Vanska/MO/BIS Mahler 2nd SACD

[John Kim]

I can't upload the pic here (does anyone know how??).

In Japan the release date is 12/31/2018.

[brunumb]

Do you have a link to the site where you saw this?

[John Kim]

https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Mahler-1860-1911_000000000019272/item_Symphony-No-2-Osmo-Vanska-Minnesota-Orchestra-Choir-R-Hughes-S-S-Cooke-Ms-Hybrid_9349262

[John Kim]

timings are

I. 23:17/ II. 9:54/ III. 10:50/ IV. 5:28/ V. 34:08 = 84:38


Looks good.

[brunumb]

[John Kim]

Here is a video of the ending.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj51pf1XRPc&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR38adNEOiJq9fHRuc9nAZSQckDEVIjZVUPxn16qAvQ8ChkyipaZ7BH0pdo

[barryguerrero]

oohhhhhhh, nice tam-tam smash at the hohepunkt (climax).

[Russell]

The hi-res download is now available (on sale for just $12.69 for a limited time).  You can even listen to the whole thing, albeit in 30-second increments--just keep clicking the 'play' button.

http://www.eclassical.com/conductors/vanska-osmo/mahler-symphony-no2-resurrection.html

[barryguerrero]

BEST DEEP BELLS and HIGH and LOW TAM-TAM EVER!!! I also like it that Vanska doesn't drag the unison chorus at the 32 minute mark (I hate it when they do that). Going back to the march (within the finale), I like how he brings the offstage trumpets in closer with each of their entrances, located between 14:00 and 15:00. As a result, you hear the trumpets leading into the full orchestra's re-entrance, with the low brass belting out the melody. In the other words, the hohepunkt of the entire march section. You can also hear the series of tam-tam smashes at the end of the march, but the tam-tam could still be a bit stronger there (but hey, at least you can hear it!). I'm definitely getting this.

I wish I liked Vanska's M6 more than I do. The two inner movements are excellent, but the two outer ones aren't nearly as good. I think he's more into the 'positive' Mahler than the 'downer' Mahler. What do you guys think?   .   .   .  I wished he had used THESE deep bells for the M6 finale, rather than the ubiquitous rolling rack of chimes (holy doorbells).

[Russell]

Here's a very positive writeup on the Audio Asylum website:

https://www.audioasylum.com/audio/music/classical/messages/1/12028.html

[John Kim]

Russell,

Thanks.

My colleague who heard the recording confirmed the excellent of the performance but he lamented that the bells in the closing pages are inaudible.

[barryguerrero]

Huh? John, when I listened to it on the e-classical link provided here, the deep bells were very present. I'm baffled.

[ChrisH]

Listened to a bit of this just now. On my system the bells sounded good, but maybe a bit unatural. The tams sounded very....crispy to my ears. I feel like the engineers made a point to bring this moment out. The organ was well balanced, and the choirs are really forward. I really liked Manny Laureano's trumpet playing, especially his sound on the Monette. 

[Konsgaard]

Hi! I'm the one who thought the bells are not very audible. After listening to the recording many times I am not bothered anymore, it mostly has to do with the sound of the deep bells rather than the recorded sound. I mean you can hear them OK, it's just there are other recordings where they are way more prominent. Anyway, I didn't care much for Vanska's 5th or 6th but this Resurrection is really good. You can read my full review here:
https://thehigharts.com/mahler-symphony-2-resurrection-vanska-minnesota-orchestra/

But to cut a long story short there is much to admire. The highlights are:

-The precision of the string playing in the first movement.
-The Andante which is shaped with great care, listen to the portamentos and the left-right separation of the strings. Here the Andante really sings!
-The clarity of the finale.

Weaknesses? I'd have preferred a more European sound from both soloists and choir and slower tempos overall. But this is a very fine Mahler 2nd (and this comes from someone who doesn't always agree with Vanska's lean treatment of the orchestra in other recordings). Not a "spiritual" Resurrection but well played nonetheless.

[barryguerrero]

Thanks. Whn listening on e-classical, the deep bells are very present to me. I guess playback can have so much to do with the results. In this recording, they are using true bells rather than the ubiquitous rolling rack of tubular chimes (holy doorbells). I assume that you're aware that the deep bells are not written to just play whatever, willy-nilly. Instead, Mahler writes very precise alternating salvos between the two gongs (tam-tam) and three bells. Some conductors do have the bells play ad lib, but that's not what's written. What I liked on this recording, is that I could hear ALL of the salvos from both gongs and all three bells. That rarely happens.