New Mahler releases

[Barbirollians]

You have obviously heard it through mahlerei . I also think very highly of his Second Symphony - a very transparent performance of the piece and refreshing . Not quite competitive with the Jurowski though in my book which is up there with Walter , Barbirolli and the live Klemperer for me.

[Mahlerei]

Mark Wigglesworth in Mahler 10 (Cooke):

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4163345

[John Skelton]

Mark Wigglesworth in Mahler 10 (Cooke):

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4163345

That's interesting, thanks Mahlerei. Of recent Mahler recordings I've heard I've been very impressed by the Jonathan Nott/Bamberg 'cycle'. He's often different without being mannered; just a fresh & attentive perspective. And I love the sound of the orchestra, which does seem to have a kind of 'Bohemian' quality - pleasantly woody woodwind. The first movement of the 5th has a dreamlike quality I found very interesting. And the 9th is excellent - he allows the music to do its own thing without ever coming across as bland or routine. I've not heard 2 & 3, though will when finances permit.

[Nick Armstrong]

That's interesting, thanks mahlerei. Of recent Mahler recordings I've heard I've been very impressed by the Jonathan Nott/Bamberg 'cycle'. He's often different without being mannered; just a fresh & attentive perspective. And I love the sound of the orchestra, which does seem to have a kind of 'Bohemian' quality - pleasantly woody woodwind. The first movement of the 5th has a dreamlike quality I found very interesting. And the 9th is excellent - he allows the music to do its own thing without ever coming across as bland or routine. I've not heard 2 & 3, though will when finances permit.

John, great to have a new voice in these corridors of culture

I completely agree about Nott. I don't buy many new Mahler recordings as I have too many, but I did invest in the Nott/Bamberg No 9 and you put your finger right on why it's special. The orchestral sound may not be as sumptuous as others but it has real character and texture, as you say

[Colonel Danby]

Surely, Alison, Rattle's new Resurrection can never be on a par with the old CBSO recording with Dame Janet Baker and Arleen Auger?

[Petrushka]

Surely, Alison, Rattle's new Resurrection can never be on a par with the old CBSO recording with Dame Janet Baker and Arleen Auger?

And neither are on par with the Rattle/CBSO farewell concert from Aug 30 1998 at which I was present. This was broadcast on Channel 4 directed by Humphrey Burton with a later audio relay on R3. WHY has this never been made commercially available?

[Bryn]

http://www.buywell.com/cgi-bin/buywellic2/afly.html?mv_arg=15591

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes, this Cologne Resurrection is wonderful, the more so for being so far off the beaten track!
There's also a Mahler 3 on ICA with Mitropoulos in Cologne, in excellent mono from 1960, 1st movement very straight and direct, but a rich vein of fantasy and characterisation thereafter, a flowing and urgent finale a la Horenstein, c/w a North-Sea style La Mer...
Mitropoulos had a heart attack during the Mahler 3 1st movement, but kept going, finished it (!), and came back against duty Doctor's orders to complete the performance after the interval! He died a few days later, rehearsing the 3rd again at La Scala.

It seems almost as much a legacy as Kondrashin's 1981 NDR Mahler 1.

I took that Rattle reading live last year from Berlin DCH, found it a bit underwhelming until the last 10 minutes...
look, don't want to spoil it for anyone, make up your own mind..

but anyway, ICA's Cologne Radio Broadcasts, Mahler and whatever else, looks a fascinating venture!

If you mean the ICA release of Steinberg conducting Mahler 2, it's in fact with the Cologne Radio SO. I listened to it yesterday and was very plesantly surprised - and deeply impressed: it's a rather thrilling performance, and the 1965 stereo broadcast sound is excellent.

Is there a Boston performance with him as well? If so, I'd be interested to hear that too :)

[Stanley Stewart]

#126 Fortuitously, Petrushka, I transferred my off-air video of SR's Farewell Concert, "Arrivederci Brum" to DVD last weekend. The recording, directed by Humphrey Burton, was shown on C4/6 Sept '98 and it still has a tremendous impact. Consequently, I now have a sharper picture with improved sound, on DVD, and much better than 'modern' technology has given us over the recent season of BBC Proms. The warmth and affection of the occasion still touches the heart and even the 15 min intro by Howard Goodall is light years ahead of the celeb sound-bites we get today. SR's anecdotes were also quite pithy. Adrian Boult wrote to him reminding Rattle that when he, in turn, was appointed as conductor of the CBSO, in 1926, he was promised a new concert hall to replace the Town Hall and hoped that SR would be more successful in his quest! SR was 24 years of age when he took up his appointment and Goodall asked him how he felt in the first few days. "I just wanted to survive until the weekend", he retorted. I've also searched my own memory. The first time I saw SR conduct was at a concert performance of "The Threepenny Opera" with the London Sinfonietta, on a sweltering night at Sadler's Wells, in the hot summer of 1976. They were positioned on a rostrum, on-stage, and the coloured shirts of the Sinfonietta set-the-scene perfectly. A few years later, he brought the CBSO to the RFH with Mahler 2, with Mozart's Sym 28 as an opener. He commented that the RFH acoustic almost made him lose the will to live after a half-hour rehearsal. Ironic, that the main work was the Resurrection Symphony! In the early 80s, he opted for the QEH for his complete Sibelius symphonic cycle with the CBSO and I also recall a performance of Poulenc's, "La Voix humane" - Elisabeth Soderstrom in stunning form.

