Interesting that you posted the Culture Map link. My Boss is a primary owner of Culture Map, so thanks for the advertising!
If I were to write a headline about the concerts, it would be as follows:
Eschenbach Turns the Page on Mahler 8 in Houston
I went to both performances. Overall, the second night was much more enjoyable than the first (with one major caveat to cover later). There were fewer noticeable trumpet boo-boos, the musicians and choir were more in sync, and most of all there was some nice flow to Part 2 of the symphony.
Although Eschenbach conducted Part 1 fairly briskly both nights, Part 2 was a real snoozer at the first performance. He just drew out every phrase to the nth degree and the whole thing seemed like it was going to stop at any moment. The finale was nice, but the 2nd of the last 3 tam tam crashes was very timid (1st and 3rd were fine).
All of this was much better the second night. Every thing flowed from one section to the next and the final three tam tam crashes (doubled by the cymbals) were simply massive.
Common to both nights, the electronic organ was surprisingly strong and had very good presence. The singing was very good overall both nights. Erin Wall had the Magna Peccatrix part and was superb throughout. John Relyea was the Bass and was equally wonderful. I think the tenor was named Donald Pickle. He was very good, if not exactly special. The Mater Gloriosa had a...glorious voice -- one of the best I've heard in that part. Both mezzo-sopranos were good. Twyla Robinson was very good as Gretchen.
Unlike Part 2, Part 1 was conducted in a similarly brisk fashion both nights. The orchestra and chorus sounded more in sync on the second night though. Unfortunately, disaster struck just before the off stage brass came in during Gloria. According to my neighbor's son, who sang in one of the boys choirs, the problem came about because Eschenbach turned 2 pages of the score at once and started conducting the wrong section. The whole thing from the off stage brass through the finish was a complete disjointed mess. Ugh! I've never experienced that at an HSO concert before. It says something about how much better Part 2 was conducted on Day 2 that I still liked Day 2 so much more -- given what a disaster was the finale to Part 1.