Karajan's Mahler

[Josefslegende]

Wondering what opinions are on HvK's Mahler forays?

As we know, he only took up Mahler toward the end of his career and left us recordings of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th symphonies. The latter two seem to be especially well-regarded, though I've yet to hear either of his recordings of the 9th. 

Some opine that Karajan glossed over the tensions in the music.  Would this be a fair point?

[barry guerrero]

To me, his M9 recordings are self-evidently quite great. I like the "live" one better than the studio one, but John Kim - our resident M9 specialist - feels just the opposite. I think his Mahler 5 is quite great too. It's still one of my very favorite M5 recordings ever. I feel less strongly about his M4 & M6. I've never understood why the British critics (Gramophone; BBC Mag.) hold Karajan's Mahler 6 in such high esteem. I really don't get that. But it's certainly not terrible either. Karajan's "DLvdE" is really quite good also.

I think Gramophone and BBC pushed the Karajan Mahler 6 for so long simply because, A.) they never considered the Barbirolli one to be so hot (which I actually like better than his highly celebrated M5), and B.) the old Horenstein/Stockholm M6 wasn't very recommendable because of all the "clams" from the brass. They weren't about to push Bernstein's early Mahler, so they just clung to the Karajan M6 - once that came upon the scene. I actually prefer Haitink's first Concertgebouw M6 recording to the Karajan. I think that Haitink's two inner movements for M6 - back in those days, mind you - are much better than Karajan's.

[sbugala]

Haitink's early M6 is one of the few from his first cycle I don't have. I may have to keep an eye open for that at the used record stores.

[John Kim]

Agreed. Haitink earlier M6th with RCO was pretty good in the two inner movts. The outer movts. aren't bad but more power and vehemence would have made the recording better.

John, listening to Svetlanov's M6th (it's awfully good! )