What Mahler CDs to buy?

[mahler09]

I received several gift cards to book stores and am planning on using them soon.  I'm not quite as well informed on what new/notable recordings I really should be getting and am looking for some suggestions!

[Russ Smiley]

If this doesn't elicit dozens of responses, the list must be asleep or busy digging out of deep snow drifts (as we are in New England).

My own recent acquisitions that make my "very good to great" list are as follows:
M1 Pittsburgh/Honeck
M4 Budapest Festival Orchestra/Fischer
M7 Zurich Tonhalle/Zinman
M9 Royal Stockholm/Gilbert

I recently acquired some older recordings that really are satisfying for me, including:
M10 (Cooke) Frankfurt RSO/Inbal
M9 Royal Liverpool SO/Pesek
M3 NYPO/Bernstein
M2 Saito Kinen/Ozawa
M1 Boston SO/Ozawa

[Roffe]

I have bought mostly old recordings since my collection isn't very big and I want to broaden it.

M1 Israel PO/Mehta
M2 ditto
M3 LAP/Mehta
M7 Philharmonia O/Sinopoli
M8 Berlin Phil/Abbado
M9 Philharmonia O/Salonen (new)
M10 Cincinatti SO/Lopez-Cobos (Mazetti II version)
Las Lied Ludwig, Wunderlich/Philharmonia O/Klemperer

[John Kim]

Here is a list of essential Mahler:

M2 - Klemperer/NPO/EMI, Mehta/VPO/Decca
M3 - Lenny/NYPO/Sony
M4 - Kletzki/PO/EMI
M7 - Lenny/NYPO/Sony
M9 - Karajan/BPO/DG (live) Yes!!
DLVDE - Klemperer/PO/EMI

John,

[Freddy van Maurik]

Pfew... that really opens a world of possibilities! Anyway, these are my recommendations:

New (or relatively so):
Des Knaben Wunderhorn - Oelze, Volle, Gürzenich Orchester Köln/Stenz (Oehms)
M1 - Pittsburgh SO/Honeck (Exton)
M2 - LPO/Tennstedt (LPO)
M2 - Frankfurt RSO/Paavo Järvi (Virgin)
M4 - Pittsburgh SO/Honeck (Exton)
M4 - Budapest Festival Orchestra/Ivan Fischer (Channel)
M4 - Oelze, Gürzenich Orchester Köln/Stenz (Oehms)
M5 - Gürzenich Orchester Köln/Stenz (Oehms)
M9 - Stockholm SO/Gilbert (BIS)
M9 - Bamberg SO/Nott (Tudor)
Of the Zürich/Zinman (RCA) recordings, you should really check out M1, M3, M7, M9 and M10, but I like the others as well.

I won't comment on 'essential' recordings, as the list is vast and John has already made a very fine start for this.
Good luck, and enjoy!

Freddy

[Leo K]

Here is a list of essential Mahler:

M2 - Klemperer/NPO/EMI, Mehta/VPO/Decca
M3 - Lenny/NYPO/Sony
M4 - Kletzki/PO/EMI
M7 - Lenny/NYPO/Sony
M9 - Karajan/BPO/DG (live) Yes!!
DLVDE - Klemperer/PO/EMI

John,

I second John's list.

By the way, John, I'm rather surprised you chose the Karajan live M9 here, have you changed your thoughts on this recording?

--Todd

[barry guerrero]

People will debate which recordings forever. If you don't already have one, be sure to pick up a complete "Des Knaben Wunderhorn".

[waderice]

People will debate which recordings forever.

Definitely true.  Before spending unnecessary amounts of money on recordings you may not like, I suggest that you invest time (not money) in checking out Mahler recordings from the local library to decide which ones you like best.  The latest and greatest may not be available at your public library, but you can decide which ones you like and don't like from what they have.  Then you can purchase the ones you DO like (with confidence and satisfaction in your investment).

Wade

[Russ Smiley]

People will debate which recordings forever....

So, you mean there is another purpose for this list?  

[John Kim]

Here is a list of essential Mahler:

M2 - Klemperer/NPO/EMI, Mehta/VPO/Decca
M3 - Lenny/NYPO/Sony
M4 - Kletzki/PO/EMI
M7 - Lenny/NYPO/Sony
M9 - Karajan/BPO/DG (live) Yes!!
DLVDE - Klemperer/PO/EMI

John,

I second John's list.

By the way, John, I'm rather surprised you chose the Karajan live M9 here, have you changed your thoughts on this recording?

--Todd

Todd,

I have been in the Karajan mood lately listening to his recordings of Strauss, Wagner, and Bruckner. In the case of M9th, I have two live Karajan recordings other than the DG release, all of which were taken around the same time in the early 80s. I do believe that, considering all three performances together, Karajan had a pretty good idea of the piece and I came to accept it wholeheartedly. It's just that the playing of BPO wasn't all that great when the live DG recording was made. That's my final verdict.

John,

[john haueisen]

Does anyone have an M6 that they would recommend?

[John Kim]

Does anyone have an M6 that they would recommend?

Oh, yes.

Lenny/NYPO/Sony (a classic by its right)
Levi/ASO/Telarc (the closest that any digital recording comes to the Lenny)
Tennstedt/LPO/EMI (studio or live)
Eschenbach/PO/Ondine (the best modern version in GREAT SACD sound)
Zinman/ZTO/RCA (has the best A-S order)

Honorable mention: Lenny/VPO (if only he didn't rush in I. ), Levine, Haitink I (RCO), Ozawa, Bertini

John,

[Russ Smiley]

Mackerras, Zinman, Boulez, Bernstein (so you'll know what everyone else is talking about), Levine (BSO or LSO), Delfs

[Roffe]

I'd like to add:

Karajan/BP
Abbado/BP ("proper" (?) A/S order, furthermore: it's a single disk)

Roffe

[john haueisen]

Thanks, John, Russ, and Roffe!

You've given me some "happy homework," that I'll look forward to working on.