I'm seeing rumblings that Y. Sado/Tonkunstler M8 to be released early 2026

[barryguerrero]

https://imusic.dk/music/0051497515829/sado-yutaka-tonkunstler-orchester-2026-mahler-sinfonie-nr-8-cd?srsltid=AfmBOopDrTHRnqZKJcIJza2iOX_HSFOF6DHFqZs9ZebTonKEqxvVs6tG

This at least gives you a bar code you can copy and paste in future weeks, to keep track of any progress . It appears the Sado M8 will be on two discs. Now if only Pentatone would get off its ass and get going on the rest of the Bychkov/Czech Phil. cycle.

[barryguerrero]

The Tunkunstler's own website is showing that the Mahler 8 is available as a new item. They carry the CD's at the ticket office on the Herrengasse in downtown Vienna. You can order through their website, but I don't know if they ship to the U.S. or not. Last year they didn't, but I think they're going through a different agency for those shipments now. I've written them an e-mail to find out. If they do ship to the U.S. and the cost isn't too outrageous, I may very well order a copy. Anyway, here's what the cover looks like (nothing exciting):

https://shop.tonkuenstler.at/webshop/webticket/itemdetail?itemId=1440&cents=2000

[barryguerrero]

I've gone ahead and ordered a copy of the M8 through the Tonkunstler's website. I'm in no hurry to receive it.

[barryguerrero]

Here are some samples of the final mix. It's going to be available first as downloads, here through Presto Classical (probably JPC as well). I have a hard copy coming from the Tonkunstler's Ticket Office. It sounds very good, but - as usual - the tenor is not the very best by any stretch.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/new-and-future-releases?date_range=Next+90+Days&search_query=mahler

[erikwilson7]

Wow, this is a long one! 87 minutes is around where Nagano's lands. A bit more than Boulez/Berlin.

[barryguerrero]

Even Wyn Morris is less at 84:30.

[John Kim]

I've heard a radio archive of the concert and I QUITE LIKED IT.

Sado's is a monumental Mahler 8th where singing of the soloists - powerful, heroic, and lyrical - takes the central foreground leading the rest of 1,000 players (as per 'Symphony of a Thousand') towards the apotheotic conclusions of Part I. & Part II.

John

[John Kim]

Barry,

Please let us know how your ordering the physical CD went.

Did they indeed ship it to the States for the S&H fee listed on their site?

John

[John Kim]

Throughout its 87 min. duration, it constantly reminded me that Mahler was, after all, a 'songful' composer. Under the direction of Yutaka Sado, the whole symphony SINGS; there were times when I was humming and singing along the music, especially where the singers entered. 😄

The coda of Part II., which is drawn out to a heavenly length by Sado, will CHOKE YOU, choke your body and soul!^ Never have the closing pages of Mahler 8th been played with more power, ecstasy, and elevation since Vaclav Neumann did with Czech Philharmonic orchestra some 45 years ago.

John

PS Throughout, organ is very strong and loud especially in climactic passages, e.g., the codas of Part I. & II.

[barryguerrero]

Through the Tonkunstler's website, they sold the set for 20 Euros. There were two options for shipping. I paid for the most expensive, 6 Euro option. Then I e-mailed them to see if the order went through OK. They told me they had already shipped it, so I guess the 6 Euro option suffices for the shipping. Coming from Austria, it's going to take a while. I don't know if the tariffs goons have to assess it as well. I shouldn't think so, but nothing surprises me today.

[John Kim]

26 Euro (=$30.16) for the 2 discs including everything is not bad^ Plz let me know when it arrives. I might order form them too^

John