Forthcoming & New Releases 2017

[GL]

A new Ninth with Jansons conducting the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (I think it is his second after the one recorded in Oslo):

https://www.amazon.de/Mahler-Sinfonie-Symphonieorchester-Bayerischen-Rundfunks/dp/B01MY0PLQ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487242305&sr=1-1&keywords=B01MY0PLQ0

Some lovely thoughts about it by Mr. Hurwitz:

"Yawn. Stretch. Repeat. That’s about all I have to say about this utterly irrelevant release. This is a nicely played, emotionally neutral Mahler Ninth. Everything about it screams “average.” All of the first movement climaxes are just that much under-characterized. Those creepy, atmospheric interludes are neither especially creepy nor particularly atmospheric. The first scherzo isn’t clumsy enough, and the recurring waltzes lack desperation. The Rondo:Burleske has no fire in its belly. Where is the bite–the shrillness? The finale flows along at an average tempo (23 minutes), and expires peacefully. You’d never know that anything meaningful happened at all. And didn’t this orchestra just release a Haitink Mahler Ninth a little while ago? The sonics are good, but bass-heavy. There’s insanity here, but it’s in the label’s decision-making when it should be in the music." (http://www.classicstoday.com/review/jansons-irrelevant-mahler-9/)

I will add mine when I will have the time to write a few lines about two concerts I attended last year with Jansons conducting M5 (BRSO) and M7 (RCO).

Other Mahler Symphonies by Jansons with the Symphonieorchester Bayerischen Rundfunks

The First: https://www.amazon.de/Mahler-Symphonie-Nr-1-D-dur/dp/B00LOO9L74/ref=pd_sim_15_6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BHJN13Q8Z7QQ4JET7K37

The Second: https://www.amazon.de/Symphonie-Nr-Auferstehung-Gustav-Mahler/dp/B00ATNK0UI/ref=sr_1_1?s=music-classical&ie=UTF8&qid=1487242138&sr=8-1&keywords=B00ATNK0UI & https://www.amazon.de/Mariss-Jansons-dirigiert-Mahler-Sinfonie/dp/B00CF0EUKY/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487242340&sr=1-1&keywords=B00CF0EUKY

The Third: https://www.amazon.de/Mahler-Symphonie-Nr-3-Doppel-CD/dp/B005WV7GNG/ref=pd_sim_15_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XQMJJE6ES8PGES9R0G9Q

The Fifth: https://www.amazon.de/Symphonie-Nr-Cis-Moll-Gustav-Mahler/dp/B0019HNEK6/ref=pd_sim_15_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=P6KHM2S7TTN5ZBZ1H9V2

The Seventh: https://www.amazon.de/Mahler-Symphonie-Nr-7-Hybrid-SACD/dp/B002MUQ9YC/ref=pd_sim_15_6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VN4SMBZR7BAPCFX0PFQ5

Let's try to make a recap of Mahler's Symphonies conducted by Jansons:

3 Firsts: one with the Oslo Philharmonic (Simax), one with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live), one with  Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (BR Klassik).

3 Seconds: one with Oslo Philharmonic (Chandos), one with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live; 3 versions: SACD, DVD & Blu-ray), one with  Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (BR Klassik; 2 ersions: CD, DVD & Blu-ray).

2 Thirds: one with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live; 3 versions: SACD, DVD & Blu-ray), one with  Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (BR Klassik),

2 Fourths, both with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live), one (recorded in December 2014) available on DVD and one recorded in Febraury 2015), available on SACD.

2 Fifths: one with  Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (BR Klassik), one with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live).

2 Sixths: one with London Symphony (Lso Live) and one with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live).

3 Sevenths: one with Oslo Philharmonic (Simax), one with Sinfonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunk (Br Klassik) and one with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live; availabe in the same box where you can find the DVD of the Fourth; this Seventh is a recording in which the orchestra is not in its usual form, moreover the recorded sound is rather mediocre)

1 Eight, with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO Live; 3 versions: SACD, DVD & Blu-ray)

2 Ninths: with the Oslo Philharmonic (Simax), one with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (BR Klassik).

Nevertheless, the king of Mahler multiple recordings remains Bernard Haitink. His fifth recording of the Third shows that he reigns supreme-statistically speaking, I mean.

