Bychkov/CPO Mahler 8th concert last night

[John Kim]

There was a report on the concert and it got a rave review. Let's hope Pentatone recorded the live performance for a future release.

John

[erikwilson7]

Perhaps, but did Pentatone say this would be a studio cycle?

Exciting news nonetheless.

[John Kim]

Erik

As far as I know, all of Bychkov/CPO Mahler releases so far are based on live recordings.

John

[John Kim]

Correction. I was told it was not with CPO.

John

[erikwilson7]

Erik

As far as I know, all of Bychkov/CPO Mahler releases so far are based on live recordings.

John

Actually, you're probably correct and I'm mistaken. I went back and watched Pentatone's promotional YouTube videos for these recordings and it shows segments of them playing in front of an audience spliced with shots of Bychkov studying the score during the engineering process. I got the ideas mixed up.

[barryguerrero]

It was with what is now called the NDR Elbphilharmonie Hamburg Orchester. I'm guessing it was the same NDR orchestra that Gunter Wand recorded his second Bruckner cycle with (the first one was with the Cologne Radio S.O.). I rather doubt Pentatone is using this M8, but I could be wrong. Nothing surprises me from the record industry.

[barryguerrero]

So according to this article that was published at the Slippedisc website, Bychkov will lead another Mahler 8 in Prague in - I presume - 2025 (maybe later). Here goes:

https://slippedisc.com/2024/04/breaking-bychkov-names-exit-date-at-czech-philharmonic/

[John Kim]

It's good to hear they will resume the Mahler cycle and complete it in 2025. This means (possibly) they have recorded M6,7,and 9 already and they are waiting to be released from their cans. I think they will perform and record the Third early next year.

John

[barryguerrero]

That summation seems correct to me also. It's a little surprising to me that Pentatone wants to hold off issuing any more of Bychkov's Mahler in 2024. Although they give the explanation that they want 2024 to be a 'Czech year' for Bychkov/C.P.O., I suspect money is at the heart of the matter.

[John Kim]

Barry,

I contacted Pentatone and got the same reply as you did. I also asked if they are planning to release the rest of the cycle on SACDs. Their reply was no, sadly.

John

[barryguerrero]

Yes, that's too bad, but I'm also not surprised. Thanks for the update.