BaL 23.09.23 - Mahler: Symphony no. 8

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

10.30am
Building a Library
Gustav Mahler pushed the boundaries of what a symphony was at the turn of the 20th century. In his characteristically iconoclastic Symphony No 8, he paired an early Latin hymn with a setting of part of Goethe’s Faust on a huge scale - it was exaggeratedly dubbed ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ because of the number of performers Mahler calls upon. Writer Gillian Moore discusses the work, and the huge variety of approaches, with Andrew, ultimately revealing her personal recommendation to buy, download or stream.

Available versions:-

Cheryl Studer, Sylvia McNair, Andrea Rost (sopranos, Anne Sofie von Otter, Rosemarie Lang, Peter Seiffert, Bryn Terfel, Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado

Vladimir Ruzdjak, Donald McIntyre, Erna Spoorenberg, Gwenyth Annear, Gwyneth Jones, John Mitchinson, Norma Procter, Anna Reynolds, London Symphony Orchestra, Orpington Junior Singers, Highgate School Boys Choir, Finchley Children’s Music Group, Leeds Festival Chorus, London Symphony Chorus, Leonard Bernstein *

Dame Margaret Price, Gerti Zeumer, José van Dam, Hermann Prey, Judith Blegen, Kenneth Riegel, Trudeliese Schmidt, Agnes Baltsa, Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Singverein, Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Sängerknaben, Leonard Bernstein

Kwangchul Youn, Johan Botha, Ricarda Merbeth, Stella Grigorian, Elza van den Heever, Jane Henschel, Elisabeta Marin, Boaz Daniel, Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Wiener Singakademie, Wiener Sängerknaben, Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bertrand de Billy

Twyla Robinson, Michelle DeYoung, Simone Schröder, Johan Botha, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Robert Holl, Erin Wall, Staatskapelle Berlin, Chor Der Staatsoper Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Aurelius Sangerknaben Calw, Pierre Boulez

Jan-Hendrik Rootering , Jane Eaglen, Peter Mattei, Ruth Ziesak, Anne Schwanewilms, Ben Heppner, Sara Fulgoni, Anna Larsson, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Jongenskoor van het Kathedrale Koor St. Bavo, Netherlands Radio Choir, Prague Philharmonic Chorus, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Jongenskoor Van Het Sacramentskoor, Breda, Jongens en meisjes van het Kathedrale Koor St.Bavo, Haarlem, Riccardo Chailly *

Ricarda Merberth, Juliane Banse, Anna Lucia Richter, Sara Mingardo, Mihoko Fujimura, Andreas Schager, Peter Mattei, Samuel Youn, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Latvian Radio Choir, Orfeon Donostiarra, Tölzer Knabenchor, Riccardo Chailly (DVD)

Erika Sunnegårdh, Ricarda Merbeth, Christiane Oelze, Lioba Braun, Gerhild Romberger, Stephen Gould, Dietrich Henschel, Georg Zeppenfeld, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly (DVD/Blu-ray)

Czech Philharmonic Choir, Brno, Slovak Philharmonic Choir, Knabenchor der Chorakademie Dortmund, Dortmunder Philharmoniker, Gabriel Feltz (SACD)

Fatma Said, Katrin Wundsam, Polina Pstrichka, Manuela Uhl, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Ádám Fischer

Orla Boylan, Celena Shafer, Amy Owens, Charlotte Helekant, Tamara Mumford, Barry Banks, Markus Werba, Jordan Bisch, Utah Symphony Orchestra, Mormon Tabernacle Choir with The Madeleine Choir School, Thierry Fischer (SACD)

Annelies Kupper, Hilde Zadek, Corry Bijster, Annie Hermes, Lore Fischer, Lorenz Fehenberger, Herman Schey, Gottlob Frick, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdam Toonkunstkoor, Eduard Flipse *

Alexey Markov, Liudmila Dudinova, Sergey Semishkur, Evgeny Nikitin, Zlata Bulycheva, Ailish Tynan, Viktoria Yastrebova, Lilli Paasikivi.London Symphony Orchestra, Choral Arts Society of Washington, London Symphony Chorus, Choral Arts Society Washington, Choir of Eltham College
Valéry Gergiev (SACD)

John Bröcheler, Glenn Winslade, Guy Renard, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Thomas Harper, Laura Aikin, James Johnson, Rundfunkchor Berlin, SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
Michael Gielen *

Rita Cullis, Angela-Maria Blasi, Ofelia Sala, Catherine Keen, Reinhild Runkel, Glenn Winslade, John Bröcheler, Kurt Rydl, Ukrainian National Capella “Dumka”, Ukrainian Radio Choir, Dresden Philharmonic Children’s Choir, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Hartmut Haenchen

