Gielen Edition, vol. 6 (Mahler)

[barryguerrero]

It's got pretty much everything. It would be difficult to argue that Gielen isn't close to being 'definitive' with Mahler. But just speaking for myself, I prefer the two Cologne complete cycles: Bertini and Stenz. I also like the Inbal/Denon one too. That said, I could easily live with Gielen (whom I like better in Schoenberg).

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/SWR%2BMusic/SWR19042CD

[barryguerrero]

This 17 cd Gielen Mahler box is going to sell for $70 at Amazon, beginning September 8. Not bad!

https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Gielen-Vol-1988-2014-Symphonies/dp/B073LZ9H9L/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1503899987&sr=1-1&keywords=mahler+gielen

[AZContrabassoon]

Well it certainly beats almost every other Mahler set in one respect: it has everything! DLVDE, song cycles, the Cooke 10th. And the price is certainly not that bad. Yet, compared to other conductors I sometimes find Gielen too reserved and controlling and not as passionate as it could have been. I'll probably add it to the pile, though. I've never heard his M2, M4 or M8.

[barryguerrero]

The best of those three - just an opinion - is the 8th.

[John Kim]

The set comes with DVD of M9th which was not included in the previous box set.

[waderice]

Good to see you back here, John Kim!  It's been quite a while since you've been here.  Welcome back!

Wade

[John Kim]

Hi Wade,

Good to be back. I've been active mostly on FB Classical Music Recordings Discussion group. But I missed this board a lot, my old friends as well.

Bes

John

[GL]

I am not too taken by the Fourth and by the recorded sound of the Sixth. The rest rank with the very best Mahler recordings, especially the Seventh. A cycle of reference for sure.

[barryguerrero]

I think that 7th is very good, but could do with a slightly more 'up beat' finale. A 'live' M7 Gielen made in Berlin was a nearly a full minute shorter (faster) in the finale.  I think it helps.

[ChrisH]

Does anyone know if this boxed set is a reissue or a remaster?

[waderice]

Resurrecting a thread that is almost a year and a half old......

I bought this box set a month or so ago, on recommendation over at the Facebook Mahler Group.  It gives a perspective on a Mahler conductor of which unfortunately, very few people here in the U.S. have familiarity with, that of Michael Gielen.  Born in Germany, his family moved to Argentina where he got his training for his later musical career back in Germany.  Gielen seems to have a decent command of the Mahler oeuvre in general, though he is no Abbado or Haitink.  The set has virtually everything Mahler, except for a Das Klagende Lied.

From what I've listened to in this set so far, there isn't anything really exceptional to write home about, though it was well-recorded over a period of years.  The one thing that stands out for me, is despite a louder-than-usual choral entry in the Second Symphony, the EuropaChorAkademie has committed to disk, probably the most in-tune performance of any chorus I've ever heard sing this work!  So many choruses have trouble avoiding wobbly singing in M2.  Worthwhile going back to this set for a re-listen of the chorus in this recording!

If anything else comes up worth mentioning in the future about this set, I'll bring it up.

Wade

[barryguerrero]

While perhaps none of his recordings would get top billing if a consensus were taken, Gielen's Mahler is one of those instances where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I don't own it because I have too much Mahler as it is. But I could very safely recommend it to anyone who wants just one comprehensive box.