Mehta/NYPO M2 (from Mahler broadcast box)

[Leo K]

I have to work early tomorrow morning, so I should be sleeping...but I had to revist this recording again, and wow...I'm caught up in it again.

This performance is just amazing.  Amazing.

What furious execution...everyone is inspired here.  If only this was an audiophile recording and on SACD...still, the performance is so great...lightning and thunder captured for all time.

There are countless moments of epiphany...such as the gripping first movement, or the almost cold second movement, or the golden trumpet chorale in the scherzo, or the whole Urlight, or the rocket launch start of the finale, and on and on and on.

Sorry for my gushing!!!

--Leo 

[Leo K]

Oh, and I was suprised to hear that the organ and bells sounded great for a broadcast recording.



--Leo

[John Kim]

Leo,

Mehta's latest M2nd recording with Israel Phil. on Tedec is also pretty darn good. On a single CD. I heard DVD-A version sounds much better.

John,

[John Kim]

Actually, I'd recommend the Mehta/IPO/Teldec version wholeheartedly. It has great sound (even on the regular CD) and playing, plus all the highmarks from his analogue VPO recording including great details. For example, 13 min. into the 1st movt. during the final climax there are 5 tam tam strokes that go from pp to ff gradually. I've never heard of these strokes so clearly realized in any other version; in most other recordings they are inaudible. I will probably get the DVD-A.

John,

[John Kim]

So, I am asking, "Mr. Mehta, when are you going to record M7th, 8th, and 9th?"

John,

[barry guerrero]

In today's market, it's not going to happen. Far more realistic, would to hope  that there will someday be downloads of live performances from one place or another.

Zubin Mehta was once quoted as saying that THE highlight of his time in N.Y. was a set of live M9 performances. Maybe the N.Y. Phil. will one day issue that. An M7 with the Israel Phil. would be welcomed by me. As for the 8th, well, I think that that was a real missed opportunity: not getting Mehta to perform and record a star-studded M8 at the peak of his Decca years.