BaL 18.06.16 - Mahler: Symphony no. 5

[Rolmill]

Yes - a 'knock-out' recording - doesn't seem to have had a mention on BaL, but I found it in a junk shop in France for 1 Euro! so doubly happy! It's a pity Charles Mackerras didn't record more Mahler. One can't help feeling they could have become top-drawer recordings.....

I have an excellent Mahler 6 with the BBC Phil on a BBC MM disc, well worth keeping an eye out for (turns up in charity shops occasionally). I'm also aware of (but haven't heard) a Mahler 1 with the RLPO on CFP and a more recent Mahler 4 with the Philharmonia on Signum, which I think was well reviewed. So only 4 of the 9, sadly - a complete cycle would have been marvellous.

[Bryn]

I have an excellent Mahler 6 with the BBC Phil on a BBC MM disc, well worth keeping an eye out for (turns up in charity shops occasionally). I'm also aware of (but haven't heard) a Mahler 1 with the RLPO on CFP and a more recent Mahler 4 with the Philharmonia on Signum, which I think was well reviewed. So only 4 of the 9, sadly - a complete cycle would have been marvelous.

That Mahler 6 was very well received by posters here (though they may have been voicing their admiration for it on the old Boards run by the Beeb). There were, however, three bones of contention: the omission of the exposition repeat, the ordering of the middle movements, and the inclusion of a third hammer blow in the finale ("a" hammer blow as apparently there were to be five at one stage of the compositional process). Whatever, it's a very fine performance.

[Nick Armstrong]

I have an excellent Mahler 6 with [Mackerras and] the BBC Phil on a BBC MM disc, well worth keeping an eye out for

Yes, one of my favourites.

[richardfinegold]

I listened to the DG Kubelik over the weekend, and am mystified how it could be considered a top choice - the hard thin recording and rather subpar playing rules it out of court for me whatever the merits of RK's interpretation. I listened to a few of the other symphonies in fact and can't help feeling that it has really been superseded as a cycle generally.

I think the Kubelik cycle, which was important in it's time, has been superseded by so many subsequent great Cycles that it really shouldn't be considered. Kubelik's subsequent late 70s recordings with the BR Orchestra are more preferable

[Barbirollians]

I think the Kubelik cycle, which was important in it's time, has been superseded by so many subsequent great Cycles that it really shouldn't be considered. Kubelik's subsequent late 70s recordings with the BR Orchestra are more preferable

I learned Mahler 5 from the Kubelik on a DG Walkman cassette. It did not really do much for me at the time but then I bought the VPO/Bernstein and the Barbirolli and the piece clicked !

I do not think Kubelik's Mahler 1 has been superseded . That remains an outstanding record .

[richardfinegold]

I learned Mahler 5 from the Kubelik on a DG Walkman cassette. It did not really do much for me at the time but then I bought the VPO/Bernstein and the Barbirolli and the piece clicked !

I do not think Kubelik's Mahler 1 has been superseded . That remains an outstanding record .

As we discussed a few weeks ago in another thread,
The First from that set is the best of the lot, and it in turn is bested by a considerable margin by Kubelik's remake with the same Orchestra in 1979. The rest of that first Kubelik cycle was historically important but having listened to the whole thing on lp a few months back, not currently recommendable.

[visualnickmos]

As we discussed a few weeks ago in another thread,
The First from that set is the best of the lot, and it in turn is bested by a considerable margin by Kubelik's remake with the same Orchestra in 1979. The rest of that first Kubelik cycle was historically important but having listened to the whole thing on lp a few months back, not currently recommendable.

I think that's a fair comment - although I do quite like his 4th with Elsie Morrison; quite a characterful performance.

'Bettered', surely! Put your Webster's away!:

[rachfan]

[QUOTE=richardfinegold;564857]After that Herculean effort by Alpie I feel like an ingrate mentioning an unlisted version, but the 5th that I have enjoyed the most over the past year is one that is available in multiple formats from Pristine Audio, Horenstein / Berlin a 1961 Concert recording. If you otherwise enjoy Horenstein Mahler you will be rewarded here.
Otherwise I like the Waler from 1947 and the Bernstein/VPO. For sonics coupled with very good performances Abbado/Lucerne and Karajan\BPO, both on Blu Ray, or MTT/SFSO on SACD. The latter has the longest Adagietto in my collection. I prefer Horenstein's clear eyed traversal there, but MTT wallow sounds luxurious .

