The Best Mahler 3?

[Petrushka]

To my utter astonishment I have managed to accumulate 25 versions of this symphony with a further two on DVD!!

I'll edit in a list of them all later on when I have more time for those who are interested in this prime example of 'collection bloat'. For now, though, I will say that my prime recommendation is without a shadow of doubt the Berlin PO and Bernard Haitink. There are several examples (Rattle and Solti among them) who are quite superb for over 90 minutes then blow it all away in a speeded up sprint to the finishing line thus ruining the overwhelming momentum that builds up. Why some conductors do this is a mystery to me because Haitink in all his versions, but especially with the BPO, judges the tremendous final climax to overwhelming perfection making us realise that everything has been leading up to that moment.

I was present at the BPO/Haitink Barbican performance on September 27 2004 and it was one of the greatest concert hall experiences I've had. His recording is the one to go for.

Edit: For those interested here are my 25 versions some of which may now be difficult to find:

BPO/Haitink
Concertgebouw/Haitink (1966)
Concertgebouw/Haitink (live Christmas Day 1983)
Chicago SO/Haitink
BPO/Abbado
VPO/Abbado
Philharmonia/Zander
NYPO/Bernstein (1961)
NYPO/Bernstein (1987)
NYPO/Boulez (live 1976)
VPO/Boulez
Concertgebouw/Chailly
LSO/Horenstein
Chicago SO/Solti
Czech PO/Neumann
BRSO/Kubelik
CBSO/Rattle
LPO/Tennstedt (1979)
LPO/Tennstedt (live 1986)
Concertgebouw/Jansons
Cologne RSO/Bertini
Chicago SO/Levine
Halle/Barbirolli
BBCSO/Boult
LSO/Gergiev

DVD's are:

VPO/Bernstein
Lucerne FO/Abbado

[HighlandDougie]

The 18 versions should be 21 shortly as I have been seduced by the enthusiasm for Gielen, Levine and Haitink/BPO. I heard Haitink with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Edinburgh Festival which was a wonderful experience: his later Chicago SO recording was a bit of a letdown so I'm looking forward to hearing the BPO recording. Ah, the joys of Amazon Marketplace ...

[makropulos]

To add just one more to the terrific suggestions, Honeck with the Pittsburgh SO on Exton blew my socks off a few months ago when I heard it. It's certainly one I'd suggest trying - though Bernstein (first recording), Abbado (Lucerne), Haitink and Tennstedt (both live) are the ones I probably listen to most often.

Has anybody mentioned Martinon and the Chicago SO? An exciting live performance was issued in a Chicago SO box a few years ago.

[richardfinegold]

I've been listening to this one a lot recently: it's nudging its way to the top of my list of favoured Mahler symphonies.

These are the recordings I own:

Bernstein (1961/1987)

Haitink (1966)

Tennestedt (1979)

Solti (1984)

Bertini (1980s)

I've just ordered Abbado's recent (ish) BPO recording, too.


Which recording do you rate highest, of these or others?

I second the Bernstein
add MTT/SFSO, Abbado/Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Horenstein/LSO

I recently heard Rattle and Birmingham for the first time. Impressive, just a bit short of the top rank

[AjAjAjH]

Glad to see someone's mentioned the Barbirolli. It's old but it's a bit special. BBC LEGENDS

[Petrushka]

To add just one more to the terrific suggestions, Honeck with the Pittsburgh SO on Exton blew my socks off a few months ago when I heard it. It's certainly one I'd suggest trying - though Bernstein (first recording), Abbado (Lucerne), Haitink and Tennstedt (both live) are the ones I probably listen to most often.

Has anybody mentioned Martinon and the Chicago SO? An exciting live performance was issued in a Chicago SO box a few years ago.

Honeck and Nott look like numbers 26 & 27 for me.

[BBMmk2]

This is what I have heard so far: Berliner Philharmoniker/Abbado; Concertgebouw/Haitink; CBSO/Rattle

[richardfinegold]

Honeck and Nott look like numbers 26 & 27 for me.

I worked in a record shop as an Undergrad in the 1970s. At the time the only ones we carried were Haitink and Solti. Back then, those represented the two polar extremes of Mahler interpretation for me.
Petrushka, I forgot if you had Abbado/Lucerne in your collection. The Posthorn is the best of any recording that I own. In multi channel it really coveys the "far away" effect. The camera on the Blu Ray scans the rafters of the auditorium. Very effective.

[Petrushka]

I worked in a record shop as an Undergrad in the 1970s. At the time the only ones we carried were Haitink and Solti. Back then, those represented the two polar extremes of Mahler interpretation for me.
Petrushka, I forgot if you had Abbado/Lucerne in your collection. The Posthorn is the best of any recording that I own. In multi channel it really coveys the "far away" effect. The camera on the Blu Ray scans the rafters of the auditorium. Very effective.

Tes, I do have that DVD. Moreover, I was present at the 2007 Prom that Abbado and the Lucerne FO gave just 3 days before the one on DVD. A great performance and an unforgettable evening.

[VodkaDilc]

No-one has mentioned Tilson Thomas with the LSO and Janet Baker. Perhaps it's no longer available.

[richardfinegold]

No-one has mentioned Tilson Thomas with the LSO and Janet Baker. Perhaps it's no longer available.

It is listed by Arkivmusik.

[VodkaDilc]

It is listed by Arkivmusik.

It's excellent (It has Dame JB - what more need I add?)

[akiralx]

Nott and Boulez are v good, as is Segerstam. My top choice is the Czech PO under Kobayashi on Exton - a favourite on the Mahler forum.

[Thomas Roth]

Many great recordings around. Levine, Tennstedt, Abbado... and I quite like the LAPO-Mehta on Decca.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

and I quite like the LAPO-Mehta on Decca.

Yes, so do I: I bought it after an IPO/Mehta Proms performance back in about 1982-3 (the only time I've heard the work Live). Wouldn't recommend it as "the best" version, though.