Was there for the Sunday performance of M8 in Amsterdam under Jansons. It was only my third live M8 (second was Boulez/Staatskapelle) and it was definitely something very special. I never experienced such a hushed audience! Either they really respect the orchestra and Jansons or they felt as well, that a M8 is something extraordinary whenever it happens. And Robert Dean Smith was, I think, even a bit better than last I saw him live with Boulez. The choirs weren't big, but my, was the hall filled with sound (my first time in the Concertgebouw; it really has a fantastic sound)! I had the feeling the brass had to watch how loud they're playing, resulting with a nice glowing sound that organically rises just above the orchestra when needed. I recorded from a Dutch radio the concert stream, but it's in wma format (Windows Media Audio) but VLC should be able to play it even for those on other than Windows platform (let me know if there's interest).
I can tell you, that cameras were there and from a posting on the orchestra's Facebook page it is obvious that it wasn't only for a TV broadcast, but for a DVD: "Massive stage for Mahler 8 and it will be expanded with lights and cameras on Friday for the dvd recording...".
Oh, Barry, I'm sure you know the orchestra's Dvorak recordings with Harnoncourt? The bass drum in "The Water Goblin" still chills me to the bone and I never heard such great bassoon playing (among many other fantastic woodwind solo's), as in these recordings. But yeah, why not play all the Dvorak symphonies?
