Mahler Symphonies
Sun, Oct 28 2012, 8:08PM
#2
RE: Mahler Symphonies
- Kempe with BBC SO with J. Baker and L. Spiess. Another "live" jewell from the archives of BBC, on BBC Legends.
I take it you've actually heard this recording - not always a given with you - and you're not just parroting the original Gramophone review? It enters high on my list of Worst Gramophone Reviews. I bought it because I much admire Kempe in most things and I love Baker in anything. However, not for the first time (I also have his recordings of symphonies 1 and 2) I find Kempe fails to generate the drama and tension Mahler needs and Spiess is an absolute disaster, scooping up to all the high notes and sounding tortured when he gets there. On top of that the recording, as with so many of these much-ballyhooed BBC Legend issues, is all over the place with at least one terrible microphone drop-out.
I'm still searching for a recording of Das Lied that matches the one in my head but in the meantime the Walter/Ferrier will do.
Sun, Oct 28 2012, 11:11PM
#3
RE: Mahler Symphonies
I can almost totally agree with you Tagalie. The reason I called it "a jewel" is for what any recording by Kempe and Baker may constitute, particularly if it is not a commercial recording but "newly discovered" from the archives. Definitely, I cannot appreciate the recording which I trust does much of the damage in the listening performance.
In any case, I mention some of the recordings that could be additional choices for any potential reader. I know you can choose what could be the best for you beyond any suggestion.
Parla
Mon, Oct 29 2012, 1:51AM
#4
RE: Mahler Symphonies
Also the 6th with conductor Harmut Haenchen and Slovenian Philharmonic (or Philharmonia Slavonica), which I commented in amazon and gently the conductor included that commentary in his web site.
I agree that Haenchen is an underrated and always interesting Mahler-conductor. I guess that 6th stems from the Brilliant Classic box with all those hererogenous recordings making one Mahler cycle?
I always found it to be an interesting idea to assemble a box like that. Not focusing on a single conductor, but picking the best or rarest or most interesting recordings to make a full cycle.
Not that the Brilliant Classic box manages to get the best available versions of course, but price-wise it was unbeatable (at least half of my cd collection consists of Brilliant Classics issues, bought "en masse" when they were dirt cheap, till 4-5 years ago) and like I said, the concept is refreshing. Most of the performances in the box are middle of the road, including the Neumann 5 and 9 and Masur's 7 (too bad they didn't get Neumann's 7 - I grew up with the LP's and still think it's a wonderful version). I don't really like Jarvi's rather superficial 8th, and the 2th (Hans Vonk) is mediocre apart from the soloists. The 1st (Siminov) is nice but not very idiomatic and strangely enough for the 3th, Horenstein's famous recording is included. Nothing to complain about, of course.
As for the Haenchen 6th and 4th, I very much prefer his 4th. The lighter touch which appears to be his trademark doesn't work well in the austere, sinister 6th, and the orchestra is in better shape in the 4th as well.
Tue, Oct 30 2012, 1:58PM
#5
RE: Mahler Symphonies
- Kempe with BBC SO with J. Baker and L. Spiess. Another "live" jewell from the archives of BBC, on BBC Legends.
.......Spiess is an absolute disaster, scooping up to all the high notes and sounding tortured when he gets there.
I've not heard that recording, but it's good to know that Spiess brings his unique qualities to Mahler as well.
its possible to find great and interesting versions in bargain titles, for example 1st symphony with Zdenek Kosler conducting Slovak Phiklharmonic in NAXOS, who was destinated to record the Mahler s integral but he died and was replaced by Antoni Wit; the 4th with Lubljana Orchestra conducted by Anton nanut with Eric Emannuel Cencic, to day a destacated contratenour, he was 9 years old at that time, the best version recorded with a soprano-boy, for over Bernstein-Concertgebow Orch version. Also the 6th with conductor Harmut Haenchen and Slovenian Philharmonic (or Philharmonia Slavonica), which I commented in amazon and gently the conductor included that commentary in his web site.
"This is a live recording with the Netherlands Phil. Orchestra, now
edited in a Mahler integral in Brilliant, the first movt., a "march", is
something slow, like in Barbirolli's, I prefer the Haenchen's studio
recording of this work in OPUS with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra
(Philarmonia Slavonica), from the 80's, an energetic, dinamic,
colourful interpretation in only one CD, in a bargain collection.
Haenchen is an imense conductor and I think the appropiate conductor for
(for example) Philadelphia or NY orchestras in USA. I recommend you to
visit his web direction in "www.haenchen.net".
oscarolavarria "chileanlawyer" (Santiago, Chile)"
Do you know other titles?? oscar.olavarria