Best Mahler Cycle - In Terms of Sound Quality ONLY?

[Bryn]

I'd go along with this. Most Mahler sets have splits at irritating moments (that between the fifth and sixth movements of the Third is the only one I find musically damaging) but at the asking price it's a minor inconvenience.

The splitting of the 3rd anywhere other than after Part 1 (i.e. between the first and second movements) is a real bugbear of mine. It makes one wonder whether those responsible have any knowledge of the work.

[mathias broucek]

I once came across a 2nd with the split after Urlicht....

[HighlandDougie]

Delivered with commendable speed by Amazon, I've been much enjoying the Sinopoli cycle. The earlier issues were recorded in Watford Town Hall; the later ones in All Saints, Tooting (clearly a favoured recording venue for GS, as evidenced by the recently-lauded Cavalleria Rusticana). All Saints church acoustic gives the sound an attractively warm bloom but, if I'm being nit-picky, it can get a bit congested in tutti so, in my view, not up there with Zinman or Gielen as the "best-recorded Mahler cycle" but, more importantly, musically, definitely among the more compelling cycles (and the recordings are still pretty damned good). The 3rd is particularly fine (no wretched hinaufziehen, either).

Great that it's available so cheaply, although the, "never mind the quality, feel the width", approach to cramming the music onto the 12 CDs and its concomitant odd splits of symphonies across individual discs is still minorly irritating. For the money, it's probably the best value Mahler cycle out there in terms of quality of performance and recording (and I haven't forgotten Lenny in New York).

[Cockney Sparrow]

H-Dougie, I've just listened to Pt 1 of the Mahler 8 this afternoon. Good performance and performers, and Sinopoli's interpretation is up there with Colin Davis (IIRC) and Solti - i.e. doesn't pull the piece about as to tempi/other respects (or, if he does, its in a way that seems just right for this piece (which I try at all costs to attend when performed**).

And I was wondering where it was recorded - can you say? (And if so, many thanks). The booklet in my Eloquence set doesn't go so far as those
details....

**I imagine this thread will be visited by detractors of the 8th symphony. To which I say, I'm glad there are such people. Live performances must make a thumping loss, and its difficult enough to get tickets when it is performed, for those who do appreciate the piece.....

[HighlandDougie]

And I was wondering where it was recorded - can you say? (And if so, many thanks). The booklet in my Eloquence set doesn't go so far as those
details.....

All Saints, Tooting

[pastoralguy]

I once came across a 2nd with the split after Urlicht....

For me, that was one of the (many!) advantages of cd. To this day, I can't hear 'Heldenleben' without expecting a split. Mind you, my dad had a very early DG cassette tape of Karajan and the Berlin Phil. that had a split in the middle of the second movement!

[Petrushka]

For me, that was one of the (many!) advantages of cd. To this day, I can't hear 'Heldenleben' without expecting a split. Mind you, my dad had a very early DG cassette tape of Karajan and the Berlin Phil. that had a split in the middle of the second movement!

I still can't hear Heldenleben or, for that matter, Alpensinfonie without mentally jumping up from my chair to change sides at the appropriate moment. I have an LP of Beethoven's Pastoral (Leipzig Gewandhaus/Konwitschny, Fontana label) that had a side-change in the middle of the peasant's merry-making and I still mentally mark that as well, even in the concert hall!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If it's about sound quality, then there's only one set worth considering: Chicago SO/Solti - Decca at their brilliant best.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I still can't hear Heldenleben or, for that matter, Alpensinfonie without mentally jumping up from my chair to change sides at the appropriate moment.

Where's "your" Alpine side change?

I have an LP of Beethoven's Pastoral (Leipzig Gewandhaus/Konwitschny, Fontana label) that had a side-change in the middle of the peasant's merry-making and I still mentally mark that as well, even in the concert hall!

Now that puzzles me. My dad had that same Fontana 10 inch issue and had the last 3 movements on side 2. Was yours a 12 inch LP with an extra item?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Now that puzzles me. My dad had that same Fontana 10 inch issue and had the last 3 movements on side 2. Was yours a 12 inch LP with an extra item?

I suspect Pet is talking about this version - a 12-inch version with no fill-up and a side break in the middle of the Peasants' Merry-Making!

https://www.discogs.com/Beethoven-Ingeborg-Wenglor-Ursula-Zollenkopf-Hans-Joachim-Rotzsch-Theo-Adam-Leipzig-Radio-Choir-Leip/release/5853381

[Petrushka]

I suspect Pet is talking about this version - a 12-inch version with no fill-up and a side break in the middle of the Peasants' Merry-Making!

https://www.discogs.com/Beethoven-In...elease/5853381

Yes, that's the one! Coupled with the 9th which I played to death circa 1970. Have the complete cycle on CD now, of course.

[Petrushka]

Where's "your" Alpine side change?

I don't have a score to hand otherwise I might give you a figure number but it's in 'On the Summit' and it does actually sound like a natural break...for a split second. I think most LP's had the side break at the same point. Kempe's Dresden version and BPO/Karajan certainly did.

We've wandered a bit off-topic. Perhaps we ought to have a 'Stupid LP Side Changes' thread?

[Barbirollians]

I have never quite understood being obsessed by sound quality - if the recording is good enough not to get in the way of the music that is good enough for me . I should much rather listen to Bruno Walter's CBS Mahler 1 than one or two of the slick modern versions I have sampled .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Perhaps we ought to have a 'Stupid LP Side Changes' thread?

The winner of that would surely be Konwitschny's Alpine Symphony, where the LP is turned over at the Kempe/Karajan point, only to be returned to a couple of minutes earlier on side 2. Imaging having to climb to summit twice - quite Pythonesque. The CD editors were clearly confused, so did a sound dissolve - quite dreadful!

But I'm sticking with Decca/Solti for the best recorded Mahler cycle, especially the 8th, recorded in Vienna's Sofiensaal,

[Conchis]

If it's about sound quality, then there's only one set worth considering: Chicago SO/Solti - Decca at their brilliant best.

I'd say Chailly on Decca is probably even better soundness - later period digital recordings (so not so fierce) and a complete 10th symphony (if you like that sort o thing). Also, what many consider to be the premier Mahler orchestra of all time.