Mahler by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

[oscar]

This Orchestra seems to me to posess a quite ideal sound for Mahler  symphonies.  Which recordings currently available would be the best ?  I am particularly intyerested in opinions about those in the EXton label.

[Leo K]

Oscar,

The new Macal M9/Exton is a wonderful place to start...the same goes for his M4 and M7.  John recently said that his M6 sounds as good as the new M9.

Kobashshi's CPO Mahler on Exton also have great sound and great interpretations...check out his M3 and M7.

A special M9 with the CPO is Neumann's last M9, originally released on Canyon, but released on SACD on the Exton label.

John, Scott and Barry have heard more CPO recordings and they may have other suggestions! 


--Todd

[John Kim]

I have a few Mahler recordings made by Exton and Canyon:

M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M9 on Canyon all conducted by Neumann
M6, M7, M9 on Exton conducted by Ashkenazy
M2, M3, M5, M7 on Canyon and Exton conducted Kobayashi
M3, M4, M6, M7, M9 on Exton conducted by Macal

I love them all but I think Neumann's M6, M9, Ashkenzay's M9, Kobayashi's M3, M5, M7, and Macal's M6, M7, M9 stand out in terms of the playing, sound and everything.

John,

[akiralx]

Another vote for the CzPO/Kobayashi M3 on SACD - that is superb.

[barry guerrero]

Agreed (Kobayashi M3). If you can find it used, look for the three disc Supraphon issue of M3/8 with Neumann. Either that, or just get the Neumann box cheap. I like Neumann's second Czech Phil. issue of M6 - on Canyon Classics - more than his first one, and more than either Ashkenazy or Macal - both of which are still very good. Conversely, I like Macal the best on M4 and M7. I haven't heard Macal's M9, but it sounds like the clear winner there as well.

It'll be interesting to see if Macal also records M2 and M8.

M1 - Kobayashi
M2 - Neumann (Canyon) or Kobayashi
M3 - Kobayashi (hands down!)
M4 - Macal
M5 - Kobayashi
M6 - Neumann (Canyon)
M7 - Macal
M8 - Neumann
M9 - Macal (I reckon)
"DLvdE" - Neumann

[oscar]

Thanks for the information.  Now, the question is where to get these discs.  I notice that MDT and JPC carry only few of this labels...

THanks for the advice.

[Leo K]

Thanks for the information.  Now, the question is where to get these discs.  I notice that MDT and JPC carry only few of this labels...

THanks for the advice.

I buy my Exton disks here:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/index.asp

--Todd