BaL 26.11.11 - Mahler: Symphony no. 8

[ostuni]

Wit got a brief mention, as one of several recordings let down by poor soloists (and, at least for S1&2 and A1, I'd agree). I don't remember him mentioning Gielen.

I'm another who got to know this work through the Morris LPs, when it came out in 71. Some wonderful things on that recording. Like Matthias, I've got over a dozen M8's, but (unlike him), Abbado would be in my top 3, so I found myself agreeing with much of what Julian J said, in what I thought was a nicely done BaL.

[Alison]

I thought there was a little too much of the oft heard BaL formula that goes something like

At one extreme there is (x), at the other extreme there is (y) so (z) in the middle must be the best option ...

Why isn't the truth ever at the extreme ??

[HighlandDougie]

Hmm... Carlos Kleiber in the Pastoral?

[Barbirollians]

I wasn't really tempted to add to my Solti though there were some lovely things in the excerpts from the Abbado he played us .

[mikealdren]

I too have the original Wyn Morris LPs on Independent World Releases. A few years ago when I performed the piece for the first time, I listened to it again (while following the 1st violin part). It's a fine performance but I decided to buy a CD version too - I got the Solti. While filing that away, I realised that I also had the Tennstedt CD (Japanese release so I couldn't read the spine on the shelf!!).

I was disappointed with the Solti which I find rather hard in sound and performance, the Tennstedt is my clear favourite of the three.

Mike

[Peter Katin]

I wasn't really tempted to add to my Solti though there were some lovely things in the excerpts from the Abbado he played us .

Decisions, decisions. The Solti has been sitting here for a couple of weeks and I had decided to play it this afternoon, until I realised that also sitting here is the Kubelik and I've never played it. Now, what to do - play the Solti today as planned, then take a day off and play the Kubelik on Wednesday? My system (both audio and personal) won't take both in one day. But then I was really struck by Abbado on Saturday, and again this morning, so it won't be the first time I'd wished that there are more than twenty-four hours in the day

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

How "influential" is Building-a-Library? Do lots of people now rush out and buy the recommended disc because Mr Expert says it IS the best ?

I often find myself buying one of the releases that the reviewer "rejects", mercia. The joy of BaL is that you can hear when the opinions (which is what I understand them to be) don't "tally" with what you want from the Music.

I have to say that I thought this was a very good BaL - well-balanced, objective and enthusiastic. I have more sympathy for Bernstein than he did, but he made me want to hear more of the Gergiev, Chailly and Abbado recordings. Oh for a BBC salary!

Best Wishes.

[vinteuil]

I often find myself buying one of the releases that the reviewer "rejects", mercia. The joy of BaL is that you can hear when the opinions (which is what I understand them to be) don't "tally" with what you want from the Music.
.

... just so - it is often the 'rejects' which I find interesting. My very first posting on the old BBC Boards was to ask for details of ALL the CDs considered to be put on the BAL playlist, as often it was the not-chosen which were of interest. My request was rejected - on the weird ground that the playlists "already were text heavy and had too much information"...

[Nick Armstrong]

I often find myself buying one of the releases that the reviewer "rejects", mercia. The joy of BaL is that you can hear when the opinions (which is what I understand them to be) don't "tally" with what you want from the Music.

Like vinteuil, I'm the same, fhg. It's happened many times. The main example that springs to mind is a BAL about Bach's B minor Mass years ago, when the reviewer raved about and picked Gardiner's version, which to my ears however aurally splendid completely missed the point; whereas Leonhardt's version (of which a couple of extracts were played) captivated me and has remained one of my favourite readings of anything ever since http://www.amazon.co.uk/Messe-Bwv-23...2507564&sr=8-2

[mathias broucek]

They should list all played versions. I don't think he even said WHICH Kubelik he played!

He should perhaps also have mentioned that the DG Bernstein suffers from a comedy organ at the start of the first movement. SUCH a pity that the scheduled NYPD recording was never made (due to LB's death).

[LeMartinPecheur]

the scheduled NYPD recording

NYPD?

Bernstein with a much heavier than usual baton??

[makropulos]

NYPD?

Bernstein with a much heavier than usual baton??

as in...Book 'em, Lenny. Mahler One.

[agingjb]

As far as I can see, no mention has been made of the Mahler 8 that was the attached CD on the BBC Music magazine recently (BBC Scottish, Runnicles). For good reason? Or have I just missed a relevant post?

[amateur51]

As far as I can see, no mention has been made of the Mahler 8 that was the attached CD on the BBC Music magazine recently (BBC Scottish, Runnicles). For good reason? Or have I just missed a relevant post?

Several members were disappointed by the recording quality,John Bennett but I enjoyed it

[Barbirollians]

as in...Book 'em, Lenny. Mahler One.