Cheap Mahler: Symphonies No. 1 & No. 2; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Music) (Gustav Mahler, Gustav Mahler, Emilia Cundari, Maureen Forrester, Mildred Miller, Bruno Walter, New York Philharmonic, Columbia Symphony Orchestra) Price

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Customer Reviews of Mahler: Symphonies No. 1 & No. 2; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen

In two words: Bruno Walter.

Balance makes the difference. These are the only recordings that are well balanced, musically or sonically. The blending of instruments as the melody shifts between them is seamless. It is always on its toes, but it stays relaxed even at triple-forte. (That's how Lance wins the Tour de France, too.) There is more listening space inside the music than any other performance I've heard. The waltzes taste like fresh snow on cedar.

Maybe these not exactly audiophile recordings. But there's more music on them, anyway.

Best #2 I Know Of!
(This review applies to Symphony #2 only)

My favorite composer: Mahler. My favorite of his symphonies: #2. My favorite recording of Mahler's #2: Bruno Walter & the NY Philharmonic. I have four (five?) different recordings of the #2 by conductors supposedly well-known for their Mahler interpretations (including Bernstein and Blomstedt) and have attended a performance of #2 by the San Francisco Symphony conducted my M.T.Thomas (who has conducted some fantastic Mahler symphonies that I've attended, most notably #5, but I digress). HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE ALL THESE PERFORMANCES IS THIS RECORDING BY WALTER & THE NYP! This symphony, and this recording in particular, reaches parts of my soul that I never knew existed. Whenever I listen to this CD, I feel like I understand the entire meaning of life. Every single note and pause in this piece is an intimate friend to me that speaks its own unique message in its own unique language.

The above description may sound "wierd" but I know of no other way to state it. Words fail me. And I can't read a note of music to save my life, so I cannot review this from a musical/technical standpoint. All I can say is I love Mahler, I love The Resurrection, and Bruno Walter's version is the best I ever heard. I can't imagine life without it -- and I mean that without exaggeration or hyperbole. If you love Mahler's #2 and have never heard this recording, please PLEASE do yourself a favor and listen to it!

Excellent
These are the best recordings of these works. (Especially, the performance of 2nd Symphony).

Still, 2nd Symphony "Resurrection" is one of the best works of Mahler; this is music like film music.
Be constituted in 5 movements, as you know, like a cantata form. Scored for very large ensemble (as usual): quadruple woodwinds plus 4 piccolos, 2 cor anglais, 2 E-flat clarinets, contrabassoon, 10 horns, 10 trumpets, 4 trombones, Contrabass-Tuba, 2 (in some passages 3) set timpani, bass drum, cymbals, 2 or more snare drum, triangle, small and large gongs, large bells, 2 harps, organ, strings, a small ensemble placed on offstage (brass ensemble taken from main orchestra), soprano and alto soloists and chorus. In this symphony, Mahler nearly to confess his sin.

And this performance with New York Philharmonic is the best recording. Sound quality is very good, was recorded at Carnegie Hall.

And, the performances of Symphony No. 1 "Titan" and "Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesselen" with Columbia Symphony Orchestra and Maureen Forrester are also very good. The musicians of this orchestra were being constituted from different studio orchestra that plays the film music. Still, they were placed on American Legion Hall, Hollywood. And, as you know, Bruno Walter was lived his last years in Beverly Hills and his latest recordings made with this orchestra.

This is a must have for Mahler admirers.

Very highly recommended.