Ileana Cotrubas, Heather Harper, Hans Sotin Jo Juda Hermann Prey, William Cochran, Marianne Dieleman, Birgit Finnilä, Amsterdam Toonkunst Choir, De Stem Des Volks, Collegium Musicum Amstelodamense, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Children’s Choirs of St. Willibrord’s and St.Pius X Churches, Bernard Haitink

Joyce Barker, Beryl Hatt, Kerstin Meyer, Kenneth Neate, Alfred Orda, Arnold van Mill, Agnes Giebel, Helen Watts, BBC Chorus, BBC Choral Society, Goldsmith’s Choral Union, Hampstead Choral Society, Emanuel School Boys’ Choir, Orpington Junior Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Jascha Horenstein *

Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Eliahu Inbal *

Christine Brewer, Camilla Nylund, Maria Espada, Robert Dean Smith, Tommi Hakala, Stephanie Blythe, Stefan Kocan, Mihoko Fujimura, Netherlands Radio Choir, Latvian State Choir, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Netherlands National Children’s Choir, Netherlands National Boys Choir
Mariss Jansons (SACD/DVD/Blu-ray)

Twyla Robinson, Christine Brewer, Anna Prohaska, Janina Baechle, Mihoko Fujimura, Johan Botha, Michael Volle, Ain Anger State Choir Latvija, Tölzer Knabenchor, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Mariss Jansons

Ulla Gustafsson, MariAnne Häggander, Carolina Sandgren, Ulrika Tenstam, Anne Gjevang, Seppo Ruohonen, Mats Persson, Johann Tilli, Brunnsbo Music Classes Children’s Choir, Gottingen Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Opera Orchestra, Stockholm Royal Philharmonic Choir, Gothenburg Symphony Chorus, Gothenburg Opera Chorus, Estonian Boys’ Choir
Neeme Järvi

Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (HR-Sinfonie Orchester), Paavo Järvi (DVD/Blu-ray)

Judith Howarth, Anne Schwanewilms, Sofia Fomina, Michaela Selinger, Patricia Bardon, Barry Banks, Matthew Rose, London Philharmonic Choir, London Symphony Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski

Martina Arroyo, Donald Grobe, Norma Procter, Franz Crass Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Erna Spoorenberg, Julia Hamari, Edith Mathis, Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Chor Des Westdeutschen Rundfunks, Chor des Norddeutschen Rundfunks, Female Chorus of the Munich Motettenchorus, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Boys of the Regenburger Domchorus
Rafael Kubelik *

Martina Arroyo, Erna Spoorenberg, Edith Mathis, Julia Hamari, Norma Procter, Donald Grobe, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Franz Crass,Choruses of Bavarian, North & West German Radio, Regensburger Domspatzen, Frauenchor des Münchner Motettenchores & Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Rafael Kubelik (live)

Jeanine De Bique, Christine Brewer, Nancy Gustafson, Mary Phillips, Nancy Maultsby, Anthony Dean Griffey, Wolfgang Schöne, Jason Grant, New York Philharmonic, New York Choral Artists, The Dessoff Symphonic Choir, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Lorin Maazel *

Sally Matthews, Ailish Tynan, Sarah Tynan, Sarah Connolly, Anne-Marie Owens, Stefan Vinke, Mark Stone, Stephen Gadd, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus, Philharmonia Voices, Philharmonia Chorus, Boys of the Eton College Chapel Choir Lorin Maazel

Florence Quivar, Brigitte Fassbaender, Richard Leech, Sigmund Nimsgern, Sharon Sweet, Pamela Coburn, Simon Estes, Wiener Staatsoper, ORF-Chor, Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Sängerknaben, Lorin Maazel *

Mimi Coertse, Hilde Zadek, Lucretia West, Ira Malaniuk, Giuseppe Zampieri, Hermann Prey, Otto Edelmann, Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Sängerknaben, Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Dimitri Mitropoulos

Sylvia Greenberg, Lynne Dawson, Sally Matthews, Sophie Koch, Elena Manistana, Robert Gambill, Deutscher Rundfunk Berlin & Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Kent Nagano *

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Neumann

Angela Meade, Erin Wall, Lisette Oropesa, Elizabeth Bishop, Mihoko Fujimura, Anthony Dean Griffey, Markus Werba, John Relyea, Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Janina Baechle, Lioba Braun, Michaela Kaune, Marisol Montalvo, Manuela Uhl, Albert Dohmen, Michael Nagy, Stefan Vinke, Chor der Bamberger Symphoniker, Tschechischer Philharmonischer Chor, Windsbacher Knabenchor & Bamberger Symphoniker, Jonathan Nott (SACD)

