The Ninth, the Tenth, and Das Lied von der Erde are so superior to the rest of Mahler's output that they almost seem the work of a different, much greater composer. But then, as Alma knew very well, you love Gustav for his flaws, not despite them.
Alex Ross, that Mahler aficionado, has published his list of favorite recordings of the symphonies and of Das Lied Von Der Erde.
One is, obviously, unlikely to resist. Here are Opera Chic's favorite recordings:
Mahler I: Ormandy, Philly -- Appropriately vulgar
Mahler II: Klemperer & Ferrier, Concertgebouw -- Best Mahler conductor & best mezzo ever
Mahler III: Barbirolli, Berliner -- Shakespeherian in its majesty
Mahler IV: Haitink, Berliner -- Bernie shines
Mahler V: Temirkanov, St. Petersburg -- The most delicately, intricately woven version
Mahler VI: Sinopoli, Philharmonia -- The greatest intellectual of the podium at work
Mahler VII: Solti, Chicago -- Simply classic
Mahler VIII: Chailly, Concertgebouw -- Merciless, elegant order out of chaos
Mahler IX: C. Abbado, S. Cecilia -- Re Claudio, the philosopher King
Mahler X: Harding, Wiener Philharmoniker -- Young Daniel joins the major league
Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde: Bernstein, Wiener Philharmoniker -- Lenny lives
Not altogether in agreement with you on all of them oc BUT I am glad to see the Kathleen Ferrier entry!!
Posted by: nick | June 05, 2009 at 01:30 PM
"The Ninth, the Tenth, and Das Lied von der Erde are so superior to the rest of Mahler's output that they almost seem the work of a different, much greater composer."
Couldn't disagree more!
Posted by: littleshotlarry | June 05, 2009 at 04:30 PM
I do indeed love myself that Daniel Harding Mahler's 10th. One of the better ones I've heard. I have to disagree with Sinopoli's 6th, however.
Posted by: Timm | June 05, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Gotta disagree about 5 and 9.... - both are done amazing service by Ben Zander with the Boston Phil. Jesus. Amazing. And the 9th comes with a commentary disc where Zander goes throuhg ideas of the whole piece. The way this guy explains music is magic- he did a masterclass at my high school ever week (our students were in the Boston Youth Symphony), and it was the musical highlight of most student's week- you can't help but we swept up.
I think Ben Zander is one of the best Mahler people alive today, and he firmly sees Mahler as a Romantic (which, from his readings, I agree with). The 9th is a totally different score than I'd heard before, and the 5th just takes you in whole. All his other ones are great, but 5 and 9 really stand out against other recordings.
Amazing.
Posted by: me | June 05, 2009 at 05:11 PM
Always MOST interesting to read how anyone manages to distill Mahler symphony performances.
I love to explore opinions about Mahler as those often enough exceed and sometimes transcend a person's expected interests and tastes.
I was reminded immediately of Tony Duggan's invaluable columns a musicweb which explore (I wouldn't say compare) generations of Mahler recordings because he has advocated Barbirolli's Third (with the BBC, not the Berliner's -- was that a commercial release, anyone?) for awhile as his favorite.
I'm most intrigued with the Temirkanov whose existence surprises and delights me. Over the last few years I've spent more hours than not exploring Russian Mahler performances dating back five decades -- Barshai, Thomas Sanderling and Kondrashin keep inviting themselves to be heard, often more than their Western colleagues (and Fedoseyev's work is prized by more than a few Mahler specialists). So the Termirkanov becomes an instant quest.
Only choice he made which shocked me was Chailly's recording. "Merciless" I understand... pointless and turgid less so. My response to that (as if that matters) is for someone to look, um, online to find the recently available, always fabled Stoki recording of it with the NY Phil... as original as it is faithful to the score. (He was in the crowd at the Munich premiere... which had a more transformational effect on his career and soul than even his clever decision to switch his accent from English -- possibly cockney -- to Polish.)
Anyway, Miz Opera Chic... thanks as always for something that makes a day more than a little more meaningful.
Here's a link to Tony Duggan's evocative, thoughtful, well-written surveys.
http://www.musicweb-international.com/Mahler/index.html
Posted by: Jim F. | June 05, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Hmm. Way to much to say but we take special note of the Abbado 9th. We first heard the 9th live at Carnegie through the efforts of the politically-challanged Maestro and his BPO and must say that remains a seminal experience, which we recollect with greater clarity than some things we have heard within the month. We do not own this recording but the byline and OC's recommendation will induce us to make a purchase.
Posted by: Furst | June 05, 2009 at 06:32 PM
I like the Das Lied with Tennstedt, Baltsa & Konig.
Posted by: Ernest | June 05, 2009 at 07:12 PM
I like Temirkanov's Mahler and glad that this recording appered on your list. Unfortunatly he performed only till 5th. When I was about 16 I presented him the score of 8th I had a great hope then that sometime he will perform it.
By the way your post remainded me that I should buy this recording - heard his Mahler only live.
Posted by: Vera | June 06, 2009 at 12:10 AM
Mahler isn't my favorite composer, but I do appreciate him. I think Alex Ross has it right that favorite recordings are particularly personal when it comes to Mahler. My favorite 4th is an old recording with Fritz Reiner and Chicago on the classic RCA Victor label Haitink's Mahler 9 with the Concertgebouw is truly incredible, just amazing. My favorite Mahler 3rd is the one with Abbado and the good old Wieners on Deutsche Grammophon. Can't beat Sir Simon and the Berliners when it comes to the 10th (on EMI), ditto the 5th. There's a lot to choose from.
Posted by: Warren | June 06, 2009 at 12:39 AM
A while back, O.C. recommended a #3 with Haitink and the CSO; like the blogger herself, the other side of sublime! The Solti #8 is in a league by itself. Nowadays, the DVDs w/ Abaddo have become my preferred Mahler. Esp. #2 and #3. Das Lied von der Erde? Both Christa Ludwig and Kathleen Ferrier tear your heart out.
Posted by: El Cajon | June 06, 2009 at 08:55 PM
No 1: Concertgebouw, Jansons (RCO Live)
No 2: Hendricks, Ludwig, NYPhil, Bernstein (DG)
No 3: CBSO etc. Rattle (EMI)
No 4: Bonney, Concertgebouw, Chailly (Decca)
No 5: VPO, Bernstein (DG)
No 6: Tonhalle, Zinman (Sony)
No 7: NYPhil, Bernstein (DG)
No 8: Philharmonia, Sinopoli (DG)
Das Lied von der Erde: Blochwitz, Remmert, Ensemble Musique Oblique, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi) - in the Schoenberg/Riehn arrangement
No 9: VPO, Walter (EMI)
No 10 (Deryck Cooke etc.): BPO, Rattle (EMI) or the DSO, Chailly (Decca)... still undecided
Des Knaben Wunderhorn (not included in Ross's list): Connolly, Henschel, Orchestre de Champs-Elysées, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi)
Rückert Lieder, Kindertotenlieder, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen: Hampson, VPO, Bernstein (DG)
Posted by: Gavin Plumley | September 07, 2009 at 03:00 PM