BaL 22.04.17 - Mahler: Symphony no. 2

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

So to analyse and present a review of recordings - like just a few! - of one of the biggest, most complex symphonic structures, we have:
[a] NOT in a BBC studio but live with a live audience
[b] AMcG's non-stop interrupting and adlibbing
[c] Mr Myval sounding as if throat on last legs, and singularly either under-scripted or a bit fazed by the location etc [see above].

i.e. as far as possible from the best conditions to review Mahler 2 - of all the works they could have scheduled for this 'Record Shop' Day - as you could get.


You couldn't make it up.

100% agreed.

So much time is wasted by all this twofering

[Beef Oven!]

100% agreed.

So much time is wasted by all this twofering

Plenty of single-handed BaL’s suffer from that. It’s change that is ruffling people’s feathers here - move with them, life’s so much more enjoyable that way.

[Barbirollians]

No discussion of either Walter or Klemperer yet most odd.

[vinteuil]

No discussion of either Walter or Klemperer yet most odd.

.


... nor Tennstedt.

[seabright]

Give that man a throat lozenge :)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Plenty of single-handed BaL’s suffer from that. It’s change that is ruffling people’s feathers here - move with them, life’s so much more enjoyable that way.

You could say that about junk e-mail

[Beef Oven!]

Give that man a throat lozenge :)

Or half a glass of water!

[Beef Oven!]

You could say that about junk e-mail

I could, but I don’t.

[Barbirollians]

Bruno Walter stoic and noble only - he clearly has never heard the live wartime New York recording and that is a travesty as far as the 1958 recording is concerned .

I think Klemperer probably deserved an extract - the fact Jurowski is missing is very odd considering the rave reviews it received all round . Tennstedt was dismissed as forced .

I must go back to the Halle Barbirolli I enjoyed it but I do not think I ever played it on my main system and it did not have the obvious impact of the Stuttgart RSO live recording made only weeks before he died.

I never really got the CBSO/Rattle - it was my first recording and on cassette maybe that blunted its impact apart from Dame Janet in the Urlicht.

[hafod]

“Well, thank God that’s over. A most terrible BaL don't you think?”
“Yeah, it has been, erm….you know, excruciating..… and yeuh, hopelessly misguided yer know.”

[LaurieWatt]

100% agreed.

So much time is wasted by all this twofering

I have to agree, particularly for this symphony which needs every minute of the limited time in relevant discussion! Mival loves the Rattle/CBSO for all its risk taking and involvement etc. I remember buying this all those years ago and just couldn't get into it and disposing of it. This was odd because Rattle did all the things with it I liked and in many ways it does indeed sound wonderful. It just, to me, felt uninvolving and anonymous and I couldn't think why until I learnt that in the first movement alone there were over 200 edits. Also, he dismisses Tennstedt for being too 'in your face', not to quote him - cannot remember his exact words, but which Tennstedt? The old EMI or the LPO label one, which is completely different?

[Beef Oven!]

I enjoyed that BaL very much. I thought the approach was refreshing, e.g his rationale for considering certain recordings when it was germane to the particular movement. As I said a few days ago, the Rattle has been a favourite of mine since it was first released (and I’m not much of a Rattle fan). Most of the negative comments on this thread about the BaL concern people’s expectations not being met. Prejudice is rarely instructive.

I also like the Boulez very much and hadn’t noticed any problems in the finale. I enjoyed the Levine, that’s what prompted my earlier Karajan comment.

[gurnemanz]

Still finding myself repeatedly clearing my throat on his behalf ... Got the Rattle but have already ordered Bruno Walter with Maureen Forrester (loved that extract and love her generally) - used v good for £4.90 on Amazon. Twofer with Symphonies Nos 1 & 2/Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I can usually live with BaL twofers, but there simply wasn't enough space in this one. Was quite grateful that CBSO/Rattle won: saved me a bob or two as I have 2 copies of it on the shelves.

BUT if I'd been really after 'the best recording' as a newbie, we heard nothing of its earlier movements! I listened with Mrs LMP who doesn't much bother with BaL normally, but would be really in the market for 'the perfect M2' if such a thing exists. And she didn't like what she heard of the winner, and couldn't cope with the rec quality or the vocal imperfections of the Barbirolli

So, which one did she go for? She liked what she heard of the Gergiev but it seemed to vanish for no particular reason.

I shall have to see if she's happy with any others I own. Maybe the BRSO Klemperer with the Harper/ Baker dreamteam? - shall just have to hope she doesn't spot all the wrong notes and 'brutality', pace Mr Mival...

[vinteuil]

... have already ordered Bruno Walter with Maureen Forrester (loved that extract and love her generally) - used v good for £4.90 on Amazon. Twofer with Symphonies Nos 1 & 2/Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen.

... or for a little more you could get that plus a lot more -

http://amzn.eu/c6frPem