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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: So why do labels start Mahler cycles, only to give up on them!?!

« Last post by John Kim on August 17, 2025, 10:26:16 PM »

Philips actually acknowledged that the reason why they decided to discontinue the Haitink/BPO Mahler cycle was because their CDs weren't selling well. They had only two more to go: M8th & 9th.

John

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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: So why do labels start Mahler cycles, only to give up on them!?!

« Last post by erikwilson7 on August 14, 2025, 05:49:08 PM »

Less exciting but still worth mentioning: whatever happened to the Netopil/Essen recordings? There's another cycle I was expecting. And the new P. Järvi project has been quiet since the first release of M5 (which I thought was really quite good).

It's as if the promise of a cycle is a tool that labels use to generate excitement and sell a few records, and hope people eventually forget about the promise.

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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / So why do labels start Mahler cycles, only to give up on them!?!

« Last post by barryguerrero on August 14, 2025, 04:03:17 PM »

These seems to happen time and time again. Record labels make huge announcements about starting a new Mahler cycle with tons of enthusiasm, only to give up on the project somewhere downstream - simply because they don't sell like Madonna records. Is this stupid or what?!?  .   .   . The trend to give up started with the Haitink/Berlin cycle on Philips. Actually, RCA dropped any attempt at completing James Levine's Mahler cycle, allegedly having to do with his first known scandal with a minor. Even though the first two releases of Mahler with Andrew Litton and the Dallas Symphony made something of a relative splash, Delos never did release the long promised 8th symphony from Dallas with Litton (which I was greatly looking forward to). And now were getting this sudden 'Mahler release constipation' from Pentatone. Don't bother with the hype if you can't see something through to the end.

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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: twice written to Pentatone; twice zero response

« Last post by John Kim on August 01, 2025, 05:09:55 AM »

We have live archives of Bychkov/CPO M6th and 9th (both of which are outstanding), so at least we have an idea how the rest of the cycle might have gone.

John

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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: twice written to Pentatone; twice zero response

« Last post by John Kim on August 01, 2025, 04:46:16 AM »

Maybe they themselves don't know what to do with the rest of the cycle.

I read somewhere that Pentatone will release the entire cycle next year including the 6th-9th (possibly the 10th Adagio as well) in a single box set.

John

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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / twice written to Pentatone; twice zero response

« Last post by barryguerrero on July 28, 2025, 06:27:51 PM »

I may be a pest to them, but I find Pentatone's lack of response to my inquiries to be irresponsible and rude. I've twice tried to ask them what their intentions are for the rest of the S. Bychkov/Czech Phil. Mahler cycle. In my second inquiry, I even stated that, "we don't know yet", would be a perfectly legitimate and satisfactory answer. Nothing. Nada, zilch, nichts, nyet, zippo!

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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: Austrian Radio (O1) broadcast of Y. Sado/Tonkustler Orch. M8

« Last post by barryguerrero on June 19, 2025, 08:51:47 PM »

John, according to one online source, the 9th was performed just a year ago (June 2024).

https://www.operabase.com/productions/symphony-no-9-188903/de

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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: Austrian Radio (O1) broadcast of Y. Sado/Tonkustler Orch. M8

« Last post by John Kim on June 17, 2025, 05:44:11 PM »

Wagner can be toxic and addictive. But I never knew M8th can be too. I've listened to the archive four times already and don't think I'll be tired of it^ This is a great performance by any standard. Sado's tempo is for most part slow, maybe a bit too slow, but he manages to keep the music cogent and still flowing. He holds every part of the orchestra, choirs, and soloists really well too. The much drawn out coda of Part II is the slowest and grandest I've ever heard, but hey, it WORKS! I am eagerly waiting for the upcoming official release of the concert.

John

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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: Austrian Radio (O1) broadcast of Y. Sado/Tonkustler Orch. M8

« Last post by John Kim on June 15, 2025, 09:38:54 PM »

Singing is strong throughout. So are the brass and organ. I quite like it. It will make an excellent recording of M8th.

Question: Didn't they perform and record M9th before they did M8th?

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Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: Austrian Radio (O1) broadcast of Y. Sado/Tonkustler Orch. M8

« Last post by John Kim on June 15, 2025, 08:52:23 PM »

Barry

Thanks for sharing. The second link sounds pretty darn good^ I like Sado's pace in Part I.

John