Mahler expanding my cd collection

[MrBear]

Thinking I have recovered from the aniveriries and am wanting to get more Mahler particularly Bernstein Klemperer Chailly and wondering about Szell and which additional Walter to go for Excuse me if this post is a bit rambling but have been really ill

What thoughts does anybody have on the Mahler by these conductors

I already have at least four versions of each symphony already on cd

I am definitely getting the Bernstein box with Nypo
Not sure about Dg as already have 3,4,5,6
doesn't help that there seems to be three different sets avliable
Are any of the other none dg cbs/sony Bernstein cds worth getting?

Really enjoyed Szells Das knaben wunderhorn one of my favourite cds and the lp I have of 4 doesn't seem to be much else avliable

I also want to get more Walter what is worth getting and are there any that are best avoided bad transfers etc I have the Columbia cbs/sony 1,2 & 9
Cbs cds of 4 & 5
decca and Naxos versions of same recoding Von der Erde and currently listening to 4 that was on through the night a while ago Concertbegouw with Schartwkopf great stuff

[Bryn]

Re. Szell's Mahler, there should be a live 6th around (Sony).

[visualnickmos]

This is the 6th - worth every penny - a great recording of a live performance, though you'd never think so - no coughs, bangs, etc.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_st?keywords=szell+mahler&qid=1388952317&rh=n%3A229816%2Ck%3Aszell+mahler&sort=price

Buy now, is all I will say.

[Barbirollians]

Agree that the Szell 6th is a splendid account . I love Bernstein's DG 7th .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Soory to hear you've been ill, MrB, and hope you fully recover soon.
The Mahler #4 is available ('tho' second-hand is a considerably cheaper option!):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Symphony-Lieder-fahrenden-Gesellen/dp/B000026FK5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388953200&sr=8-1&keywords=szell%2C+mahler+4

(And, yes, the Live #6 is magnificent)

Klemperer is available as a recently-ish refurbished and bargain-priced boxed set:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Symphonies-Das-Lied-Erde/dp/B00BK40QO0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388953489&sr=8-1&keywords=klemperer+mahler

... the Ninth here is superb; the Seventh - not so!

[jayne lee wilson]

Wh not try Kondrashin with the Leningrad Phil/Moscow Phil? KK may give you a few shocks but he's never dull! No 2 or 8, but the gorgeously-accoutred Melodiya box (William Blake/Alfred Roller etc) has outstanding versions of 1,4,5,6,7. 3 and 9 are remarkable too, but suffer from dynamic compression. Want to pick off separates? Try 6 and 7 in Leningrad. Or else there's later versions of No.1 (the "legendary" NDR live one in Amsterdam, EMI, Kondrashin died later the same evening...) and 6 with the SWR on Hanssler. It's all good!

[Barbirollians]

If you want truly individual Mahler conducting I should also strongly recommend Barbirolli especially in the Second with Stuttgart ( EMI), Third in Manchester (BBC legends), Fifth( EMI) Sixth (EMI and Testament ) Seventh (BBC Legends ) and Ninth (EMI with the Berlin PO - a stunning account )

[Nachtigall]

If you want truly individual Mahler conducting I should also strongly recommend Barbirolli especially in the Second with Stuttgart ( EMI), Third in Manchester (BBC legends), Fifth( EMI) Sixth (EMI and Testament ) Seventh (BBC Legends ) and Ninth (EMI with the Berlin PO - a stunning account )

You are a caution, Barbirollians! You should have been Glorious John's PA or concert agent. Or perhaps you were? I have fond memories of him at the Cheltenham Festivals in the late 50s and early 60s.

Anyway, to return to the subject - I too am writing from my sickbed - I agree absolutely about the Szell 6th. And let's not forget that wonderful 7th by Michael Gielen with the BPO on Testament. Who was it who introduced us to that excellent performance and recording?

[Barbirollians]

You are a caution, Barbirollians! You should have been Glorious John's PA or concert agent. Or perhaps you were? I have fond memories of him at the Cheltenham Festivals in the late 50s and early 60s.

Anyway, to return to the subject - I too am writing from my sickbed - I agree absolutely about the Szell 6th. And let's not forget that wonderful 7th by Michael Gielen with the BPO on Testament. Who was it who introduced us to that excellent performance and recording?

