Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 Resurrection
I had the pleasure of attending a performance of the University of Georgia’s Symphony Orchestra and chorus presentation of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 Resurrection last night. It was amazing, which is an understatement. Full chorus of over 100 and an orchestra that overflowed the stage. Five movements and 90 minutes straight. I was blown away.
I would appreciate suggestions for good versions of the work, preferably on vinyl.
Thanks in advance.
Solti and the CSO. The CD is not so bad either. It's a later digital recording (there was a recorded 1966 vinyl edition) on the London label and one of my favorites despite the fact that it was 'early' digital. You might also like Zubin Mehta's 1976 recording on CD (before digital recording so I assume this was also on vinyl). There are so many excellent 2's on CD, but both of these are just fine! |
There are abundant excellent recordings, but the vinyl restriction winnows it down. It would also rule out some of the contenders on digital. Leonard Bernstein first recording would be a no go for me on vinyl because the Columbia mixes were awful. Their CEO wanted the Bernstein Mahler recordings mixed as though the preferred playback system would be AM radio. Remixed for CD it’s wonderful. Claudio Abbado and the Chicago SO was problematic in that the offstage band was inaudible in many of the systems of the day (Google contemporary reviews). On CD it’s perfect, an excellent spatial effect, surely what Mahler intended. Vinyl for me is a secondary medium, so I don’t own a Mahler2 on vinyl. The one that I played to death back in the day was Bruno Walter and the NYPhilharmonic (stereo-there are earlier mono recordings). Excellent classic record, but I have to add that the first time I heard it in CD I was blown away by the extra information on offer. The Solti recommendation above is probably a safe vinyl recommendation in terms of performance and SQ. Rafael Kubelik and the Bavarian Radio SO and Bernard Haitink with the Amsterdam Concertgebouw should be safe, but as you are in love with the piece, you don’t want safe-you probably want something overwhelming. In your vinyl shoes I would go for Solti |
I just became aware that LP versions exist-Direct Metal Masterings- of the release by Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony et. al. I have only heard this digitally but I remember liking it quite a bit and the DMM might appeal. Another LP choice overlooked previously, at least in my post, would be Klemperer and the Philharmonia from the very early sixties |
The Abbado CSO on vinyl is part of the latest batch of Deutsche Grammophon's Original Source Series. I haven't heard it but everything I've purchased from this series so far has been phenomenal. It might capture the magic of the CD version @mahler123 is referring to. |
