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Author Topic: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne  (Read 9694 times)

michaelw

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New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« on: April 13, 2009, 08:32:16 AM »
Hello,

Despite the crisis, OehmsClassics reports, that they have signed a contract with the Gürzenich Orchestra under Markus Stenz regarding a full
Mahler cycle. ( http://www.oehmsclassics.de/index.php?newsid=107 )
The first SACD will be released in August (M5). There will be regular single SACD's and a final box set in 2012. Personally, I am interested in this and hope, that the sound quality will be good.

Michael
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Offline John Kim

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2009, 04:39:22 PM »
Does Stenze have a good credit as a Mahler conductor?

Is this the same conductor who made the famous Australian M5th recording (that DH and Barry raved about)? The name sounds familiar to me...
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Offline James Meckley

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #2 on: April 13, 2009, 06:11:45 PM »
Yes, Markus Stenz recorded an excellent Mahler 5 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on ABC classics. He also recorded a Mahler 2 which I have not yet heard.

James Meckley
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Offline stillivor

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2009, 07:09:01 PM »
"SACDs" please.

Btw, heard a wonderful M5 live under Mark Gorenstein about 4 years ago and wonder if he'll ever be asked to record our hero.


   Ivor
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Offline John Kim

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2009, 07:21:10 PM »
Quote from: James Meckley on April 13, 2009, 06:11:45 PM
Yes, Markus Stenz recorded an excellent Mahler 5 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on ABC classics. He also recorded a Mahler 2 which I have not yet heard.

James Meckley
If he had recorded an excellent M5th, why would he want to recorded it again as the first of the new cycle?? Why not M7th or M9th instead? It doesn't make sense to me.

John,
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Offline Russ Smiley

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2009, 12:51:29 AM »
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Russ Smiley

Offline barry guerrero

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2009, 01:52:02 AM »
Word. :D  Play just the the second track (2nd movement), and listen to how he DOESN'T slow down after the first 20 seconds or so - the spot where the lower strings (and tuba) do their two-note "growls". That's how it should go!

And by the way, I'm pretty sure that Gurzenich was the name of the orchestra that gave the world premiere of Mahler 5 in Koln (which I believe was 1905)
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Offline Ben

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2009, 04:37:24 PM »
Is the same orchestra that recorded with Gary Bertini for his Mahler cycle?  That was the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra, but perhaps it is the same orchestra?  German orchestra names seem to change somewhat often....
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Offline Russ Smiley

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2009, 05:46:29 PM »
Based on the German orchestra horn section rosters at hornplayer.net , http://tinyurl.com/lga6pt, I believe the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln and Gürzenich Orchester Köln are different entities.
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Russ Smiley

Offline alpsman

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2009, 09:05:45 PM »
Gurzenich and WDR Koln are two different orchestras.
Marcus Stenz suceeded James Conlon in Gurzenich, once the orchestra of G.Wand.

In WDR Sinfonieorchester Koln conductor is Semyon Buchkov.
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Offline je-b

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2009, 09:55:34 PM »
This is correct. The Gürzenich Orchestra is the resident orchestra of the Cologne Philharmonie and the resident orchestra of the Cologne Opera. The WDR Symphony Orchestra is also based in Cologne, but is - as the name indicates - the orchestra of the Westdeutscher Rundfunk (Radio Station of Western Germany) which itself is also located in Cologne.
It's nice to have the Gürzenich (wondering how that is being pronounced, anyone? ;D) back with a prestige recording project. It is a very fine orchestra boasting a dark and heavy sound, somewhat similar to the Berlin Staatskapelle or the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - which should suit Mahler's music naturally quite well.
I can say I'm looking forward to this cycle.
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Offline alpsman

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Re: New Mahler SACD cycle from Cologne
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2009, 10:55:21 PM »
I have hear the Gurzenich twice.  First under James Conlon in a program only with Wagner works  from the Ring. I like the concert a lot.

The second time under Markus Stenz. The program was a very peculiar combination of R.Strauss and I.Stravinsky. Stravinsky's works are piano and orchestra works with Oli Mustonen. Interesting but not outstanding in any way.

Also Kolners and Stenz played Don Juan and Till. Stenz made a very unusual and ultimately wrong decision considering the placing of the orchestra. He put the percussion session( timpani, grancasa, cymbals etc) where we used to see the cellos or basses of an orchestra ie on the right and somehow front of the scene. So the sound of the orchestra has nothing of the dark sound of Leipzig and Skb.
This experience is the one that keep me cautious about the project of Stenz. But we will see. It is premature for me  to judge so early.
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