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

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I did think there was a CD version of Lucerne/Abbado, but apparently not...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Speaking of damage, I suppose you know about this? http://www.swr.de/orchester-und-ense...kji/index.html

Indeed. There was a thread on this very topic recently.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The Abbado is probably a front runner in the Alison stakes: it was Claudio's Mahler #8 that JJ chose in his last Seedy Review.

Honest ferney; the tipster you can trust!

But I don't think JJ hears this piece in the same way that I do: I agreed with everything he said about the work, but felt that his comments weren't illustrated in the excerpts he chose to demonstrate them. I didn't like the Jansens, Fischer, MTT or Chailly performances at all, and have always felt that both Karajan and Bernstein brought out the possibility of a "triumphant" ending superbly! Ho hum.

Paradoxically, his description of the Barbirolli brought me closer to the performance than I've ever felt before, and certainly more than I think he intended ("one-dimensional" seemed rather over-simplified) - though it still sounded like Sisyphus shoving a rock uphill. And I rather enjoyed Sinopoli - the rubato rather well judged and not at all over-indulged.

A curious BaL: many insightful comments on the work, a very good overall choice, but some peculiar "alternatives".

[Wensleydale Blue]

Rather liked the Jansons' clips so just bought it from Zoverstocks for £1.16.

[Wensleydale Blue]

Glad to see Tennstedt got an honourable mention for his studio version - I am waiting for his 1983 live Proms peformance to arrive in the post - hopefully this morning.

My Gergiev version however, seems to have gone lame before the first fence.

[amateur51]

Rather liked the Jansons' clips so just bought it from Zoverstocks for £1.16.

Cracking spotting, Wensleydale - many thanks

[Thropplenoggin]

Rather liked the Jansons' clips so just bought it from Zoverstocks for £1.16.

Good luck with that. A seller I have shunned since a CD never arrived, nor did its replacement. I believe their customer service is operated by a collection of inanimate objects.

[amateur51]

Honest ferney; the tipster you can trust!

But I don't think JJ hears this piece in the same way that I do: I agreed with everything he said about the work, but felt that his comments weren't illustrated in the excerpts he chose to demonstrate them. I didn't like the Jansens, Fischer, MTT or Chailly performances at all, and have always felt that both Karajan and Bernstein brought out the possibility of a "triumphant" ending superbly! Ho hum.

Paradoxically, his description of the Barbirolli brought me closer to the performance than I've ever felt before, and certainly more than I think he intended ("one-dimensional" seemed rather over-simplified) - though it still sounded like Sisyphus shoving a rock uphill. And I rather enjoyed Sinopoli - the rubato rather well judged and not at all over-indulged.

A curious BaL: many insightful comments on the work, a very good overall choice, but some peculiar "alternatives".

A very decent (and fair) summary ferney I enjoyed this BaL even though I disagreed with quite a lot of it. It stirred things up and enabled me to hear versions that I hadn't heard before.

Was there any mention of Rattle? His 'live' performances have always blown my socks off

[Wensleydale Blue]

Good luck with that. A seller I have shunned since a CD never arrived, nor did its replacement. I believe their customer service is operated by a collection of inanimate objects.

Bought 4-5 items from them in last few months (mostly Mahler) and never let down yet (touches wooden desk top with elbow!) but they are one of the slowest to dispatch, so maybe not quite inanimate but perhaps the life support system needs a bit of a kick.

[Thropplenoggin]

...so maybe not quite inanimate but perhaps the life support system needs a bit of a kick.

[amateur51]

Bought 4-5 items from them in last few months (mostly Mahler) and never let down yet (touches wooden desk top with elbow!) but they are one of the slowest to dispatch, so maybe not quite inanimate but perhaps the life support system needs a bit of a kick.

I've ordered masses from them with no problem but try to avoid them now & go for smaller sellers (usually at 1p more )

[LaurieWatt]

Tennstedt + hammer blows

Glad to see Tennstedt got an honourable mention for his studio version - I am waiting for his 1983 live Proms peformance to arrive in the post - hopefully this morning.

My Gergiev version however, seems to have gone lame before the first fence.

Whilst I must confess to a vested interest, it is surprising to hear a BAL on Mahler 6 without even a passing mention of Tennstedt's 2 live recordings - EMI and LPO label - especially when his much less impressive studio recording did get a short quote. Whether you like KT or not he made a very significant contribution to the discography of this symphony.

Also on the subject of recorded hammer blows, my two favourite are Haitink with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and David Zinman and his Zurich Tonhalle (which also did not get a mention in the review). I was at one of the CSO performances in Chicago which comprise Haitink's recording and recall a huge wooden platform to the left of the stage and resting thereon a vast heavy wooden mallet. There were three available percussionists: two great hulking men and this tiny slim little Chinese lady. Guess who was wielding the mallet!!

Finally very odd for a BAL recommendation without apparently a CD version.

[Karafan]

Finally very odd for a BAL recommendation without apparently a CD version.

Well, in fairness Laurie, the Fischer disc is a hybrid SACD so will play perfectly well in an ordinary CD player (it uses the redbook CD layer).

K.

Agree about the Tennstedt, though!

[LaurieWatt]

Well, in fairness Laurie, the Fischer disc is a hybrid SACD so will play perfectly well in an ordinary CD player (it uses the redbook CD layer).

K.

Agree about the Tennstedt, though!

Yes, thank you; I have become very impressed with Fischer lately so I must give it a try!
L

[Madame Suggia]

Just giving the LSO Gergiev cd a blow with a vast heavy wooden mallet