Mahler Symphonies

Thanks all .

Yes, Klemperet missed no 8 in his mahler cycle. I stick to Solti still.

Many contributors mention conductor, soloist, recording venue, medium on which a recording appears (LP, CD SACD etc) but hardly anyone mentions the choral contribution in symphonies 2 and 8, in terms of preference.

Any thoughts anybody?

Ruref, I believe, with some very compelling and solid conductors, even a mediocre Chorus can contribute their very best to the overall achievement of a convincing performance (Klemperer in his quite a few recordings of the work, Bernstein likewise, Tennstedt, Haitink, Solti, to name some). On the other hand, the best choral groups may fail under an inadequate (for the particular work or performance/recording) conductor (Kaplan with VPO and the Vienna Singverein in no.2, on DG, or Levine from the live from Salzburg with VPO, on Orfeo, or Zinman with Schweizer Kammerchor, on RCA, or Gergiev with LSO and Chorus etc.).

Parla

This is an old thread but I will put my two cents in, even tho I have not heard as many recordings as perhaps many of you.

I am just starting to listen to Chailly and I am blown away. The detail, the combination of modern sensibility with sumptuous beauty is startling.  I will have more to say later.

Some of my favorite recordings are:

#3: James Levine,  Bernstein (except too slow in the Finale)

#4 - Lorin Maazel/Battle with the VPO is not likely to be exceeded in my lifetime.  Also James Levine.

#5 and #6 - Bernstein/VPO

#7 The old Haitink/Conertgebouw.  Gergiev/LSO in amazing in the 1st movement.

#8 - No one gets it totally right.  Tennstedst/LPO in Part I, Solti in Part II, Sinopoli overall.

#9 - Haitink/Concertgebouw - recorded some 45 years ago, and yet to be surpassed. Complete perfection.

I am NOT a fan of Solti's Mahler, in general at all. I find it thick and overly high strung without much subtlety.  Part II of the 8th is a notable exception, and are his elegant recordings of the Resurrection.

Just recently, I have a great recordings of Mahler Sym No.9 by Barbirolli / Berliner Philharmoniker , 1964. The Adagio has a lot of heart and soul in it.

Why does almost everybody ignore Eliahu Inbal's Mahler recordings. His 10th is, in my opinion, much  superior to Rattle's.  

I do appreciate very much Inbal's recordings, not only of Mahler's Symphonies. Particularly those on Exton of Bruckner and Mahler (and recently Shostakovich) are quite rewarding listening experiences.

I have seen him in Berlin conducting Bruckner's Seventh and Mahler's Ninth. He delivered some stunning performances of incredible power, passion and technical precision. An underrated but great conductor.

Parla

My personal favourites, though I am not one to collect every version in sight:

N° 1 Solti/LSO

N° 2 Solti/LSO

N° 3 Rattle/ Birmingham S0

N° 4 Maazel/VPO

N° 5 Barbirolli/NPO

N° 6 Solti/Chicago

N° 7 Solti/Chicago

N° 8 Solti/Chicago

N° 9 Barbirolli/Berlin