I agree; the Symphony Hall performance of Mahler 2 is in a class of its own and the import of the occasion hasn't lost the feeling of something rather special. The opening titles with a silhouette of Rattle conducting over several Brum landmarks, including the Bull Ring, of course, is also a model in the use of graphics. The end titles include an NVC Arts logo although I've never seen a video/DVD release, over the years.

In an indulgent mode, I always enjoy seeking a partner/s to complete a DVD. Eventually, I opted for the 2011 Proms performance of the Verdi Requiem (Prom 13) with a welcome appearance of Semyon Bychov as conductor - and the 25 seconds of silence at the conclusion was a fitting tribute. There's also a theatrical thread, alongside Mahler 2, which makes this an ideal partner. The availability of This Is Your Life/Sybil Thorndike -in full flow - on a 1960 video recording completed a juicy trio on DVD.

I'm rather envious of anyone who attended the "Farewell" and trust that you have your own recordinging on video. If not, please pm me and I'll be happy to send a DVD compilation (as above) with my compliments.

[Petrushka]

#126 Fortuitously, Petrushka, I transferred my off-air video of SR's Farewell Concert, "Arrivederci Brum" to DVD last weekend. The recording, directed by Humphrey Burton, was shown on C4/6 Sept '98 and it still has a tremendous impact. Consequently, I now have a sharper picture with improved sound, on DVD, and much better than 'modern' technology has given us over the recent season of BBC Proms. The warmth and affection of the occasion still touches the heart and even the 15 min intro by Howard Goodall is light years ahead of the celeb sound-bites we get today. SR's anecdotes were also quite pithy. Adrian Boult wrote to him reminding Rattle that when he, in turn, was appointed as conductor of the CBSO, in 1926, he was promised a new concert hall to replace the Town Hall and hoped that SR would be more successful in his quest! SR was 24 years of age when he took up his appointment and Goodall asked him how he felt in the first few days. "I just wanted to survive until the weekend", he retorted. I've also searched my own memory. The first time I saw SR conduct was at a concert performance of "The Threepenny Opera" with the London Sinfonietta, on a sweltering night at Sadler's Wells, in the hot summer of 1976. They were positioned on a rostrum, on-stage, and the coloured shirts of the Sinfonietta set-the-scene perfectly. A few years later, he brought the CBSO to the RFH with Mahler 2, with Mozart's Sym 28 as an opener. He commented that the RFH acoustic almost made him lose the will to live after a half-hour rehearsal. Ironic, that the main work was the Resurrection Symphony! In the early 80s, he opted for the QEH for his complete Sibelius symphonic cycle with the CBSO and I also recall a performance of Poulenc's, "La Voix humane" - Elisabeth Soderstrom in stunning form.

I agree; the Symphony Hall performance of Mahler 2 is in a class of its own and the import of the occasion hasn't lost the feeling of something rather special. The opening titles with a silhouette of Rattle conducting over several Brum landmarks, including the Bull Ring, of course, is also a model in the use of graphics. The end titles include an NVC Arts logo although I've never seen a video/DVD release, over the years.

In an indulgent mode, I always enjoy seeking a partner/s to complete a DVD. Eventually, I opted for the 2011 Proms performance of the Verdi Requiem (Prom 13) with a welcome appearance of Semyon Bychov as conductor - and the 25 seconds of silence at the conclusion was a fitting tribute. There's also a theatrical thread, alongside Mahler 2, which makes this an ideal partner. The availability of This Is Your Life/Sybil Thorndike -in full flow - on a 1960 video recording completed a juicy trio on DVD.

I'm rather envious of anyone who attended the "Farewell" and trust that you have your own recordinging on video. If not, please pm me and I'll be happy to send a DVD compilation (as above) with my compliments.

Many thanks for your generous offer and the memories prompted by my post. As it happens, I'm pleased to report that I successfully transferred my own VHS recording to DVD some time ago. Some of my viseotapes haven't worn well and are unplayable but this one has come up fine. I'll keep your offer in mimd should anything untoward happen to my copy.

[Alison]

Here's an interesting one

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4163082

[Barbirollians]

I see that the Pappano 6 is now to be released in the UK very soon. Should be fascinating .

I continue to fall for the Jurowski 2 and Nott 3 at present.

[Petrushka]

I see that the Pappano 6 is now to be released in the UK very soon. Should be fascinating .

I continue to fall for the Jurowski 2 and Nott 3 at present.

Pappano isn't the first name that springs to mind in connection with Mahler and I wonder if there is a track record to give some clue. I would want to see some reviews and comments from forum members before taking the plunge. I would hate to think a bandwagon was being climbed on or that EMI were indulging in a gimmick issue but I remain to be convinced especially when it's this of all symphonies.

I see that Salonen's Philharmonia performance of the 6th is also about to be issued.

[Nick Armstrong]

the Pappano 6

Wow !!

[Mahlerei]

Received this intriguing SOMM release today. Anyoen heard it?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lieder-fahrenden-Gesellen-Chamber-Ensemble/dp/B00518BHQC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1320278362&sr=1-1