Burning a 'dream' M6 - input wanted.

[barryguerrero]

I'm planning on burning a single disc, 'dream' Mahler 6. Because I want it on a single disc with time to spare, I'm planning on using Barbirolli for the first movement (slow tempo with no expo. repeat). For the two inner movements, I want to use Vanska/Minnesota (BIS), but in scherzo/andante order. I like the exquisite detail of that recording for those two (Vanska's 'alpine' passage in the slow movement is to die for!). For the finale, I'm thinking Boulez/Vienna Phil.

I know that Boulez/VPO doesn't have a strong hammer stroke (the second one is reinforced with cymbals and tam-tam), but I don't want a real loud hammer stroke. We all KNOW what a loud hammer stroke sounds like! In contrast to that, I'm also thinking of using Zinman/Baltimore S.O., where Zinman employed some kind of electronic explosion for the two hammer strokes. It's very cool and absurd. Anyway, I'm more concerned about the 'false victory parade' passage, just before the funereal dirge procession in the low brass. I don't want any 33 or 34 minute finales, so that eliminates a good number of them. I like it from 29 to 31 minutes.  I'm also thinking of Simone Young/Hamburg, who uses a few more bars of Mahler's first version after the third hammer stroke. That's a very cool effect as well.

I welcome your input. Remember, I want this to be well less than 80 minutes (single disc). I don't like fast first movements, or slow finales.

[barryguerrero]

Change of plans. Barbirolli is over 21 minutes in the first movement, but MacKerras is just over 18. That'll get me under the 80 minute mark. I really like the last 10 minutes of S. Young's finale, so I'm going with her for movement IV (listened to it again on Spotify [which makes it quick for spot checking]). 

[Russ Smiley]

That MacKerras M6 on the BBC Music comes in around 18 because the first repeat is omitted. Sometimes I get really annoyed by the lack of the repeat though there is much I love about the performance (personal preference for A/S, the Scherzo is exciting, and I three hammer blows).

[barryguerrero]

Oh yes, I know that. Otherwise, the movement would be too fast for my taste. I understand your frustration. I'm burning onto a single, 80 minute CD-R, so I need to compromise somewhere.

[John Kim]

For me the best single disc M6th is Yoel Levi on Telarc, although he omits the 1st movt exposition repeat.

[Russ Smiley]

Boulez probably would do it for me if I could here the hammer!

[barryguerrero]

Boulez/VPO for me also, regardless of hammer (we KNOW what a louder wooden hammer sounds like).