I, too, have downloaded this recording and am coming to grips with it (the sound is a challenge in parts but it is worth persevering). I downloaded it because I was present at the concert in Edinburgh in 1961. Horenstein was a late replacement conductor (I was expecting Rafael Kubelik who couldn't be there).
Very atmospheric and involving, though it hasn't yet made the indelible impression that Klemperer's Mahler 2 with the Philharmonia, Heather Harper and Janet Baker made on a teenager (and most of the audience) a few days later. Since that concert, I've always treasured his EMI studio recording with the Philharmonia, Schwarzkopf et al.. I don't know if anybody knows of an off-air recording from the Edinburgh concert (on Sept 5th 1961 in the Usher Hall....)? Klemperer's Bavarian RSO recording has the same soloists but not quite the same impact for me.

[BBMmk2]

That's for brass ensemble, Bryn! I was thinking concert band.

[Alison]

I really enjoyed the brass ensemble rendition.

Good post, Nethersage. Funnily enough I've had a bit of a downer on the Fifth for some while and this has rekindled my former enthusiasm. On the other hand the Trauermarsch always has been my favourite movement!

[richardfinegold]

[QUOTE=rachfan;567225]

After that Herculean effort by Alpie I feel like an ingrate mentioning an unlisted version, but the 5th that I have enjoyed the most over the past year is one that is available in multiple formats from Pristine Audio, Horenstein / Berlin a 1961 Concert recording. If you otherwise enjoy Horenstein Mahler you will be rewarded here.
Otherwise I like the Waler from 1947 and the Bernstein/VPO. For sonics coupled with very good performances Abbado/Lucerne and Karajan\BPO, both on Blu Ray, or MTT/SFSO on SACD. The latter has the longest Adagietto in my collection. I prefer Horenstein's clear eyed traversal there, but MTT wallow sounds luxurious .

I, too, have downloaded this recording and am coming to grips with it (the sound is a challenge in parts but it is worth persevering). I downloaded it because I was present at the concert in Edinburgh in 1961. Horenstein was a late replacement conductor (I was expecting Rafael Kubelik who couldn't be there).
Very atmospheric and involving, though it hasn't yet made the indelible impression that Klemperer's Mahler 2 with the Philharmonia, Heather Harper and Janet Baker made on a teenager (and most of the audience) a few days later. Since that concert, I've always treasured his EMI studio recording with the Philharmonia, Schwarzkopf et al.. I don't know if anybody knows of an off-air recording from the Edinburgh concert (on Sept 5th 1961 in the Usher Hall....)? Klemperer's Bavarian RSO recording has the same soloists but not quite the same impact for me.

I didn't find the sound to be much of an impediment although it clearly is inferior not only to modern recordings but to Walters 1947 as well. The 5th is a very different work than the 2nd, so I can understand not being as taken by it compared to the Resurrection at the time, as it took me years to warm to the 5th. I think the Horenstein 5th is pretty remarkable, however, warts and all.

[waldo]

That's for brass ensemble, Bryn! I was thinking concert band.

Isn't that just brass + kazoos?

[jonfan]

Thanks for mentioning the Honeck Proms performance, I'll have a listen to it over the next couple of days. (Wasn't it 2011 Prom 68, with Wagner's Lohengrin Act 1 Prelude and Rihm's Gesungene Zeit also on the programme?)

Apologies, yes I was one digit out on the year! Honeck did a wonderful Mahler 1 in the Festival Hall, February 1998. This was issued in BBCMM Vol 8 No 9. The BBCSO played their proverbial socks off for him and the sound is also exemplary for the usual dry-sounding hall. There were rumours that Honeck was courted to become conductor of the BBCSO around this time but for some reason negotiations fell through.

[Bryn]

Isn't that just brass + kazoos?

No, that's a Jazz Band.

[BBMmk2]

I think some explaining is necessary! :)