Rattle/BPO/EMI Mahler SACDs (issued in Japan)

[John Kim]

http://www.sa-cd.net/search/mahler+rattle

Looks like they are worth getting for the improved sound.

John

[Roland Flessner]

I find that I like Rattle's Mahler less and less. When I survey recordings of a particular symphony, Rattle tends to get eliminated early, to the point where I am considering getting rid of all the Birmingham recordings I have. While I like the antiphonally divided violin sections, Rattle's gratuitous tempo changes break the momentum.

The PBO recordings I have--M5 and M9--seems somewhat better but are still jinxed. To my ears, the BPO is just wrong for Mahler: the sound is too blended, but Mahler is all counterpoint and the parts must register is discrete voices.

[John Kim]

I find that I like Rattle's Mahler less and less. When I survey recordings of a particular symphony, Rattle tends to get eliminated early, to the point where I am considering getting rid of all the Birmingham recordings I have. While I like the antiphonally divided violin sections, Rattle's gratuitous tempo changes break the momentum.

The PBO recordings I have--M5 and M9--seems somewhat better but are still jinxed. To my ears, the BPO is just wrong for Mahler: the sound is too blended, but Mahler is all counterpoint and the parts must register is discrete voices.

I mostly agree.

But I still want to give them a chance with the SACD releases.

John

[Graf Danilo]

I find that I like Rattle's Mahler less and less. When I survey recordings of a particular symphony, Rattle tends to get eliminated early, to the point where I am considering getting rid of all the Birmingham recordings I have. While I like the antiphonally divided violin sections, Rattle's gratuitous tempo changes break the momentum.

The PBO recordings I have--M5 and M9--seems somewhat better but are still jinxed. To my ears, the BPO is just wrong for Mahler: the sound is too blended, but Mahler is all counterpoint and the parts must register is discrete voices.

I attended early November Rattle's performance of the Ninth in Berlin, and to my ears the BPO seems to be in a state of wonder, only comparable to that of the Concertgebouw orchestra. In the last two seasons, I've heard  5 live performances of the Ninth: 2 under Abbado and the Lucerne forces, 1 with Haitink and the RCO, 1 with Gatti and the Wiener, and Rattle with the Berliner. I can assure you that Rattle's concert was quite an experience...

[barry guerrero]

Just to play devil's advocate, I do think that the 9th is one of the Mahler symphonies that they nearly always do an excellent job with. They wouldn't be my first pick for M3 or M7 on most days. 50/50.