I never saw barbirolli conduct being a toddler when he died . His Mahler conducting is some of the most deeply felt I have ever heard . The Rome Ninth I have missed out recommended by ams - is equally superb.

[gurnemanz]

Really enjoyed Szells Das knaben wunderhorn one of my favourite cds and the lp I have of 4 doesn't seem to be much else avliable

Szell Wunderhorn with Schwarzkopf and Fischer-Dieskau was one of my first stereo LPs. I remember it sounded fantastic even on our not great first stereo equipment. I haven't played it for quite a while and should probably grab the CD.
I also like the version with Christa Ludwig and Walter Berry and Bernstein accompanying on the piano.

[LaurieWatt]

Thinking I have recovered from the aniveriries and am wanting to get more Mahler particularly Bernstein Klemperer Chailly and wondering about Szell and which additional Walter to go for Excuse me if this post is a bit rambling but have been really ill

What thoughts does anybody have on the Mahler by these conductors

I already have at least four versions of each symphony already on cd

I am definitely getting the Bernstein box with Nypo
Not sure about Dg as already have 3,4,5,6
doesn't help that there seems to be three different sets avliable
Are any of the other none dg cbs/sony Bernstein cds worth getting?

Really enjoyed Szells Das knaben wunderhorn one of my favourite cds and the lp I have of 4 doesn't seem to be much else avliable

I also want to get more Walter what is worth getting and are there any that are best avoided bad transfers etc I have the Columbia cbs/sony 1,2 & 9
Cbs cds of 4 & 5
decca and Naxos versions of same recoding Von der Erde and currently listening to 4 that was on through the night a while ago Concertbegouw with Schartwkopf great stuff

Mr Bear, my commiserations for your illness. I do not know about anyone else but I think that the first thing I would need to know to even begin to assist with your quest, is what it is that you seek from your Mahler? Otherwise you will just get the pet favourites of us all - viz already! You have an existing collection so must have some idea of what you need, even within the context of the conductors that you mention who cover a wide range of styles. Are you looking for clean cut lines and transparent structures etc in which case the likes of David Zinman and others? Or, at the other extreme, are you looking for angst, intensity and emotion in which case Tennstedt, Bernstein and Barbirolli? Or somewhere in the middle?

[richardfinegold]

Mr Bear, my commiserations for your illness. I do not know about anyone else but I think that the first thing I would need to know to even begin to assist with your quest, is what it is that you seek from your Mahler? Otherwise you will just get the pet favourites of us all - viz already! You have an existing collection so must have some idea of what you need, even within the context of the conductors that you mention who cover a wide range of styles. Are you looking for clean cut lines and transparent structures etc in which case the likes of David Zinman and others? Or, at the other extreme, are you looking for angst, intensity and emotion in which case Tennstedt, Bernstein and Barbirolli? Or somewhere in the middle?

I was wondering the same.
The Bernstein/NYPO set (released here on a label called "Carnegie Hall Presents" but consisting of excellent remasterings of the old Columbia set) is wonderful.
The sonic refurbishments are a vast improvement over previous incarnations.
I never explored Bernstein's DG set beyond 1, 7, and 9 all of which I own. In all 3 cases I favor LB's earlier thoughts, though the later versions are interesting in their own right. There is no right answer on this, but I sometimes wonder if in his later versions, LB was self consciously striving to do something different
than in his earlier, path breaking accounts.
Walter's set should be self recommending. It is very cheap, the remasterings are terrific (particularly the 1947 5th), and then the question would be if you wish to supplement it with the many other extent WAlter recordings, many of which are concert recordings of variable sonic lustre.
Szell's 4th is my favorite 4th and has been well served in earlier CD incarnations. The 6th was given the deluxe sonic treatment by Sony and is well worth your time, as per previous posters.

[Bryn]

If you want to 'try before yoy buy', here's the Szell Mahler 6:

[richardfinegold]

This is the 6th - worth every penny - a great recording of a live performance, though you'd never think so - no coughs, bangs, etc.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_st?keywords=szell+mahler&qid=1388952317&rh=n%3A229816%2Ck%3Aszell+mahler&sort=price

Buy now, is all I will say.

fwiw, I'm listening to it now, and there are some audible coughs, of no significance whatsoever.

[akiralx]

I regard Chailly's 4 and 5 as the best of his cycle. Other recent recordings I have enjoyed which might give you a modern alternative are Honeck in the Third and Nott in the Seventh.