Mahler 8th Symphony

larryi,

I have CDs of the Sinopoli and Inbal (and many others) you mention above, but haven’t listened to them in years.

I believe Mahler really comes into his own in Symphonies 7-9. Of course the early “Wunderhorn” symphonies are magnificent as well, but there is a definite maturity in the last three (I’m not mentioning the unfinished 10th or “Das Lied…” (but they certainly apply) because they’re not complete symphonies. One could make an argument for each of the last three as being the “best.”
I prefer them over the first six, wonderful as they may be. As I’m listening to the 8th right now it’s the best for me , but that changes with each different one. The variety in Part ll of the 8th staggers the imagination.
‘ All his symphonies are so different. You have to marvel at the creativity of the master.

RV, for the most part we agree I think. I cut my teeth on Mahler with Levine's 7th. I still prefer it but there are several versions out now that are pretty good. I do like MMT's version with the SFO. FWIW I attended a different performance of it live in SF, sat in the lower balcony, and was very disappointed, either me or MMT went to sleep! I love the 9th, many excellent recordings but I remain very partial to Bernstein's performance with the Berliner Phil, a 1979 live recording that just blows me away! If you have never heard it try to.

We probably disagree on the importance (to ourselves, of course,) of Mahler's 8th, and I would have to replace it with the 6th. It's got some real meat on the bones both in the lyrical portions and more dramatic ones, and the ending is to die for (couldn't resist). 

And, speaking of dying, or rising as it might really be, the last movement of the 2d is a lease breaker except, thank God, I don't have a lease to break. Emotionally speaking, for me at least, it falls into the category of the 1st act of Puccini's La Boheme performed by Freni & Gedda and conducted by Thomas Shippers. 

All good stuff!

Newbee,

It took me many years to get into the 7th. It was a vast wasteland to me. Finally, an Abbado recording did the trick. Now whenever I hear it I think it’s the best.
The finale of the 8th in the Solti recording emotionally blows me away and is a lease breaker as well.
The 1st movement of the 9th may be some of the most profound music ever written.

i’ll give the Bernstein recording of the 9th another listen.

It’s the one Mahler Symphony that I play infrequently.  Solti/Chicago for the thrills.  This work doesn’t respond to subtlety