Customer Reviews

Mahler: The Symphonies [Box Set]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

THE Cycle!!!

After several years recording this project, which began with the 10th Symphony performed by the RSO Berlin; Riccardo Chailly has finally closed this wonderful travel through the most amazing and exciting cycle of symphonies ever written, of course, according to my opinion, and I really love those by Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Bruckner, Shostakovich...

Why is the performing of this cycle so special? In my opinion because of the great technical execution of every symphony, the musicality of Chailly's conducting and the wonderful and smooth playing of the Concertgebouworkest, an orchestra with a very long tradition in this scores, just from the time when Mahler began his work with this ensemble and with the head conductor of that time, Willem Mengelberg, whose quotations the own Chailly follows in many cases as a echo and advise from the historical performances. In a just released DVD in the label Juxtapositions, we can see how Chailly works following this quotations and this achieved knowledge.

In my opinion many of the symphonies here recorded are the most recommended versions between many other recordings nowadays available. Of course Mahler's symphonies are great and complex enough to admit more than one version and I could not love so much Mahler world if I don't have, together with Chailly, those versions by Bernstein, Klemperer, Abbado, Solti, Giulini, Szell, Furtwangler, Maazel, etc, etc, etc.

I have to mention specially symphonies No.1, 4, 5, 7, 9 & 10. Which are my favourites in this cycle; all of them with the same criteria, the one of perfect technical execution and lovely musicality. Thinking about the beginning of the full Mahler's world in the First Symphony, so well realized by Chailly and the Concertgebouw, emerging from the silence, in the way of a real "creation" of the symphonic world makes me recommend all from the beginning to the end, a final stage wonderful realized after this long journey, in a 9th Symphony directly connected with the next stages in the music evolution; I'm thinking about Schönberg or Berg, with his atonalities and dissonances so great viewed by Mahler only a few years before.

2nd & 3rd Symphonies are really wonderfully played, technically amazing if you follow an score, for example, but in some cases I miss some religiosity in the second and some charm and hot in the last movement of Third Symphony (anyway, I don't know any other version so great performed like this for this score).

The 6th is the first recording with the dutch orchestra and I think Chailly could make it better nowadays, for this symphony, with a second and third movements oustandings, I prefer Bernstein (DG). The 8th has some problems with the chorus, not so good like those in the versions of Solti and Bernstein, but the beginning of the second part is outstanding in Chailly's hands, very clear, very musical and quite chamber music.

The recordings are generally very, very good, specially the 3rd and the 9th, which are released too in SACD, this recordings are outstandings, which a very natural and present sound of all the orchestral sections.

So, if you're thinking about a Mahler cycle don't doubt about this, you'll make not mistake; one of the better, most musical, perfect done and modern Mahlers avaliables.

This is as fine a Mahler box available today. First off, you have the magnificent Royal Concertgebouw, as fine an orchestra in the world today, which happens to have a great tradition of Mahler on disc, going back to Mengelberg's 4th recorded in the 30's. Throughout every single performance, they are consistently world class, responding idiomatically to Mahler's unique soundworld. In the 10th, Chailly conducts the Berlin Radio symphony and their playing equals that of the Concertgebouw's. Chailly's interpretations may lack the hysteria of Bernstein's DG Cycle, or the sheer orchestral fireworks from Solti or Tennstedt, but I found Chailly's Mahler to be consistently thoughtful and musically intelligent, more so than his competition. While some performances are better than others, his interpretive thoughts are never less than good. There's only one minor quibble I can think of. No. 2 has some issues in sound, in that it's somewhat over-reverberant, sometimes obscuring detail. But in terms of performance, it receives a fine reading from Chailly. Aside from no. 2, Decca's digital recordings are all of demonstration quality, rich yet detailed. Great Mahler cycles under 100 bucks don't exactly grow on trees, the great ones being Bertini, Bernstein I and Kubelik. This one belongs in that distinguished company. I could go into strenuous detail about each individual performance, but I'll save you the time. Just get this set and hear for yourself! Add together the superb Royal Concertgebouw, Chailly's fine interpretations, first class DDD recordings and a price of about 8 bucks a disc, and this box is just about unbeatable. Buy buy buy!

