Mahler 4 VPO/Walter Hilde Gueden 1955 a heads up

[Barbirollians]

Having always struggled with Desi Halban in Walter's old studio Mahler 4 I was interested to come across on the river people's site a live recording issued on DG in the early 1990s.

This was part of a 12 CD set also available separately of live recordings to celebrate 150 years of the VPO.

I thought it was worth a punt and am bowled over by it - Gueden is excellent too . The VPO play wonderfully and there is also a very good live Prague symphony .

I am rather baffled that this has not been reissued but there are still copies going very cheaply on Amazon one for £3 plus p and p.

I couldn't recommend it more highly - sound is not bad either .

PS looked it up on Gramophone archive and am pleased to see RO rated it very highly in Feb 1992 even comparing it in quality to the Ferrier/Patzak Das Lied of 1952! not quite sure I would go that far but can hear what he means.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Coupled with a zippy Mozza Prague, too - though this not as marvellously successful as the Mahler. I see to my astonishment that I haven't played this since 7th February, 1992!!! Long overdue for a listen, so thanks for the nudge, Barbs!

In fact that collection (which I bought in individual instalments over the year - £9 each) contains many fabulous Live performances: Furtwangler's "best" Beethoven 9; Karajan's Bruckner 9; Klemperer in Schubert (at the end of which a member of the audience sighs "Schöne!" very audibly) and Beethoven; Krauss in an unusual coupling of the Missa Solemnis (showing the pre-HIPP tradition at its very finest) and the Pulcinella Suite (worth hearing only to demonstrate how rubbish this orchestra used to be outside its regular repertoire); Böhm in a Schönberg P&M, which - had it been in stereo - would still be a world-beater; a double album of Great Conductors in Music by the Strauss family; Lennie in Haydn & Ravel (not as good as his studio versions). I think i'll treat myself to a week or so on holiday in Vienna over the next few days.

[HighlandDougie]

It is also included in:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dclassical&field-keywords=wiener+philharmoniker+175th+anniversary+edition&rh=n%3A697386%2Ck%3Awiener+philharmoniker+175th+anniversary+edition

which I got cheap when Amazon France was doing one of its countdown sales. It's a lovely performance of the Mahler.

[Petrushka]

I, too, have the Gueden/VPO/Walter and, like ferney, haven't played it for many years. I do remember it as a very fine performance so will find time to play it again soon.

The real jewel in that VPO anniversary set, though, is the 1976 Bruckner 9 with Karajan. It is by far my favourite version of the work and deserves much wider currency. Superlative playing from the VPO in a Salzburg concert that was relayed live on R3 and I vividly remember it. One for the desert island!

[gurnemanz]

Very many thanks for pointing to this recording. It''s on YouTube and I listened through my amp. I've been a fan of Hilde Gueden since I first heard her voice about 50 years ago via an L.P of Strauss songs on Decca Age of Clubs with Friedrich Gulda on piano.

[Beef Oven!]

I, too, have the Gueden/VPO/Walter and, like ferney, haven't played it for many years. I do remember it as a very fine performance so will find time to play it again soon.

The real jewel in that VPO anniversary set, though, is the 1976 Bruckner 9 with Karajan. It is by far my favourite version of the work and deserves much wider currency. Superlative playing from the VPO in this live Salzburg concert. It was broadcast live on R3 and I vividly remember it. One for the desert island!

Petrushka, is that Karajan B9 available outside the box set?

[Cockney Sparrow]

I think this is it **

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000025BIB/?coliid=I2RHVPG6PXKW18&colid=1NORPX3RTMDTM&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

ASIN: B000025BIB

**I haven't bought this (I'm restraining my Bruckner purchasing at the moment - I have more than enough, really, in various full symphonies sets, etc).

[Petrushka]

I think this is it **

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000025BIB/?coliid=I2RHVPG6PXKW18&colid=1NORPX3RTMDTM&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

ASIN: B000025BIB

**I haven't bought this (I'm restraining my Bruckner purchasing at the moment - I have more than enough, really, in various full symphonies sets, etc).

Yes, that's the one. Ignore the ludicrous nonsense of the second review.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes, that's the one. Ignore the ludicrous nonsense of the second review.

Deranged, isn't it! It is a great performance - end of! Recorded, IIRC, the day before/after the video performance that is also available and wowfactorful. Either/both essential additions to anyone's Bruckner collection (no matter how large ) or to get somebody's Bruckner collection started, for that matter.

(Also in that series was a Bruckner #5 from Suricht, that I forgot to mention earlier - not as "essential", but a damn fine performance from a damn fine conductor at the top of his game.)

And - to display Hostly balance - one of the very very greatest performances of the Brahms Second, from Furtwangler, who brings out the shadows in this "sunniest" of works better than any other conductor, (only Abbado matches him in this respect) making the chiaroscuro more extreme and the glorious conclusion all the more exultant.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wien-Philarmonic-150th-Anniversary-Furtwangler/dp/B00002577I

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh - and played the Mahler/Mozart disc yesterday (26 years on!) - the Mahler is every bit as marvellous as Barbi says, and as fine as I'd remembered.


(I'm far less keen on the "Reader's Digest" Mozart.)

[gurnemanz]

I was moved by this thread to listen again to the Hilde Güden 2CD Nimbus compliation. A delight from beginning to end. Even the Ivor Novello/Noel Coward renditions which might well not have been up my street are irresistible.

[Keraulophone]

Thanks for this heads-up.

How does it compare with the M4 from the 1950 Salzburg Festival with VPO/Irmgard Seefried?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Overture-Symphony-Irmgard-Seefried/dp/B003V4RK1O/ref=sr_1_14?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1531391053&sr=1-14&keywords=mahler+walter

[Barbirollians]

Sorry I have not heard that one.

Unlike fhgl I really rather like the recording of the Prague.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Unlike fhgl I really rather like the recording of the Prague.

Oh, but with such wonders-full Music, and such beautiful playing, don't you wish it could go on longer? Without the repeats, the Finale here is under three minutes! It's like being naked with somebody beautiful, only for them to say "It'll have to be a quickie - I've got to catch a bus in five minutes".

Just played Knappertsbusch's Schubert 7/8/9 (D944). Fabulous performance, particularly the first two Movements - some bouts of "interpretation" in the last two that require some indulgence - but throughout, an astonishing clarity from the inner voices, which really sing out without ever obscuring either the hauptstimmen or the underlying bass line. Remarkable Music-making.

[cloughie]

Oh, but with such wonders-full Music, and such beautiful playing, don't you wish it could go on longer? Without the repeats, the Finale here is under three minutes! It's like being naked with somebody beautiful, only for them to say "It'll have to be a quickie - I've got to catch a bus in five minutes".

Unlike the Maag Prague which lingers longer and is more fulfilling!