Recent Posts

41

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: So it's official: Pentatone issuing a 1-9 Bychkov Mahler box

« Last post by barryguerrero on January 27, 2026, 12:22:04 PM »

Guys and gals, here's a shop in San Diego that's taking preorders at the ridiculous price of $60.93. You might want to inquire if that means shipped directly to you, or if they would tack on a shipping charge. I think they should be able to have it shipped directly to you from the distributor or the 'one stop' service they might use (?). I would assume 'preorder' means they keep your money now, and ship on or near the release date. If that part doesn't bother you, you might want to contact them.

https://redyetiwarehouse.com/UPC/8717306264907?srsltid=AfmBOoqeBqBfmeEbC-X-Hsx6loUFyE9xMXItoCg3F-zV_rEmR-aBEfyk

42

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: So it's official: Pentatone issuing a 1-9 Bychkov Mahler box

« Last post by barryguerrero on January 27, 2026, 12:31:12 AM »

I wonder if Pentatone can get around tariffs, as they do have a U.S. office at the S.F. Conservatory of Music building. I think their main office is still in The Netherlands, but the S.F. office seems to have a fair amount of clout.

43

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: So it's official: Pentatone issuing a 1-9 Bychkov Mahler box

« Last post by waderice on January 26, 2026, 03:27:05 PM »

The Minnesota Orchestra was selling the Vanska/BIS cycle for $50.

Seeing this price for the Minnesota Mahler cycle makes me want to kick myself, for I paid almost twice that for it from Amazon.    I went to the Minnesota Orchestra's website to see if it was still available, but couldn't find it.  If I purchase the Bychkov/CPO cycle, it probably would cost more for me to order it from their website, as I'd likely have to pay import and tariff duties, so it would likely be more worth it to buy it from Amazon.

44

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: Jurowski/LPO/LPO M9th - my short review

« Last post by barryguerrero on January 25, 2026, 08:08:18 PM »

Oh, I don't know. I'd want to give it another close listen before proclaiming it to be 'fully remarkable'. As David Hurwitz says, everybody puts their best foot forward when they do the 9th. To me, both the Rattle/BR Klassik and Vanska/BIS recordings of M9 were really good as well.

45

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: Jurowski/LPO/LPO M9th - my short review

« Last post by John Kim on January 25, 2026, 06:50:39 PM »

Barry

I am glad to know you too like it very much. Yes, the sonics are unusually clear and vivid albeit somewhat too close, typical of the LPO productions. I agree it is a very unique interpretation of the work and some folks may need some time to get used to it.

'almost a remarkable M9th', so in what area(s) do you think it isn't perfect?^

PS I ordered the CD from amazon when it was on presale for $14.99^ It was originally supposed to be delivered on the Jan. 24th. Now, it's moved to March 9! 

John

46

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: Jurowski/LPO/LPO M9th - my short review

« Last post by barryguerrero on January 25, 2026, 12:35:11 AM »

John, I thought this was an almost remarkable Mahler 9. It's by the far the best recorded release from the Jurowski/L.P.O. series of Mahler recordings thus far. It's a very unique 'interpretation' (how the movements are proportioned). Jurowski makes it quite convincing, but the better than usual sonics from the LPO really help. I wish his Mahler 8 had been this well recorded. For once, we hear how good this orchestra can actually be - they weren't defeated by the indifferent acoustics of Royal Festival Hall.

I did a small bit of research, and you can get a CD of this for just over $20 for we U.S. customers, from Europadisc in England. That's including the shipping. The base price is just a tad north of $14.

47

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: So it's official: Pentatone issuing a 1-9 Bychkov Mahler box

« Last post by barryguerrero on January 25, 2026, 12:30:10 AM »

The Minnesota Orchestra was selling the Vanska/BIS cycle for $50. I regret not having 'swallowed my pride' and just bought myself a box. As annoyed as I am over how Pentatone is handling this, I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.

48

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: So it's official: Pentatone issuing a 1-9 Bychkov Mahler box

« Last post by waderice on January 24, 2026, 03:06:52 PM »

They could at least also issue a partial box with the remaining symphonies for those who have already purchased 1-5 individually.   

Will never happen, at least from a cost of production viewpoint and return on sales to justify production.  Earlier example is with the Vanska/Minnesota cycle box.  All the symphonies in that box came with the individual booklets for each of the symphonies if you had previously bought them singly.

49

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Jurowski/LPO/LPO M9th - my short review

« Last post by John Kim on January 24, 2026, 12:32:57 AM »

Breathtakingly and shockingly vivid realization of Mahler's densest score, single-handedly delivered by London's most virtuosic ensemble working today.

The first movement which is loaded with remarkably (and dizzyingly!) contrapuntal lines even by Mahler's standard weaves through its 26'35" duration starkly yet vividly under the direction of Jurowski. That the trombones and tuba could be stronger at the main climax at 17'28" is not as detrimental as one may worry because what has happened up to the point is so pervasively intense.

The Adagio (IV.), although it moves at a pulse quicker than normal, 22'41", hardly feels rushed thanks to Jurowski's brilliant pacing. The closing pages marked pppp (pianississimo) couldn't be more achingly beautiful and touching.

John

50

Gustav Mahler and Related Discussions / Re: So it's official: Pentatone issuing a 1-9 Bychkov Mahler box

« Last post by John Kim on January 24, 2026, 12:30:58 AM »

They could at least also issue a partial box with the remaining symphonies for those who have already purchased 1-5 individually.   

If they release the 6th-9th individually they'll probably cost around $30 for each, higher than $18.5 that you'd pay for each of the 6th-9th should you get the entire box set. Pentatone must have thought about it and decided to sell the set for $75^

John