Mahler Tennstedt

Mahler’s Resurrection has been much recorded in recent years, so much so that new versions prompt one to groan inwardly and mutter: ‘Not another one’. Such ubiquity has its price, for any newcomer has to be something out of the ordinary if it’s to have any impact. Of recent releases David Zinman (Sony-BMG), Jonathan Nott (Tudor) and James Levine (Orfeo) definitely belong in this category; Vladimir Jurowski (LPO) and Markus Stenz (Oehms) manifestly don’t. And now Oehms are taking another bite out of the cherry, with the Hamburg orchestra led by their chief conductor Simone Young. Curiously, this was recorded at around the same time as the Stenz Mahler 2, which seems extravagant in this already overstocked field.

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Daniele Gatti
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 296 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans | RS links
Publisher: RCA Red Seal/BMG | Recorded: 1997 | Published: 1998

It is a reading with a uniquely radiant atmosphere and one that I would urge you to add to your collection even if your instinct is to trust to grander symphonic visions and bigger names. - DSG, The Gramophone
It is a worthy contender and I recommend it. - Tony Duggan

This is a taut, dense Mahler 6, missing all the angst that one finds in the recordings of Bernstein or Tennstedt. But this "tragic" symphony is much less frantic than his others, and Dohnanyi's interpretation, so similar to Szell's with the Cleveland Orchestra, is the way I feel the symphony ought to be played. This ranks in my top three or four Mahler 6, along with Abbado Berlin, Karajan, and Szell.

These recordings were made by Erato shortly before Barenboim took over as musical director at Chicago and were hailed at the time as the best possible foretaste of the partnership. Until recently they were available on Warner’s mid-price Elatus label but, despite the strong recommendations which they received in that form, such is the economic pressure of the times that they have now been further reduced to the budget-price Apex label.

You will probably be as incredulous as I was to learn that the greatest cycle of Mahler symphonies comes not from any of the usual suspects - Abbado, Bernstein, Chially, Haitink, Kubelik, Rattle, Sinopoli, Solti, Tennstedt - but from the unsung Gary Bertini, who spent the better part of his career as music director of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra. Unlike any of those more publicized sets, each of which includes a misfire or two, Bertini is consistently successful from first to last; his performance of each of these works can stand comparison with the very best available.

The LPO Live label already boasts one Eighth – Tennstedt, live in the same venue in 1991 – worthy of a place at the summit of the Eighth’s discography. Now it has a second.

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G major – Edith Mathis, soprano; Berliner Philharmoniker; Herbert von Karajan
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 238 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: DGG/Universal | Recorded: 1987 | Published: 1990

…Such playing (though if I'm to be hyper-critical I don't care for some of the solo-violin playing), such excellent recording balance and, above all, such conducting, Karajan at his most relaxed and winning, making all the humorous and fantastic points in the score with such affection. - The Gramophone

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 4
Edith Mathis (sop); Berliner Philharmoniker; Herbert von Karajan
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 226 Mb | FLAC+LOG+M3U+Cue | Full scans | 2 RS links
Publisher: Deutsche Grammophon DG (E) 415 323-2GH

…Such playing (though if I'm to be hyper-critical I don't care for some of the solo-violin playing), such excellent recording balance and, above all, such conducting, Karajan at his most relaxed and winning, making all the humorous and fantastic points in the score with such affection.
The Gramophone

Gustav Mahler - Symphonie Nr.1 (NDR-Sinfonieorchester - Kirill Kondrashin)
Classical | EAC | FLAC, IMG+CUE, LOG | Covers | 1CD, 263 MB
Label: EMI | Catalog Number: NDR 10062 | TT: 48'18''

The last recording of Kirill Kondrashin. It was made in the very day of his death. He was invited to replace Klauss Tennstedt, who had refused to conduct in Amsterdam. After only a half-hour rehersal Kondrashin managed to pass his own specific view of the score to the orchestra and the concert had a great success.