Deborah Sasson, Judith Blegen, Faye Robinson, Florence Quivar, Gwynne Howell, Benjamin Luxon, Kenneth Riegel , Lorna Myers, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Boys Choir, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Seiji Ozawa *

MDR-Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Knaben des Staats- und Domchors Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Sir Simon Rattle

Birgit Remmert, Juliane Banse, Christine Brewer, David Wilson-Johnson Jane Henschel, Jane Henschel, John Relyea, Jon Villars, Soile Isokoski, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus, London Symphony Chorus, Toronto Children’s Choir, Sir Simon Rattle

(continued in post no. 2)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(continuation from post no. 1)

Elsa Maria Matheis, Daniza Ilitsch, Rosette Anday Georgine Milinkovic, Erich Maikut, Otto Wiener, Georg Oeggl, Wiener Symphoniker, Wiener Kammerchor, Wiener Singakademie, Wiener Sängerknaben, Hermann Scherchen *

Inga Nielsen Majken Bjerno, Henriette Bonde-Hansen, Kirsten Dolberg, Anne Gjevang, Raimo Sirkia, Jorma Hynninen Carsten Stabell, Copenhagen Boys Choir, Philharmonischer Chor Berlin, Danish National Radio Choir, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leif Segerstam *

Kenneth Cox, William Stone, Michael Sylvester, Marietta Simpson, Delores Ziegler, Heidi Grant, Deborah Voigt, Margaret Jane Wray, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Master Chorale Of Tampa Bay, Ohio State University Symphonic Choir, Ohio State University Chorale, The Atlanta Boys’ Choir, University Of South Florida Chorus, Robert Shaw

Cheryl Studer, Angela Maria Blasi, Sumi Jo, Waltraud Meier, Kazuko Nagai, Keith Lewis, Thomas Allen, Hans Sotin, Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, Giuseppe Sinopoli

Heather Harper, Lucia Popp, Arleen Auger, Yvonne Minton, Helen Watts, Rene Kollo, John Shirley-Quirk, Martti Talvela, Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Singverein, Wiener Sängerknaben & Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti

Barbara Haveman, Orla Boylan, Christiane Oelze, Anna Palimina, Petra Lang, Maria Radner, Brandon Jovanovich, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Günther Groissböck, Cologne Cathedral Children’s Choir, Cologne Bach Vocal Ensemble, Cologne Cathedral Choir, Cologne Kant, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Cologne Cathedral Vocal Ensemble, Philharmonische Chor der Stadt Bonn, Cologne Kantorei, Cologne Cathedral Choir, Cologne Bach Vocal Ensemble, Cologne Cathedral Children’s Choir, Markus Stenz *

Frances Yeend, Uta Graf, Camilla Williams, Martha Lipton, Louise Bernhardt, Eugene Conley, Carlos Alexander, George London, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Westminster Choir, Schola Cantorum and the Boys’ Choir from P.S., Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski

Lyudmila Hadzhieva, Maria Temesi, Tamara Takac, Boryana Tabakova, Janos Bandi, Pal Kovacs, Tamash Syule, Bulgarian National Svetoslav Obretenov Choir, Bulgarian National Radio Chorus, Bulgarian Radio Children’s Choir, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Emil Tabakov *

Elizabeth Connell, Edith Wiens, Dame Felicity Lott, Trudeliese Schmidt, Nadine Denize, Richard Versalle, Jorma Hynninen, Hans Sotin, London Philharmonic Choir, Tiffin Boys’ Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Klaus Tennstedt

Júlia Várady, Jane Eaglen, Susan Bullock, Trudeliese Schmidt, Jadwige Rappé, Kenneth Riegel, Eike Wilm Schulte, Hans Sotin, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Klaus Tennstedt (live)

Laura Claycomb, Yvonne Naef, Katarina Karnéus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Anthony Dean Griffey, Elza van den Heever, Erin Wall, Gustav Mahler Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Girls Choir, San Francisco Girls Chorus, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas (SACD)

Marta Boberska, Barbara Kubiak, Izabella Klosinska, Jadwiga Rappé, Ewa Marciniec, Timothy Bentch, Wojtek Drabowicz, Piotr Nowacki, Warsaw Philharmonic Choir, Polish Radio Choir, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University Choir, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw Boys Choir, Antoni Wit

Barbara Kubiak, Izabela Klosinska , Marta Boberska , Jadwiga Rappé, Ewa Marciniec, Timothy Bentch, Wojtek Drabowicz, Piotr Nowacki, Warsaw Boys Choir, Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, Antoni Wit (DVD/Blu-ray)

Melanie Diener, Julianne Banse, Lisa Larsson (sopranos), Yvonne Naef, Birgit Remmert, Anthony Dean Griffey, Stephen Powell, Askar Abdrazakov, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Schweizer Chamber Choir, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, David Zinman *

(* = download only)

[Alison]

Pretty certain Abbado was chosen last time.

