Mahlerites: Heads up and opinions needed!

[squonk76]

Okay,
so hello to everyone...I had no idea where to place this thread so anyone who digs Mahler might want to jump in on this one. Mahler's Symphony no. 2...intense! Do you prefer Zubin Mehta's reading from Decca in 1975 or the second cycle Berstein did in the eighties? This symphony is a mind blower. After hearing Berstein's Mahler no. 6 with Vienna Phil, a piece of music that has been one of the few in recent memory to make me stop dead in my tracks. Anyway, what is your favorite Mahler. Not a tech discussion...just fun.

[fongi]

All Mahler is superb in my book, and it´s good to have someone start a thread that is truly more interesting than talking about Hans Zimmer !! My favourites have to be Symph 1 & 3 :D

[kape]

Anyone remember Gilbert Kaplan who used to travel the world conducting Mahler 2 in the early nineties? I thought his recording was quite good. My favorite Mahler recording is the one I was brought up with, symph nr 4 conducted by George Szell with soprano Judith Raskin:)

[bmiranda]

As fongi said is great than someone started this thread, especially because Mahler is my favourite composer.

All music from Mahler is great but my favourite symphonies are the 8th, 5th and 9th.

I already listened to live performances of the 9th, 6th, 5th, 4th and 1st. I would love to listen to a live perfomance of the 8th but unfortunately is difficult to find one (maybe because the production costs are very high).

Kape, I have that recording from Kaplan's 2nd. It comes with 2 cd's ( one of them with some Mahler pictures) and with the full score (although a magnifying glass is needed to read some parts!).

Regards,
Bruno

[squonk76]

Bruno,
Have you listened to Sir George Solti's recording of the the eigth symphony as recorded with the Chicago Symphony in 1971. Greeeeaaaaaat recording...it will knock the teeth through the back of your head. And yeah its 1971 but it sounds great. If there's the passion and the vibe then all the SACD/DVD surround goodness won't make a difference. When its good its good.

[fongi]

I was just thinking, if Mahler (Painter) is his name translated, lived today in L.A. and wrote film scores there would be some incredible music going around don´t you think ?

Just a little historical info for all Mahler freaks, Adolf Hitler loved Mahler´s music in addition to Wagner of course, however, Hitlers side kicks did not want to dissappoint their leader in anyway so they hid the fact from him that Mahler was a jewish composer.

[bmiranda]

Bruno,
Have you listened to Sir George Solti's recording of the the eigth symphony as recorded with the Chicago Symphony in 1971. Greeeeaaaaaat recording...it will knock the teeth through the back of your head. And yeah its 1971 but it sounds great. If there's the passion and the vibe then all the SACD/DVD surround goodness won't make a difference. When its good its good.


Nope, never heard that recording but I will definitely have to listen it.

One of my favourite recordings is from Bernard Haitink with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. It's an ADD recording but sounds great!
I also have a 10 DVD pack with all the symphonies (and Das Lied Von Der Erde) performed live and conducted by Bernstein. It's a must!!
Here is the link: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6990282

Cheers,
Bruno

[bmiranda]

By the way, there's a nice mailing list about Mahler and related late romantic composers. You can find it here: http://listserv.uh.edu/archives/mahler-list.html

[benwalken]

Bruno,
Have you listened to Sir George Solti's recording of the the eigth symphony as recorded with the Chicago Symphony in 1971. Greeeeaaaaaat recording...it will knock the teeth through the back of your head. And yeah its 1971 but it sounds great. If there's the passion and the vibe then all the SACD/DVD surround goodness won't make a difference. When its good its good.


I think the same recording was also used for scoring (Death in Venice "1972"), I'm not 100% sure, I might be wrong.

fongi, I've heard that historical fact as well, and even Mahler himself converted to Roman Catholicism to avoid the political tension.

As for the question I would go for Bernstein's.

[V o n h ö g e n]

Mahler's Symphony no. 2...intense! Do you prefer Zubin Mehta's reading from Decca in 1975 or the second cycle Berstein did in the eighties? This symphony is a mind blower.

What about Oskar Fried's interpretation of 1923? The recording has been reissued on CD by Pearl and is a real curiosity for anyone who is interested in Mahler. It was the very first recording of a piece by Mahler, so that makes it very special! Fried was a friend of Mahler, by the way.

Jerome

[iMartin]

I was just thinking, if Mahler (Painter) is his name translated, lived today in L.A. and wrote film scores there would be some incredible music going around don´t you think ?

Just a little historical info for all Mahler freaks, Adolf Hitler loved Mahler´s music in addition to Wagner of course, however, Hitlers side kicks did not want to dissappoint their leader in anyway so they hid the fact from him that Mahler was a jewish composer.

Yes but Mahler abdicated from his jewish belief to be able to work as the principle conducter in Vienna.
Have you seen the film about Mahler´s life. It´s crazy, expressionistic but wonderful at the same time.:cool:

[gljm99]

The next time you sit down to listen to Mahler, and are a cook or can get someone to make this for you, you might want to enjoy a piece of this cake. The recipe was handed down by Wolfgang Rose who was Mahler’s nephew with the assurance that it was Mahler’s favorite dessert !!!


2 eggs , separated, at room temperature
1/4 lb butter at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 ½ cups flour
2 tsps baking power
3/4 cup of heavy sweet cream
1 tsp vanilla
Pealed apples, sliced 1/4 “ thick (about 5 medium apples)
1 tsp lemon juice
½ cup sugar flavored to taste with cinnamon (about 2 tsps)

Cream egg yolks and butter, Add sugar.
Blend in flour and baking power with the sweet cream.
Add vanilla and lemon juice.

Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry , add some of the beaten egg whites to the other
mixture to lighten it , then fold in the rest.

Pour into a buttered shallow baking pan about 9" (I use a spring form pan it’s easier to remove
the cake )

Place the sliced apples on top of the batter and cover them with the sugar and cinnamon
mixture.

Dot the top with some butter

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit 176 calceus for about 50 to 55 min


I like the Bernstein and the dvds are well worth the money .

[Randall Flagg]

I love Mahler :D Resurrection (2nd) is awesome ,but my favorite would be Fifth and its fuc*ng amazing "Adagietto".

I'm gonna have some Mahler before bed time tonight :D

[Randall Flagg]

Yes but Mahler abdicated from his jewish belief to be able to work as the principle conducter in Vienna.
Have you seen the film about Mahler´s life. It´s crazy, expressionistic but wonderful at the same time.:cool:

And what film would that be?

[iMartin]

It´s by Ken Russell, the same guy that did The Who´s rockopera "Tommy"

http://imdb.com/title/tt0071797/

[Randall Flagg]

It´s by Ken Russell, the same guy that did The Who´s rockopera "Tommy"

http://imdb.com/title/tt0071797/

Thanks for this ,gonna check it out...

[JCL]

I may have posted this before, but it's worth repeating. Here's a bunch of (mostly) amateurs playing and singing better than they ever thought they could, when challenged by a Master and a Masterpiece. Enjoy! http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.asp?showID=9439

[JCL]

BTW, I have the complete Mahler performed by The Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly conducting. Awesome!

[dubaifox]

I have several recordings of Mahler 2. I just bought the new re-release of Bernard Haitink on video too, but have not watched it yet.

The Bernstein/NY Recording is frickin' absolutley mind blowing.

This is an example of a conductor and orchestra completely on the same wavelength at the peak of their form. His interpretation is daring (if controversial) but also fresh and very logical. Beautifully recorded too!!

This is one of a handful of recordings I consistently recommend to people or give as a gift.

I think it is my #1 favorite recording of all time.