Thoughts on the DG Sinopoli cycle

[sbugala]

Hey Friends,
    I picked up the Sinopoli cycle via trade specifically for the Dresden Das Lied Von Der Erde which I had before and loved. Any other ones that strike your fancy? I listened to the First last night...and that was good...but maybe not great. The sound was a little off. The first movement to the Second did not impress me...even though Hurwitz felt that was one of the better ones in the variable set. I'll give things further listening, but I'll await some of your thoughts.

[barryguerrero]

The only symphonies in that cycle that I have an issue with are M3, M6 and M7. And even with M7, there are moments in it that I do like (the second Nachtmusik is absurdly slow). I think his M3 is a dud - badly recorded too. In M6, both the slow movement (nearly 20 minutes) and the finale are just too slow and decadent sounding. The first two movements are OK. I think M1 and M4 are very good (Edita Gruberova sounds great). M5 and M9 are both fine. Sinopoli's M2 is a clone of Klemperer, and it's not bad at all. His M8 has a great cast of female soloists, but less so for the three male ones. Still, it's a pretty decent M8. Sinopoli is great in the various song cycles, including the mentioned "DLvdE". The "Kindertotenlieder" with Bryn Terfel is a knockout. I don't know if your box included the shorter song cycles or not. The M2 originally came with a set of early Mahler songs orchestrated by Harold Byrns, I think it was. Those are real good too. And, of course, the playing of the Dresden Staatskapelle is terrific in the "DLvdE".

[sbugala]

Thanks Barry! I will continue to delve into it.