Horenstein's M9's

[Leo K]

During my night job I have had the opportunity to revist many recordings in my collection that I had put away for quite some time.  Some nights I can hear three Mahler symphonies while I work (on headphones)!

I recently revisted my Horenstein M9's...and I have to say, now that I have more experience with M9 performances I'm hearing Horenstein's M9's in a vastly different manner...and wow...I was surprised on how powerful these performances are...specifically the performance on the Music and Arts CD, which is a better played than the BBC Legends CD (although I love the first movement on that one).  Despite the lower sound quality the performance on the Music and Arts release really shines through...the Adagio is truly otherworldly. I think this concert now may be at the top or at least in the top 3 of my M9 choices...it is that incredible. The climaxes in the first movement are more crashing than I remembered...the third climax is really shattering (with the low a flat in the horn really heard well, and the brass very piercing overall with excellant tam tam and timpani).  The details in the orchestration are quite vivid in this mono recording. 

The performance on the BB Legends release only suffers from the underwhelming Rondo movement, with the timapani player getting lost near the end, and an unfortunate mistake in the horn playing at a crucial point (when the horn takes on the main melody in the first section of the final Adagio)...otherwise the second movement shows much character and psychological intensity.  The first movement here is devastating, with great contrast in dynamics with tempo choices holding the line of argument in a very tense manner. 

Horenstein's French M9 has it's moments as well, with unfortunate scrappy playing of the orchestra letting him down most of the time...still, I like to listen to this M9 because some of the ideas are very moving (especially in the first movement and Adagio).  Hopefully in the near future I can describe what I mean in more detail.

I almost like Horenstein's ASO M9 from Carnigie Hall (1969) as much as the M&A performance...he has some interesting ideas in the first movement quite different than his other live M9's...and the playing, not counting an out of tune horn in one spot, is largely better then the BBC Legends M9...this surprised me.  Stokowski's ASO play their hearts out. Again in the first movement the climaxes are truly powerful.  In comparing with his LSO accounts, I noticed Horenstein changed his thinking on the role of the timpani in the aftermath of the 1st and 3rd climax, they are not struck as hard as before, reminiscent of the Macal/Exton and Bertini/EMI on these points.  Back to the ASO, the 2nd and 3rd climaxes are the most powerful of all Horenstein M9's...reminding me again of Macal's sense of mystery, and the tam tam very present and deep.  The sound is much more improved over his London M9's, and his French M9.

I also started on listening to my old vox LP's of Horenstein's Vienna Symphony M9...but I didn't finish listening to this performance, since it doesn't have the intensity of his later live accounts.  I will come back to it soon to listen closer.

Just had to get this out...thanks!


--Todd

[Dyolf]

Hi Leo
Your contribution has spurred me to dig out all my horenstein LP´s and CD´s again. He was, is, one of my all time favorites in Mahler, but in resent years it, has been very unhip to like this conductor. A number of critics has seen it as a mission, to point out to the rest of us, how crappy his recordings actually are. I say, make up your own oppinion, and go with your gut feeling. I have always disliked the listening sessions, that involves reading the score at the same time, and finding all the flaws made by the maestro or the performers. Hell, Klemperer never played anything the way Mahler said in the score.
I will say though, that a lot of the old VOX recordings, sonds really flat. This seems to be the case, not only for Horenstein, but in general.
Steen

[Leo K]

Hi Leo
Your contribution has spurred me to dig out all my horenstein LP´s and CD´s again. He was, is, one of my all time favorites in Mahler, but in resent years it, has been very unhip to like this conductor. A number of critics has seen it as a mission, to point out to the rest of us, how crappy his recordings actually are. I say, make up your own oppinion, and go with your gut feeling. I have always disliked the listening sessions, that involves reading the score at the same time, and finding all the flaws made by the maestro or the performers. Hell, Klemperer never played anything the way Mahler said in the score.
I will say though, that a lot of the old VOX recordings, sonds really flat. This seems to be the case, not only for Horenstein, but in general.
Steen

Hey man,

I'm glad your getting the Horenstein out!  Everytime I return I hear more breathtaking turns of phrases I missed the last time, details that I haven't heard anywhere else.  I just like what I hear.

Yes, my gut says these are great performances...especially these live accounts, and this goes for his M6 with Bournmouth, another that blows me away, even though the Finale isn't as tight as it could be.  I believe you are right about the Vox LP and the flat sound quality...I remember Horenstein's VOx M9 sounds much better on CD, I'll have to check with this soon to confirm.  I have his M4 on vinyl, but haven't listened to this yet, I wonder how the LP compares to the CD.

Horenstein's M3 sounds the best on vinyl for sure...I stopped listening to the CD of this recording...someday I'm going to needledrop that recording to perserve it, in case something happens to the vinyl.


--Todd