[Bryn]

Sorry to find this one appears to be no longer available. I must be sure to back mine up. Warts and all, I much prefer it to his later Berlin performances/recordings (studio and live video).

[Maclintick]

Sorry to find this one appears to be no longer available. I must be sure to back mine up. Warts and all, I much prefer it to his later Berlin performances/recordings (studio and live video).

Thanks for the memory, Bryn. Curtain-raiser to the 1975 season, at which a considerably younger and fitter version of yours truly prommed in the Arena. Thanks to Alpie for the detailed listings. We never take your painstaking labour for granted

[Bryn]

Thanks for the memory, Bryn. Curtain-raiser to the 1975 season, at which a considerably younger and fitter version of yours truly prommed in the Arena. Thanks to Alpie for the detailed listings. We never take your painstaking labour for granted

What a brave effort by Remedios, suffering from a heavy cold. I had taken my reel-to reel recorder round to a friend's house for him to record the broadcast while I attended (also in the Arena). There were a few brief drop-outs on that tape, so I was very pleased when those effective bootleg CDs were released. I loved the way Boulez got the relevant percussionist to thumb-rub the cymbal into resonance at the opening of Part 2.

[Barbirollians]

Gillian Moore chose Bruno Walter’s legendary recording when she did Mahler 1 .

[CallMePaul]

I am amazed just how many recordings of this are availble, given the costs involved (the quality of the singers is high as well as the size of the orchestras involved, most of which will have needed freelance support). As this is the main gap in my Mahler discography I would have liked to hear this but will be in Greece when it is broadcast (will also miss the following week's programme as well).

[Pulcinella]

I have the Solti (in Alpie's list), a Gielen recording on Sony that isn't,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Symphony-No-8-Gustav/dp/B000025SZR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SHLUAYGNZGIC&keywords=Mahler+8+gielen&qid=1694456508&s=music&sprefix=mahler+8+gielen%2Cpopular%2C59&sr=1-1

and the BBC MM issue of a live 2010 Edinburgh Festival concert (BBCSSO/Runnicles; volume 19, number 7)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Symphony-No-8-Gustav/dp/B0000278I3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PMTWQMLUK406&keywords=Mahler+8+runnicles&qid=1694456681&s=music&sprefix=mahler+8+runnicles%2Cpopular%2C76&sr=1-1

I wonder if any forumites were at that concert.

[Pulcinella]

Here's a link to A synoptic survey by Tony Duggan that I found:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/Mahler/Mahler8.htm

[Barbirollians]

Have Solti,Abbado, Tennstedt and the Horenstein - enough for me I think.

[Petrushka]

Solti has long been my 'go to' recording for the Mahler 8 when ever I choose to play it (not often these days) but there are others I really like.

Sinopoli is terrific and in superb sound, a version that deserves more serious consideration than it gets in my opinion. A great contender for first choice.

I was present at the live Tennstedt performance and, 32 years later, it remains one of the most overwhelming musical experiences of my life. I'm therefore biased towards it.

Another underrated one is Vaclav Neumann and the Czech Philharmonic with a good line up of soloists. One not to be lightly dismissed.

I also have Abbado, Horenstein, Bertini, Bernstein (x2), Haitink, Kubelik (x2), Jansons, Rattle, Chailly, Stokowski (live1950 NYPO in pretty good sound).and Mitropoulos (1960 VPO in truly dreadful sound).

[mikealdren]

I only have the Solti and Tennstedt and I greatly prefer the latter. I also have the old Wyn Morris on LP, that's good too but rather dated sound of course.

[Bryn]

. . . I also have the old Wyn Morris on LP, that's good too but rather dated sound of course.

And even in its IMP Classis CD version, with a fade out and in again division in Part 2.

https://www.discogs.com/release/15999609-Gustav-Mahler-Wyn-Morris-Symphonica-Of-London-Mahler-Symphony-No-8-in-E-flat-Symphony-of-a-Thousand

[notnerb]

A further version to add to the list, which I have in a box of all Mahler symphonies with BRSO:
Alessandra Marc, Sharon Sweet, Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, Vesselina Kasarova, Ning Liang, Ben Heppner, Sergej Leiferkus, Rene Pape, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Sudfunkchor Stuttgart, Tolzer Knabenchor, Chor und Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Colin Davis (recorded 1995).