Two M8ths by YNS & Dudamel: a summary

[John Kim]

I've listened to Yannick Nezet-Seguin's Philadelphia Mahler Eighth in 24 bit 48 kHz. It has the GRANDIOSET ending to Part II. ever captured on records and that pretty much sums up the entire performance. It is beautifully proportioned and structured, sung and played with the grand climaxes in Part I. & II. extremely well executed. 😎

Gustavo Dudamel's new recording with LAPO, on the other hand, strives for a direct, unaffected interpretation in excellent sound.

I find both accounts quite delicious and fascinating musically and in every sense.

Relish Mahler 8th!!

[waderice]

John,

Though I have just the 16-bit, 41.1 mHz CD of YNS' Philadelphia M8 as my sole souvenir of my presence at that live performance in Verizon Hall, Philadelphia, it would be GREAT to have it in the format you just listened to in 24-bit, 48 kHz.  Where did you get that high resolution version?

Wade

[ChrisH]

John,

Though I have just the 16-bit, 41.1 mHz CD of YNS' Philadelphia M8 as my sole souvenir of my presence at that live performance in Verizon Hall, Philadelphia, it would be GREAT to have it in the format you just listened to in 24-bit, 48 kHz.  Where did you get that high resolution version?

Wade

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8713836--mahler-symphony-no-8

There you go, Wade.

[waderice]

Thanks, Vehemence!

Wade

[John Kim]

In terms of sonics Dudamel is a clear winner. Although YNS M8th is a wonderful performance its dynamic range is constricted particularly in the coda of Part II.

John

[barryguerrero]

?   .   .    .   on my player, the end to Part II on N-S.'s M8 keeps expanding and expanding like almost no other version I've owned. If that weren't the case, I never would have endorsed it from the start. I seriously don't understand all the complaints about the sound. It works very well on my equipment.

[Russell]

The YNS is also available in 96/24 at ProStudioMasters (https://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/51999) as well as at HDtracks.

Listening to the Dudamel (also 96/24) for the first time now (in the middle of Part II), and so far I think his tempos are fine, if a little on the brisk side.  Not overly so, though.  The soloists, though, sound pretty awful--the men especially.  The sound quality is a bit strange, with the soloists sounding like they're in a different acoustic than the orchestra and chorus.  Just my very first impressions.......

[barryguerrero]

Russell, I felt much the same. I like the contrapuntal clarity to Dudamel's Part I. I'm not crazy about his Part II. Then again, we have his other 'symphony of a true thousand' performance for a very good Part II.