Horenstein's CFP Mahler 4 I bought and loved at university but I knew nothing else of his Mahler until a few years ago when I got his Unicorn Mahler 1 when it appeared as a freebie in the dying days of Classic CD magazine and really enjoyed it . Recently , I obtained a secondhand copy of the BBCLegends Eighth a performance that is so marvellous that one can understand now the extraordinary impact it apparently made .
On then to the famed Mahler 3 which also seems to me to live entirely up to its reputation with so much contrast and " rightness" about it with the terrific Norma Proctor thrown in for good measure .
Last night I listened to the live Stockholm Mahler 6 - the recording sounds just a little distant and there are occasional bits of slight distortion and crackles which seem to be something to do with the original recording . It strikes me as another great performance though - a steady if not quite Barbirolli tread , a far from overblown but quite the scariest recording of the Scherzo I have heard and just terrifically paced Andante and Finale though I think Barbirolli still has the edge in intensity for me here .
What I have found so rewarding in Horenstein's recordings in that although they are so different from other favourites of mine in particular Walter and Barbirolli they seem to convey all the emotional charge of the works without underlining whilst by no means seeming cool as to my ears Haitink , Karajan and even the early Abbado recordings have to me .
The only Mahler record of his I have found a comparative disappointment was the much praised Das Lied von Der Erde on BBC Legends - although it is good I found it a bit over praised the worthy soloists being no match for Ferrier/Patzak for example .
What is your favourite Horenstein Mahler ? And if you don't like it why ?
On then to the famed Mahler 3 which also seems to me to live entirely up to its reputation with so much contrast and " rightness" about it with the terrific Norma Proctor thrown in for good measure .
Last night I listened to the live Stockholm Mahler 6 - the recording sounds just a little distant and there are occasional bits of slight distortion and crackles which seem to be something to do with the original recording . It strikes me as another great performance though - a steady if not quite Barbirolli tread , a far from overblown but quite the scariest recording of the Scherzo I have heard and just terrifically paced Andante and Finale though I think Barbirolli still has the edge in intensity for me here .
What I have found so rewarding in Horenstein's recordings in that although they are so different from other favourites of mine in particular Walter and Barbirolli they seem to convey all the emotional charge of the works without underlining whilst by no means seeming cool as to my ears Haitink , Karajan and even the early Abbado recordings have to me .
The only Mahler record of his I have found a comparative disappointment was the much praised Das Lied von Der Erde on BBC Legends - although it is good I found it a bit over praised the worthy soloists being no match for Ferrier/Patzak for example .
What is your favourite Horenstein Mahler ? And if you don't like it why ?
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