Francois-Xavier Roth/Mahler 3/Gurzenich Orchestra koln

[ChrisH]

Two reviews of this new recording of the 3rd. Polar opposites.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Feb/Mahler_sy3_HMM90531415.htm

https://www.classicstoday.com/review/roths-ho-hum-mahler-third/

It's either one of the best recordings, or one of the worst.

[Prospero]

I am not up on Roth's Mahler, but I found his highly praised Ravel "Daphnis and Chloe" rather bland. I may be old fashioned, but Monteux's 1959 recording was superior in virtually all ways. The sound, too, of the Roth Daphnis was quite inferior to the Culshaw/Decca production (especially on a Decca LP), despite the Gramophone reviewer's claims. At least in my view.

I would say that especially in the deep works, i.e. M3, experience is necessary.

I did find the Adam Fischer M3 quite impressive. Perhaps I will listen to  the Roth sometime.

[barryguerrero]

The brief excerpts I've heard online don't impress me much. Also, Hurwitz didn't say it was 'bad', just bland.  Six out of 10 stars is still more than half-way. I also don't consider Dan Morgan to be good at evaluating Mahler recordings. Sorry, just don't.

[Prospero]

For anyone interested, BBC 3 has the first movement of the Roth M3 on line under Record Review for today March 2 at the end of the program. This is is the last 35 minutes or so of the whole broadcast. It is on on line  for 30 days. Maybe there is another point of access. From my perspective it seems to be a reasonable but not inspiring version.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002zkh#play