BaL 16.02.13 - Mahler's 6th Symphony in A minor

[Petrushka]

Another 'discussion point' may be how many hammer blows we get in the final movement - not a cause for dismissal though.

Is there anybody who gives all three? Without trawling through every version I have I can't be sure. I do know that Benjamin Zander gives us two versions of the entire finale, one with two hammerblows and the other with three. The difference is of more than academic interest because not only is the orchestration amended, there is a crucial psychological element missing if that third hammerblow is omitted. I fail to see the reason why it is missed out at all apart from Mahler's alleged superstition and I can't see the relevance of that nowadays.

[Nick Armstrong]

Is there anybody who gives all three?

Charlie Mackerras and the BBC Phil on BBCFreebies do!

If anyone missed out and is desperate, there are several used copies available on amazon.com - plus someone's enthusiastic review: http://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Symphon.../dp/B000JQ14HI

[Petrushka]

Charlie Mackerras and the BBC Phil on BBCFreebies do!

I've got that one too though haven't given it a spin in ages.

I really don't understand those conductors who are so keen to give us the Andante/Scherzo order as being Mahler's wishes then fail to give the third hammerblow which, to my mind, is a much more clear cut issue and dramatically more important.

[Keraulophone]

...both Bernsteins grace my shelves... ...(Difficult to beat that pair, though.)

IIRC, the NYPO/Bernstein was a BaL mid-price choice probably around 25 years ago, but I may be confusing it with No.3 from the same source (also a great recording). It's the version (on LP) which influenced me most when first making No.6's acquaintance. Decca's sonic spectacular from Chicago in 1970 was temporarily diverting, but Lenny often proves to be a class apart in Mahler, occasionally overheated or not; and, no, I haven't caught Seckersonitis. An indication of this version's vibrancy and energy is that Bernstein takes the 1st movt. exposition repeat, but the movt. only takes 15 seconds longer than Barbirolli did while ignoring the indicated repeat.

The LP set on CBS included an interesting talk entitled 'Personal recollectins of Mahler by his daughter Anna'. This can now be heard in the latest reissue of The Complete Symphonies on Sony Classical, refered to in this worthwhile review: http://culturecatch.com/music/leonar...ete-symphonies

LB's Vienna remake for DG is equally impressive, of course. Of other conductors, Horenstein/Stockholm and Abbado/BPO, just preferable IMO to LFO, seem to me to be of comparable stature.


PS - Just noticed that an unplayed VPO/LB LP boxed set from DG has currently reached a bid price of £355 on eBay with 23 hours to go... there are some keen/wealthy collectors out there. How high will it go?... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DGG-DIGITA...21167141667%26

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Of those on EA's list I have 30! Plus one or two not included so have 34 in total.

Any advance on 34?

As this is usually a 2-disc set!

This is proving to be a very popular thread. Still with a week to go before the programme, it could be a record breaker.

[Beef Oven]

I can see the following on the shelf:

Karajan - BPO
Szell - Cleveland
Abbado - BPO
Barbirolli - NPO
Gergiev - LSO
Bernstein - NYPO
Boulez - VPO
Antoni Wit - Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

I have more Bruckner 6s, which is unusual.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I can see the following on the shelf:

Karajan - BPO
Szell - Cleveland
Abbado - BPO
Barbirolli - NPO
Gergiev - LSO
Bernstein - NYPO
Boulez - VPO
Antoni Wit - Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

I have more Bruckner 6s, which is unusual.

Wot! No Sinopoli, BeefO? (I've never heard it and was hoping someone would comment on its merits.)

I used to own the Szell - great performance!

[teamsaint]

Wot! No Sinopoli, BeefO? (I've never heard it and was hoping someone would comment on its merits.)

I used to own the Szell - great performance!

did it pass its Szell by date?
(is that a very old one? apologies if so) !

sorry, great thread, but I have no useful contribution to make other than bumping up the "views"!

[Beef Oven]

Wot! No Sinopoli, BeefO? (I've never heard it and was hoping someone would comment on its merits.)

I used to own the Szell - great performance!

Yes, you shame me! No Sinopoli Mahler 6

I revere Giuseppe Sinopoli and I don't care about admitting that I cried the day he died.

I have almost innumerable CDs of GS's performances, have seen him perform many times and had the pleasure of shaking his hand.

Now, with a British stiff upper-lip, I shall search the internet for a keenly-priced copy.

P.S. Szell

[Beef Oven]

did it pass its Szell by date?
(is that a very old one? apologies if so) !

sorry, great thread, but I have no useful contribution to make other than bumping up the "views"!

Inexcusable ts!

P.S. And please don't reply with a reference to Nielson 4!

[teamsaint]

Inexcusable ts!

P.S. And please don't reply with a reference to Nielson 4!

The " inexcuseable " would have been a great title for a Symphony. I can think of a couple of candidates....

[Beef Oven]

The " inexcuseable " would have been a great title for a Symphony. I can think of a couple of candidates....

It's what we referred to #4 at Uni!!

Edit: My memory is wrong, we called it 'The Indistinguishable'.

[BBMmk2]

Szell done Mahler's 6th? Whoa!!

[Petrushka]

Szell done Mahler's 6th? Whoa!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Symphony-Tragic-Great-Performances/dp/B000JCDSEO/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1360436335&sr=1-2

A live recording from October 1967 it's been available since LP issue.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Szell done Mahler's 6th? Whoa!!

The first version, I think, to fit the work onto a single CD - on SONY's Essential Classics series in the 1990s.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Symphony-No-6-Tragic/dp/B000026HYJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1360436670&sr=1-2

... used copies from 68p + P&P!