Best Mahler Cycle - In Terms of Sound Quality ONLY?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If there were a "Stupid Cassette Side Changes" competition, the original issue of Bernstein's Tristan & Isolde would be a leading contender. The last two minutes of Act Two was put on the next tape - after a THREE-minute "wind-off"!!!!

[Bryn]

... what many consider to be the premier Mahler orchestra of all time.

Ah yes, the Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Ah yes, the Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.

Certainly a better Mahler orchestra than quite a few other pretenders to that title.

[richardfinegold]

I have the MTT/SFSO in SACD, the Abbado/Lucerne on Blu Ray, and the Concertgebou Blu Ray cycle with a different Conductor per work.
I also have two of the Zinman SACDs and Chailly SACD for the 3rd and the Zander 5th and 7th in SACD.
I also have Karajan 5 remastered for Blu Ray Audio. I have Abravanel/Utah on DVD-A, and those may be available for download in High resolution
I prefer SACD sound to DTS, so that would eliminate the Blu Rays right there. The Karajan is the exception, extremely impressive, but it isn't a complete cycle. Of the SACDs that I have heard the MTT is hard to beat and I enjoy the performances as being equal to any others regardless of format. the Abravanel sounds mighty fine as well and might be worth investigating.
The first Bernstein cycle remastered sounds so much better than thye original lps they might as well be different performances, and would be my Redbook CD cycle of choice.

[Nick Armstrong]

One symphony short of a cycle, the Macal / Czech Philharmonic symphonies (minus No 8) on the EXTON label must merit mention here.

I see makropoulos mentioned their work with Honeck / Pittsburgh in a few Mahler symphonies above.

Well, the Czech almost-cycle takes a lot of beating.

http://www.sa-cd.net/search/mahler+macal

I have No 7 playing at the moment - the performance, interpretation, playing and recording are all superlative.

Sonically, beyond any DG or EMI or Decca or Philips recording of Mahler I know.