Bye,
GL

[GL]

For the ones that can't wait to listen to Mahler's Symphonies performed by chamber ensembles:

Another recording of the Stein's transcription, courtesy of Orfeo:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strauss-Webern-Schatz-Walzer-Schoenberg-Kaiser-Walzer/dp/B01MSSN4WO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487246219&sr=1-1&keywords=B01MSSN4WO

The Fifth, with the Natalia Ensemble (Cobra):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Symhony-No-Arranged-Players/dp/B01N1Z2WQ8/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487246286&sr=1-1&keywords=B01N1Z2WQ8

The Seventh, with Die Taschenphilharmonie conducted by Peter Stangel (Sony):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/CDs-Vinyl/Mahler-Symphony-Taschenphilharmonie-Stangel-MUSICA/B019EN4Z4K/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487246349&sr=1-1&keywords=B019EN4Z4K

Bye,
GL

[GL]

A Todtenfeier from the archives of the German Radio: the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra is conducted by the late G. Pretre:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Dvorak-Antonin-1841-1904_000000000019851/item_Dvorak-Symphony-No-9-Mahler-Totenfeier-Georges-Pretre-Stuttgart-Radio-Symphony-Orchestra-1996-1998_7475063

GL

[GL]

A new recording of the Piano Quartet by Naxos:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Piano-Quartet-Mahler-8572799/dp/B01N5GDQED/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487248579&sr=1-1&keywords=B01N5GDQED

GL

[GL]

As it has been noted elsewhere in this forum, two new recordings of Das Lied von der Erde conducted by J. Nott are going to be released in a few weeks:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Roberto-Stephen-Bamberger-Symphoniker/dp/B01MY5F6PQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487249179&sr=1-1&keywords=B01MY5F6PQ

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Das-Lied-Von-Erde/dp/B01MZZXR1G/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487249193&sr=1-1&keywords=B01MZZXR1G

Originally, Kaufmann was scheduled to sing all, to conduct, to play the tam-tam (while singing) and the flute's solos (recorded separately) in the Abschied, but then it was opted for a conductor and for the Vienna Philharmonic's percussionist and first flute.

Bye,
GL

PS. Of course, I was kidding about Kaufmann's original schedule.

[GL]

A Ninth from the archives of the German Radio: the NDR Orchestra is conducted by Kurt Sanderling:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sinfonie-Kurt-NDR-Sinfonieorchester-Sanderlin/dp/B01MT4E5HU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487269222&sr=8-1&keywords=B01MT4E5HU

I wish he had played & recorded the middle instrumental symphonies.

GL

[GL]

From the archives of the Hungarian Radio, a performance of Das Lied von der Erde conducted by Klemperer in 1948 which I did not know:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Mahler-1860-1911_000000000019272/item_Symphonies-Nos-2-4-Das-Lied-von-der-Erde-etc-Otto-Klemperer-Bavarian-Rso-Hungarian-Rso-etc-1947-65-3CD_7598045

I am afraid it is not something for audiophiles.

[barry guerrero]

I would like it if, someday, the M8 that Georges Pretre did at Wien's Konzerthaus (Vienna Symphony) were to get issued. I heard it on a radio broadcast, and it was outstanding.

[GL]

For now, only the Fifth and the Sixth by VSO/Pretre are available:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Mahler-1860-1911_000000000019272/item_Symphony-No-5-Pretre-Wiener-Symphoniker_2675266

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Mahler-1860-1911_000000000019272/item_-Symphony-No-6-Tragic-Pretre-Wiener-Symphoniker_2675267

The label "Wetblick" is european, but, at least online, I can find the Mahler recordings by Pretre only in Japan.

[barry guerrero]

Thank you. I was aware of those, and I've been meaning to listen to his M6.

