BaL 7.01.23 - Mahler: Symphony no. 6 in A minor

[Mal]

I searched Tennstedt Mahler 6 and Tennstedt Mahler 6 Proms and only the LPO studio recording came up. Are you sure this is the live Prom recorded in 1981 ?

Andrew apologised at the end of the programme for saying "1981" - it was actualy "1983" (a listener corrected him...) You can see the back of the CD cover, which gives full details of date and performance, on amazon (plus stream from there on Amazon Unlimited...):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Symphony-No-6-Gustav/dp/B0027DQHOG

[Ein Heldenleben]

https://www.qobuz.com/au-en/album/ma.../bioxi4gm4h3lb

Not sure if the following link will work without a QOBUZ subscription: https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/65/000127956.pdf

Thanks Bryn and others . In fact this did come up on my search ! What confused me was the recording data saying in was released in 2009 , the fact that it’s a similar colour to the EMI boxed set and that the BBC credit is very small on my laptop and is not in fact the BBC logo. It doesn’t seem to say live or proms anywhere on the Qobuz track page.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Just listened to the first movement of the Tennstedt. Lovely performance but I think it has one major drawback - a very booming timp sound in the reverberant Albert Hall . I have to say I prefer the Bernstein VPO.

[Lordgeous]

The Tennstedt RFH live recording wasn't medntioned was it? Earlier in this thread it was raved about and I bought the Warner Box which seems to be the only way of aqauiring it, but not listedened to it yet. Answers on a postcard please!

Anyway, interesting BAL but oh so short (my usual complaint!). So few versions considered.

[Alison]

The Tennstedt RFH live recording wasn't medntioned was it? Earlier in this thread it was raved about and I bought the Warner Box which seems to be the only way of aqauiring it, but not listedened to it yet. Answers on a postcard please!

Anyway, interesting BAL but oh so short (my usual complaint!). So few versions considered.

No mention of the RFH performance. It’s of a similar level of inspiration in my view.

[Lawrence]

Currentzis for me, and that’s from someone who doesn’t even like the piece.

And for me too, from someone who doesn't know the piece but who is now keen to get to know it better.

[Petrushka]

No mention of the RFH performance. It’s of a similar level of inspiration in my view.

I was also present at another performance of the 6th which Tennstedt gave at the RFH in March 1983. That was also broadcast (on R4 I think!) and I'd love to hear that one again.

Still greatly miss Tennstedt after all these years. Every concert he gave was a major event and on no account to be missed!

[Alison]

Have to say I agreed with the reviewer about Currentzis. I am keen to hear K Petrenko in full however.

[Wolfram]

Weapons-grade Proms audience idiocy at the end of the Tennstedt. Such a shame that bellow couldn't have been edited out.

Absolutely no quibble with the chosen recording. If the Promenader who throws out his bravo within a millisecond of the final chord fading is too much for you, then Tennstedt's studio recording is a more than acceptable compensation. Having listened to both of them in the last couple of days the studio reading is almost as compelling as the live performance. I agree totally with ES about Bernstein and Tennstedt in this work; they are both absolutely fearless in facing up its challenges. Although I still prefer Lennie's earlier recording with the New York Phil.

[kindofblue]

Weapons-grade Proms audience idiocy at the end of the Tennstedt. Such a shame that bellow couldn't have been edited out.

Indeed. Listened on some decent headphones via Qobuz, and was just absorbing the finale when... 'Bravo!' Normally even the most fervent music lover will take a moment for what has s/he has just heard to sink in, and then shout/applaud, but this guy must have brought starting blocks with him. Really enjoyed the performance though, it was new to me and I love the Sixth.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Absolutely no quibble with the chosen recording. If the Promenader who throws out his bravo within a millisecond of the final chord fading is too much for you, then Tennstedt's studio recording is a more than acceptable compensation. Having listened to both of them in the last couple of days the studio reading is almost as compelling as the live performance. I agree totally with ES about Bernstein and Tennstedt in this work; they are both absolutely fearless in facing up its challenges. Although I still prefer Lennie's earlier recording with the New York Phil.

I have the studio recording, one of several sixths on my shelves. When I next feel the need to hear the piece...

[ucanseetheend]

And just to say that the list of available recordings at start of this thread is not complete. I know of at least two available not shown .

[Pulcinella]

And just to say that the list of available recordings at start of this thread is not complete. I know of at least two available not shown .

Care to tell us about them, then?

[jayne lee wilson]

The Tennstedt RFH live recording wasn't medntioned was it? Earlier in this thread it was raved about and I bought the Warner Box which seems to be the only way of aqauiring it, but not listedened to it yet. Answers on a postcard please!

Anyway, interesting BAL but oh so short (my usual complaint!). So few versions considered.

The issue I have is the extraordinary Toshiba-EMI remaster of the live 6th from 11/1991, which sounds far more vivid and immediate than the Proms recording. Easily preferable, if not strictly a fair comparison between the naked truth of the fearfully atmospheric Toshiba RFH and the Qobuz 16/44.1 of the Proms.
Probably the best way of hearing the Tennstedt 6th....Still available at HMV Japan (TOCE 13561) -

https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Mahler-1860-1911_000000000019272/item_Mahler-Symphony-No-6-%60tragische%60_1513595

You might be lucky, and the one in the box may be the same (2005) remaster. Hopefully transferred with faith. Look for (the legendary) "Yoshio Okazaki" as the engineer.
Confusingly, the same cover art has been used for the 1983 studio 6th, as on the current Warners HQCD . Watch out for that, but the dates are usually discernible on the inlay (if you can view it).
But ordering from Tokyo may not be the fun it once was; the SACD of the sui generis Klemperer 7th has still not arrived here, ordered weeks ago and tracked as "in transit"..... and....."items ready"....

They used to jet across in less than a week back in the days of innocence....bliss was it in that dawn, etc....

[Barbirollians]

Pleased to hear ES made Barbirolli a very honourable third. Shame he did not discuss the live Barbirolli / New Philharmonia account which is done ten minutes quicker than the studio recording as I recall and very fine.