Barry's Best Mahler Recording For 2025 Award

[barryguerrero]

Hands down, my favorite Mahler release for 2025 was the Semyon Bychkov/Czech Phil. M3 on Pentatone. For me, it presses ALL the right buttons.

[erikwilson7]

That Bychkov M3 is fantastic. My own favorite Mahler recording of the year is the Rattle/BRSO M7.

Some 'runners-up' for me are the Zweden/Seoul M7. It's on the zippy side but I love it. Another 'runner-up' for me is the P. Järvi M5. Both of those Zweden and Järvi series are going great, I think.

[John Kim]

Barry

I second the Bychkov/CPO/Pentatone M3rd. For me it's the best M3rd of the lot.

I'd add on the list, Michiyoshi Inoue/New Japan Phil Orch./Exton M7th SACD. Exton waited to release this fantastic M7th for 25 years but the end result couldn't be bettered^^ In gorgeous sound. Yutaka Sado's Tonkunstler M6th is also a winner. It's a perfect replacement for the old Bernstein in updated playing and sound. Sado isn't as extreme or exaggerated as Lenny. Instead, he shapes each movt. with a purpose and unique vision. I particularly like it that he moves along rather swiftly in the first 20 min or so of IV. but then slows down is the rest of the movt. With three hammer blows.

John

[John Kim]

I just realized that Sado's M6th was released in 2024. So, I'll replace it with Bernard Haitink's 2001 RCO live M6th which is included in RCO's 'Complete Symphonies' box set.

John

[John Kim]

The following is my review of the Haitink/RCO M6th (2001) posted on internet:

'Bernard Haitink's retake on Mahler Sixth, dated Dec. 7 2001, is still 'medium-rare' lacking vibes and nerves in the opening movt., sardonic humors in the Scherzo (placed second, thankfully), but he more than makes up for them with a stunningly dramatized Finale. This is a performance that starts off as a wimp but gets stronger as it proceeds and ends with a bang. Aided greatly by the flawless Dutch ensemble and flattering acoustics of the Concertgebouw Hall, Amsterdam, this is a Mahler Sixth not to be missed or taken lightly.'

[barryguerrero]

You two did a great job here. I wish we could get more folks to chime in.

[John Kim]

Barry

I see LOTS of 'views' but few contribute to post. I don't know why.

John

[ChrisH]

The Bychkov/Mahler 3 is my top recording of the year and one of my favorite recordings of the work, period. I'd also go along with Erin and his choice of the Rattle/M7. Generally not that big of fan of Rattle, but this one hit the right spots for me. Perhaps it's the outstanding playing of the BRSO.

Honestly, the Jarvi/Tonhalle M1 didn't do much for me. A bit too swift for my tastes. The Jarvi/M5 was a mixed bag. Really liked the Scherzo and the finale, but felt that the entire thing lacked any sort of power.

Hopefully, we can see a complete cycle from Bychkov. It would be disappointing to not get the rest. Especially the 6th and 7th. Looking forward to those, if we get them. I was also hoping to get some Mahler this year from Payare/Montreal. That 5th from 2024 is outstanding. After listening I traded a few emails with one of their trumpet players and he said to be on the look out for more. It'd be nice if that came to fruition, too.

 

[erikwilson7]

I saw the Payare/Montreal team released an album this year that contained Ruckert-Lieder; hopefully they'll have more coming than that. That Fifth is really amazing to me too, being my current go-to recording.

[barryguerrero]

Chris and Eric, I feel exactly the same as you both do. I want the Bychkov cycle completed on recordings, and I would like to hear more from the Payare/Montreal team in Mahler. I also feel the P. Jarvi/Tonhalle Mahler recordings are a mixed bag thus far. I like his earlier Frankfurt ones better for both M1 and M5 (on video).

[erikwilson7]

Don't overlook the Zweden/Seoul series going on. It's quite good so far! 7 and 1 are out, and both have my stamp of approval. I believe 2 is next, if the releases continue following the orchestra's performance history. He conducts 4 and 6 this year.

The audio quality could be better, but I really like what Zweden does with this music and the orchestra is fantastic. These are quite different than what they've done previously with Myung-whun Chung ― more now in the lane of Kubelík than Bernstein, for basic comparison.

Zweden is now in his third year of a 5-year tenure there, and has said he plans to complete a Mahler "odyssey" there during his time.

[John Kim]

Erik

I've heard live concerts of Zweden/SPO and can testify that there are pros and cons in their collaboration. Whenever they play large scaled repertoires like Bruckner, Mahler, or Shostakovich, they seem to be in a fine shape, but when tackling more classical programs, e.g., Beethoven or Brahms Zweden pushes the orchestra to their limit and the result could be mercilessly out of shape and out of synchronization. It seemed that at times SPO just couldn't catch with the brutal pace and dynamics their MD asked for. On their recordings of M1st I can hear some trace of this issue: the coda of IV moves too fast and wild for the SPO players to feel comfortable. The sonics, as you mentioned, are another problem here. Hopefully, their M2 will be better^

John

[erikwilson7]

I hear what you’re referring to at the end of the M1 recording, John. Frankly, I think the sound of the orchestra being pushed to its limit can be both good and bad. Of course it can lead to what sounds like rough playing. But sometimes that sound of the orchestra pushing themselves beyond their normal capabilities sounds exciting and human to me, a quality that can often be lost in the world’s finest orchestras like Vienna or Berlin.
Not that I think there’s anything wrong with incredible and virtuosic performance either! 

PS It’s very neat that you’re able to hear Zweden and the SPO live, despite any shortcomings.