[GL]

The last Mahler complete cycle with Philharmonia Orchestra/Maazel is going to be released in one box:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Mahler-1860-1911_000000000019272/item_Complete-Symphonies-Nos-1-9-Lorin-Maazel-Philharmonia-15CD_7675591

https://www.amazon.fr/Mahler-Symphonies-Nos-Various-artists/dp/B01MTGFVUM/ref=sr_1_10?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487618507&sr=1-10&keywords=mahler

YAWN!

[barry guerrero]

Indeed, "yawn". 

[GL]

Das Lied von der Erde with VPO/Kaufmann/Nott will be available also in Blu-spec Cd-2:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Mahler-1860-1911_000000000019272/item_Das-Lied-Von-Der-Erde-Nott-Vpo-J-kaufmann-T_7620675

https://www.amazon.de/Mahler-das-Lied-Von-Erde/dp/B01MRA8CNJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487788437&sr=1-1&keywords=B01MRA8CNJ

The world can't wait for the SHM-CD, SACD, Vinyl & BtsRom versions.

[GL]

Mahler's Seventh with Adam Fischer conducting the Duesseldorfer Symphoniker:

https://www.amazon.com/Symphony-No-7-FISCHER-ADAM/dp/B01IWVT1T4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487790194&sr=1-1&keywords=B01IWVT1T4

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahler-Symphony-No-Adam-Fischer/dp/B01IWVT1T4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1487790177&sr=1-1&keywords=B01IWVT1T4

Recorded in 2015, it was released in 2016. It represents the beginning of a complete "Mahler-Zyklus" with the Duesseldorfer Symphoniker conducted by Adam Fischer.

Adam Fischer about Mahler:

“I am delighted to perform and record the complete symphonies of Gustav Mahler with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker. The result, we hope, should be something special: a rendition that stems from an active collaboration in which we mutually inspire one another. This should not be “my” Mahler, but “our” Mahler........Whenever I conduct Mahler, I attempt to find a way to formulate each symphony’s world and its emotional content in a way that I can apprehend. Out of the music, I spin stories for myself. And I also spend much time learning about the period when the work was written, and about Mahler’s universe of ideas. Ultimately, for every note I need to find a message and make that message my utter conviction. Thus, for instance, I imagine the first movement of the 7th Symphony as the step-by-step protocol of a disease. The dramaturgy seems to be following a fever curve: the fever starts by attacking, then it calms down, then it all suddenly comes back again. The Finale has sparked a multitude of opinions; as far as I am concerned, it should not be read as something directly positive. It sounds more like when one is drawing towards the end of a sickness, trying to convince oneself that one has truly recovered. It is a way of gathering up courage to start over, the will to embark on something new – in reality, however, one is not yet well. In the extended central Scherzo I have a feeling of persecuted angst; the surrounding “Night Music” movements are more or less delusory phases of apparent recovery. But it could all be a dream where certain flights of emotion are felt to be entirely logical, although incomprehensible if one were awake. Thanks to such associations I can reach a state of mind in which I can affirm: “this note has its justified place at exactly this spot, and no other one could be there in its place”. It is the result of a long process, in the course of which I ensure that the scores become my innermost conviction. In my view, this is the conductor ́s task. It is exactly the opposite of “work-to-rule”. And, as we all know, convictions can change.......” (http://www.challengerecords.com/products/14701399309837/)

"A jewel among Mahler Sevenths" wrote Firebrand on Amazon. With all due respect to Firebrand, before buying this one I will wait to read at least one review written by somebody with an actual name and a proved competence.

[barryguerrero]

Yes, of course: the usual Freudian analysis. I'm surprised he didn't throw Alma's name in there somewhere - everyone else does. God forbid that it should actually just be little more than a really good piece of music. Nor does it ever dawn on these people that symphonies 6 through 8 form a 'darkness to light' trilogy of its own, regardless of whether Mahler was aware that he had done that or not. Nor does it dawn on them that Mahler is not only poking fun at himself, but the entire over-blown, late romantic idiom.

Even further, I find it interesting that the 7th ends in C major, while the 8th starts and ends a major third higher (Eb). Or, if you want to look at as an inversion, it starts and ends a major 6th lower.