Why do all Mahler recordings seem too bright?

@mgrif104, in response to your request for Mahler recording recommendations in your post, I'd like to suggest Ivan Fischer & the Budapest Festival Orchestra's recording of Mahler's 2d Symphony on Channel Classics SACD.  A first-rate performance of a great piece, wonderfully well-recorded.  Also recommendation-worthy -- Fischer/BFO's recording on Mahler's 4th, on Channel as well.  

Also Claudio Abbado's live recording of Mahler's 7th with the Berlin Phil., Ricardo Chailly's studio recording of the Mahler 5th with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and Maris Janson's live recording of the Mahler 1st, also with the RCO.

I've heard Mahler played live many times, and have probably 60 recordings of his symphonies.  These are some of the best recordings and performances, IMHO.

I don't know what's going on.  All I can say is that Bernstein recording of the 5th with the Vienna Philharmonic on DGG sounds gorgeous on my system.

@twoleftears: this is so true. That has to be the ne plus ultra of 5ths. In the Adagietto, you can hear the sweat coming down Bernstein's face.

I have an amazing Bernstein story: when I was heading back to college in NY from thanksgiving holiday at my parents' house in the early 70s, I got to the Pittsburgh airport and the Allegheny Airlines agent at the counter (a guy) said to me, "would you like to sit in first class?". Being the son of a steelworker, I said "hell yes!". I got to the plane and walked aboard, and there, sitting in the seat next to mine, was Leonard Bernstein, smoking a cigarette with a cigarette holder, and a big smile on his face. He talked my ear off the whole flight, asked me to call him "Lenny", and gave me his phone number, telling me to call him and come to Avery Fisher Hall to see him. I was NOT a music major, but I sure knew who Leonard Bernstein was.

It wasn't until years later that I figured out that my "upgrade" had been paid by Bernstein, who undoubtedly told the agent to put some young boy in the seat next to him, as I was unaware, when the flight occurred, that Bernstein was bisexual and partial to young white men. Yes, I do tell people that Bernstein tried to bed me. 

@kr4 thanks for the recommendations! I just listened to the Vanska/Minnesota and it’s much better! I should have tried that one without prompting because I’m often surprised at how much I enjoy both their playing and recordings.

@mgrif104: The Minnesota/Vanska are amazing. Their Beethoven and Sibelius sets get heavy play at my house.

I just bought the MTT/SFSO set "Mahler Project". It came highly recommended from a few friends. I should get it in a few weeks, since it's on back order with the seller I bought it from on Amazon.

Amen on That !  MN/Vansaka  are Fantastic !

Thanks to all for the thoughtful discussion.  I’ve been enjoying the MN/Vanska reading of the 2nd and will look for more of this pairing.  

With regard to the brightness issue: I do have an update. 

One of my suspicions was that my system was suffering from microphonic distortion on the peaks.  The other was that my amp was clipping.  I appears to be the former. I borrowed some Nordost Sort Kones to audition and the harshness during peaks is essentially gone.  I’ll be auditioning other solutions to see if this can be further improved.  I now recognize the significant importance of resonance control.  My audio cabinet is really furniture (we’d rather look at a nice cabinet than at audio gear).  I should have been paying more attention here.  

The uniquely large dynamic swings of Mahler brought this to the fore.  

Best to all,