Gilbert M6 on iTunes Pass

[Michael]

Well folks, the subject line pretty much says it all.  I was searching for M6's today in iTunes and came across the Gilbert M6 as part of a subscription pass to all the recordings of the Alan Gilbert/New York Philharmonic season.  I of course had to buy it.  It will be interesting to see what else I get through this subscription, as I believe that M6 concert was in early October and this pass is for recordings from all of 2010-2011.

The timings for his performance are:

I.  Allegro: 25:01
II. Andante: 15:46
III. Scherzo: 13:37
IV. Finale: 31:45

The soundstage is very similar to that of the Maazel/NYPO cycle, but with perhaps a bit more hall ambience.  One thing I did notice is that the first and second violins are on opposite sides of the stage, giving an interesting contrast in some passages.  I haven't listened to the whole thing in its entirety, but the Andante sounded good from the first few minutes of it I heard, and the Allegro seemed similar to the Saraste in its opening.

[Russ Smiley]

I think I picked up Gilbert's NYPO M6 from InstantEncore when it was free.  I hadn't had a chance to listen to it until the the night, and I was impressed.  In the first movement, I liked the treatment of the Alma theme with the clarinets fluttering about like sonic butterflies (after #8 ).   The cowbells really are 'always at a distance', but at least they sound realistic.  There's no shying away from sentimentality in the Andante.  The flute entrance (#51) was assured and in tune.  Antiphonal violins come across nicely.  The Scherzo didn't lose my attention as some do. I was especially pleased with the last movement, which really came across to me like a tone poem.  I just went looking for a photo of the orchestra to see if the brass were as piled up on the left as I sometimes hear them in this recording (they aren't), and I stumbled upon this review by Edith Eisler (http://www.nyconcertreview.com/blog/?p=902).  I've never read anything else she's written, but I'll close by quoting her with my agreement: "...the performance was Alan Gilbert’s triumph: having made all the right choices, he paid meticulous attention to every detail, yet sustained his grasp of the whole, infinitely complex work, its manifold mood and character-changes, and its towering climaxes – a truly impressive achievement."

[John Kim]

Question:

Why do MOST conductors these days follow the A-S order???

Is it a trend or fad or what??

Say, up until the 90s most of them did the S-A order .

John,

[John Kim]

The only instance I was intrigued about the A-S order was when I heard Zinman's RCA recording. All others, I am sorry to say, have failed to convince me.

John,

[James Meckley]

Why do MOST conductors these days follow the A-S order???

It's very likely because of the recently published Critical Edition of Mahler 6 from the International Gustav Mahler Gesellschaft, which declares "officially" that Andante-Scherzo is the correct order. I think many conductors have either been snookered by this, or they just want to appear to be "with it."

James

[Russ Smiley]

See the following: http://posthorn.com/Mahler/Correct_Movement_Order_III.pdf

[James Meckley]

See the following: http://posthorn.com/Mahler/Correct_Movement_Order_III.pdf

And this:

http://www.classicstoday.com/features/ClassicsToday-Mahler6Score.pdf

[sperlsco]

Interesting that this is available on iTunes (I assume in lossy AAC) but not yet on HDTracks (which offers lossless FLAC downloads).  I may wait for a bit to see if HDTracks gets this one. 

[Leo K]

Wow. Those examples on iTunes sound GREAT. Thanks for the review Michael and Russ!

--Todd