Rattle/BRSO/BR Klassik M9th to be released 9/29.

[John Kim]

https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Mahler-1860-1911_000000000019272/item_Symphony-No-9-Simon-Rattle-Bavarian-Radio-Symphony-Orchestra_13198566

[erikwilson7]

Timings from the web page, compared to the Berlin recording:

● Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (2021) 27:13/ 15:26/ 12:17/ 23:59 = 79:58

● Berliner Philharmoniker (2007) 28:44/ 15:51/ 12:32/ 25:51 = 82:58

[John Kim]

I heard the archive. I think this is a pretty darn good M9th overall. It shares some of the characters of his VPO and BPO recordings but is less extreme, more fluent, and warmer.

John

[erikwilson7]

Sounds like it could be a good one. I usually think of “lean and precise” from the BRSO instead of warmth, so I welcome the diversity.

[John Kim]

On the contrary, I normally associate BRSO with 'warm and rich', BPO with 'precise and lean'. 

John

[John Kim]

The main climax of I., the reprise of the death motif at about 17'40" into the movt., has the loudest outburst in the brass I've ever heard. Only Ozawa in his Saito Kinen version and this one have done it precisely as instructed in the score.

John

[John Kim]

Rattle's Landler (II.) is surprisingly fleet footed and unbuttoned with the Bavarian strings playing with a real sense of tilt and Viennese waltz. This is altogether a good and happy departure from his previous recordings^.

John

[John Kim]

Ditto the Rondo-Burleske (III.) in which Rattle finds an extra degree of wild abandon and adrenalin excitement this time.

Rattle and the BRSO may have saved their best for the last - Adagio (IV.). Here, the fearless and daring Bavarians engulf the maximum amount of emotions and expressions out of this great score. Technically too, the orchestra is beyond any reproach. Clocking just under 24 min. this is a flowing but a totally fitting and beautiful account of Mahler's swan song, farewell to the world.

John

[erikwilson7]

On the contrary, I normally associate BRSO with 'warm and rich', BPO with 'precise and lean'. 

John

Ever since Karajan left, absolutely. The latest Mahler cycle from them was ultra-lean and almost too precise, if that's even possible.

I suppose I still think of the Kubelík days in regards to the BRSO, in which I wouldn't come close to calling those recordings warm. There aren't any BRSO Mahler recordings that are extra-long in duration, regardless of conductor. It seems that no matter who is at the podium, they understand that the BRSO's Mahler sounds best on the fleeter side. Maybe it's their way of playing or the concert halls, but I normally expect to hear them do Mahler on the quicker side (like this 79-minute M9, for example).

[barryguerrero]

This is now Rattle's third commercial recording of M9, and the third for the BR Klassik label (fourth, if you count the Maazel DVD). I guess the BRSO are going to give Rattle whatever he wants. I find this really strange, considering that BR Klassik has yet to release the Jansons/BRSO M6 or M8. Of those two, I'd like to own at least the 8th - greatly for Johan Botha - and possibly the 6th as well. In no way am I going to buy that giant Jansons edition, just to get at the rest of his BRSO Mahler cycle.

[John Kim]

Erik,

Maazel did his Mahler cycle with BRSO. You can guess how slow and broad it may be and yes, IT IS!

John

[barryguerrero]

If there was ever a Mahler release we didn't actually need, this is it. Just one person's opinion. There are TONS of really good M9 recordings. Few people do the work poorly.

[erikwilson7]

I can surely agree that Nos. 4 and 9 are overly saturated with great recordings. The only two Mahler works whose catalogue I am content with and don't seek out new ones for.