introduction of sorts to the dramatic and gigantic finale. The finale is a vivid journey through darkness and adversity, leading to the wonderful glory drenched ending of the symphony.
There are few faults in this consistently splendid recording of the symphony. The San Francisco Symphony is in great form, delivering a performance congruous with Mahler's idiomatic sound world. The first movement begins with tremendous energy; the lower strings really dig into their parts with the necessary vehemence. Thomas's tempo is a bit slower than usual - however, he uses the tempo to judiciously draw out aspects of the score. At times, tension sags due to heavy rubatto, but overall, the good outweighs the bad: the orchestra really delivers a dark, rich sonority; the dichotomy between the dark and light episodes is accentuated effectively; the final climax before the recapitulation has never been bettered; and Thomas immediate transition into the recapitulation after the climax maintains a great deal of tension, eliminating the awkwardness of the moment. All in all, this is not only Thomas' best conception of a sonata-form movement within the cycle, but it also stands up handsomely to the competition, including Bernstein's recording on DG, which also suffers from slow tempos and slackening tension.
The second movement goes well enough. The strings sing their part warmly, offering a plush sound which is remarkably lovely - even if it is somewhat at odds with the rustic charm of the dance. Thomas indulges his penchant for rubato in excess ever so slightly - a tighter grip would have improved this otherwise wonderful movement.
The scherzo, however, hangs fire. There are too many wonderful moments here to highlight but of particular note are the droll clarinets, Thomas's wonderful transition into the trio, and the magnificent "cry of despair" which captures the all dread and intensity frighteningly well. The clarity of texture, not to mention the top-to-bottom perfection of ensemble, is a joy.
And then there is the Urlicht, one of the finest on disc, so faithfully performed by the late Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Never has a voice so rich, so powerful, yet so sensitive graced this movement. She draws the text from the score masterfully, highlighting all the correct emotions, while imbuing the lied with a gravitas that never sounds forced. Thomas's sensitive accompaniment only adds to this gem, this brief dream before the onslaught of the finale.
The finale is uniformly spectacular, from the opening Bb minor outburst to the final "resurrection" in Eb. All offstage effects register with immaculate clarity, the various marches all embody the correct character, the orchestra really digs into their parts, delivering the vile sounds of purgatory with utmost character while expertly contrasting that with true visions of heaven. The entrance of the chorus is hair-raising and Hunt Lieberson is just as fine here as ever. Isabel Bayrakdarian, however, is a bit more problematic. Her small voice and quick vibrato do not suite the music well, keeping her vocal line stubbornly earthbound when transcendence is so necessary. However, her part is small and is easy to overlook when compared to the closing passages, where Thomas really creates a "resurrection." Expertly paced, perfectly balanced, and magnificently captured, the final passages are astoundingly powerful, carrying a great deal of tension and gravitas. Thomas may not revel in this music like Bernstein, who really plods through the final passages, but allows this conclusion to arrive naturally, creating a thrillingly satisfying close to this symphony. A magnificent installment in the ongoing series and a highlight in the discography of Mahler seconds.
On a side note, I think it is important to discuss the nature of the sound of the San Francisco Symphony in these recordings. The winds are quite lively, playful, at times even coquettish. The brass is rich, powerful, but not overbearing. The percussion, especially the bass drum and tam tam (wow), is astoundingly powerful. The strings have a bright sheen, but deliver some of their darkest timbres on disc here. Regardless, the real matter of interest in this recording is what is being said. Michael Tilson Thomas is quite well versed in Mahler and there is a profundity of incite here. There is no such thing as definitive when it comes to a Mahler performance. This recording, however, comes remarkably close.
The final performance was the greatest.......2005-03-05
I have not heard this disc because I want to keep that memory pristine in my mind. The disc, I understand, was edited from several performances (and a member of the chorus told me there was a patch session after the last performance). I just hope they took much of it from Saturday...and I wish they allowed me to buy that performance (complete with the idiot making noise backstage in the 1st mov't) separately, so I could relive it.
I hope this disc is a shadow of what I experienced that night. I honestly have never heard MTT do anything even close to that, and I'm there all the time.
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