M3 timings: Abbado/LFO vs. Gergiev/LSO

[barry guerrero]

battle of the M3 titans!

       Abbado     Gergiev

I       34:06        32:22
II        8:20         9:41  -  I'm thinkin' that Abbado's 8:20 is probably 9:20
III     16:25        17:20
IV      9:19          8:35
 V      4:24          3:50
VI     23:41        20:22

I haven't heard the Gergiev yet. I just got Gergiev's timings from the LSO Live website.   

[Psanquin]

20:22 Gergiev's Finale. He is the Usain Bolt of Mahler recordings.

[barry guerrero]

Actually, there have been a number of other M3/VI movements that are less than 21 minutes in length: Solti (both times), Neumann I, Barbirolli/Halle (yes, Barbirolli), Horenstein (Turin, 1960), Kondrashin, Leinsdorf, Bruno Maderna, Mitropolous (both times), Scherchen (Vienna, 1950), Schuricht, Hans Vonk, Tennstedt (LPO, 1979) - all well less than 21 minutes in duration.

[Psanquin]

Yes I know, of course I was joking. In fact the World record must be Mitropoulo’s 18’03”.

Most relevantly for the last three decades of Mahler recording and performance 20'22" shows an unusual fast tempo. Even the unsentimental and expeditious Boulez needs two more minutes. We know that russian conductors likes swift tempi but this is too much. I am afraid that at this tempo Gergiev will hardly convey what Mahler described as "everything has dissolved in peace and quiet".

[John Kim]

I think Solti's first recording with LSO had even shorter Finale, something like 19 min. Of course, that M3rd was a huge letdown

I have a high expectation for the Gergiev M3 though.

John,

[Psanquin]

You are right John: 19'13" Solti/LSO

[barry guerrero]

"I have a high expectation for the Gergiev M3 though"

Facets of it will probably be very good. I like that the two vocal movements are done swiftly (just going by the timings). This is where the symphony often times sags. However, I'm sure that - as usual - the timpani will sound a bit too close, and the bass drum will sound very dry (and not terribly "bass-y"). I'm still not a big fan of James Mallinson's recording techniques. Also, the woodwinds sometimes get buried in Gergiev's Mahler, and the 3rd is one Mahler symphony where you don't want that to happen. The LSO horns will probably be outrageously good though (I love their horn section!). That will help carry much of the two outer movements, as well as the development passage of the scherzo. Hey, I look forward to a fast and exciting presentation of a symphony that often times gets dragged out.

Barry