New England Conservatory: Totenfeier from October 5th

[hrandall]

Hi All,

InstantEncore has a recording of last night's "Mahler Unleashed" program featuring Totenfeier. Streaming only, no download:

http://instantencore.com/music/details.aspx?PId=5087948

I haven't listened enough to Totenfeier enough to recognize what makes it different from the second symphony's first movement. Any tips what to listen for?

Cheers,
Herb

[waderice]

Hi All,

InstantEncore has a recording of last night's "Mahler Unleashed" program featuring Totenfeier. Streaming only, no download:

http://instantencore.com/music/details.aspx?PId=5087948

I haven't listened enough to Totenfeier enough to recognize what makes it different from the second symphony's first movement. Any tips what to listen for?

Cheers,
Herb

There are several differences between Totenfeier and the first movement of M2; too numerous to list here.  Try to look for a recording of Totenfeier; may I suggest the DG recording by Boulez and Chicago that couples the work with R. Strauss' Also sprach Zarathustra, if it's still available?  I suggest that you listen to the first movement of M2 several times to become thoroughly familiar with it, and then listen to Totenfeier immediately afterward when you feel you're thoroughly familiar with the first movement of M2.  You'll be in for a bit of a shock to hear where and why Mahler revised the work to make it more effective and to be a significant part of M2.

Wade

[Roffe]

Another good source is the Chailly recording of M2 with the RCO on Decca coupled with Totenfeier. There you can listen to both versions with the same conductor and orchestra recorded at about the same time, Totenfeier in 1999 and M2 in 2001.

Roffe

[hrandall]

A little update: this concert including Totenfeier was available for download today when I checked. Claims to be available until the Oct 16th, I believe it was.

Herb