Bruno Walter, Symphony #1.
Solti, Symphony #2.
Horenstein, Symphony #3.
Haitink, Concertgebow, Symphony #4. It was back in the 1970’s. I’d never heard Mahler and I wasn’t very interested in exploring his stuff. I was in my twenties. This performance showed up on the radio, one evening. I caught it during the Third Movement. It was my first encounter with Mahler. I listened all the way to the end. Elly Ameling’s vocal performance in the final movement was not only utterly lovely, it turned me into a fan of classical vocal music. One of the key moments in my listening experience.
Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Vanguard Records. Maureen Forester and Heinz Rehfuss vocals. Maybe my favorite record in my 1000+ pop/jazz/classical collection.
