2. music
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Anybody here listen to Mahler?

I have always been a fan of classical music but I never really understood or got into Gustav Mahler music. Over the holidays I’ve been listening to the Leonard Bernstein conducted symphonies and I have to say I am pretty blown away and  Mahler seems like bridge from the Germanic classical music to modern classical music. I am especially smitten by the second symphony also known as the resurrection. Any thoughts on Mahler symphonies that you really like and why would be appreciated. Mahler seems very influential on present composers. . I am especially smitten by the second symphony also known as the resurrection. Any thoughts on Mahler symphonies that you really like and why would be appreciated. Boy does his music work out your hi-fi and especially your speakers

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Showing 1 response by gg107

gg107
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I, too, didn’t appreciate Mahler right away; it took time. Now, he’s one of my favorite composers. No recording beats a live Mahler performance, but I own 50-60 CD recordings of his symphonies, and his work really benefits from a good audio system.

Probably the most-loved is Mahler’s 2nd, the "Resurrection" symphony. After Beethoven’s 9th and 5th, Mahler’s 2nd is arguably the greatest symphony, thrilling, profound and soul-stirring. There are many good versions; I’d highly recommend Ivan Fischer conducting the Budapest Festival Orchestra on a Channel Classics SACD --a perfectly-judged performance in stellar sound. Leopold Stokowski’s live recording of the Resurrection with the London Symphony Orchestra is in acceptable sound, but the performance will rock your world.

 

 

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