This set doesn't reach the same level of sheer audacity heard in the Solti, Bernstein or even Kubelik renditions of Mahler's beloved orchestral works, but, needless to say, the Concertgebouw Orchestra doesn't disappoint easily in this repertoire. And for Chailly, who conducted the band for almost two decades, they really are in top notch form. Orchestral execution is very good, sometimes plain marvellous, and the overall sound is nothing short of spectacular.

Then, what is this set short of? It's a question that is not answered easily. Mahler's works require not only a conductor and a band willing to explore and execute several levels of musical greatness, there also has to be the urge to bring out every drop of emotion, symbolism, love, life, death, prayer, aching nostalgia and sometimes just plain desperation. The likes of Bernstein, Gielen and Solti certainly make the best of these important elements, albeit, sometimes, at the cost of orchestral flubs or having to bear the blame for being too 'over-indulgent'.

Well, at least the last qualification doesn't apply to Chailly. His views on Mahler are more cultured, detailed and above all, musical. He let's the music speak for itself without ever crossing the border. This pays good dividends in the most neutral of all Mahler symphonies, the first, and the highly colourfull Third gets what is probably one of the three finest performances ever recorded on disc. The Fifth, although superbly played and recorded, might just lack a certain amount of emotional thrust to really let off, but the Sixth with it's unusually slow first movement comes across very satisfactory without ever being emotionally detached. The Eigth is another highlight in this set with superb vocal contributions as is the Ninth that absolutely belongs at the peak of a high mountain of outstanding Mahler Ninth's. So far, this set is nothing short of fabulous, especially with the equally excellent rendition of Cooke's reconstruction of Mahler 10.

Unfortunately, Chailly's thoughtful and sober approach leaves something to be desired in the symphonies that require just a tad more than just fabulous orchestral playing to make the music a real knock-out. The Second symphony lacks a required amount of overall tension and deliverance at the very end and the Fourth symphony simply sounds weird with a first movement that is stiff on the rubato, but the singing of Barbara Bonney is fantastic. The Seventh could not have made a bigger difference with Bernstein's neurotic all-or-nothing approach. Here Chailly chooses to accentuate elements that really show this work's influence on the Second Viennese School very effective, but as a result is sadly underplaying the finale with brass extremely timid.

To sum up, this may not be the most satisfactory complete Mahler set around, but it surely is one of the best played thanks to an orchestra with a long-standing tradition in Mahler and a conductor who really has put some thought on the music. Certainly worth having, even though you may prefer other conductors/performers in this music.

... because 'Das Lied von der Erde' (by all means a Mahler-symphony) is still (sorely) missing! But aside from that, we have here one of the most consistent Mahler cycles imaginable, from a conductor whose name has by now come as closely associated with Mahler as any other great 'Mahler conductor'. Although I have different 'favorite' recordings by other conductors for any of the single symphonies, maestro Chailly's close study of the annotated Mahler-scores of Willem Mengelberg, combined with the Concertgebouw Orchestra's direct 'lineage' back to (guest-conductings by) Gustav Mahler himself, has provided a probing, soul-searching Mahler Cycle, I believe.
The defining characteristics, at least to my ears, of this whole cycle are smooth and disciplined playing, mellifluousness of tone and a certain, almost 'psycho-analytical' deliberateness to the conducting, sometimes resulting in slower-than-usual speeds, but most of the time keeping - or even heightening - intensity and concentration. Although I must confess I think the conducting is indeed too deliberate sometimes, taking away some of the 'edge' and 'bite' we (have come to?) expect with this music. If one were to look for another 'criticism', then it would maybe be the general 'relaxedness' of the playing of the Concertgebouworkest (result maybe of what I earlier called 'smoothness'). As the ever insightful Tony Duggan of Musicweb-International says (about the Second Symphony): "The orchestra plays superbly throughout with all their experience in this composer coming out effortlessly. Perhaps they play too effortlessly for those of us who prefer to hear some evidence of struggle going on in a Mahler work where striving against forces pitched against us are an important part of the mix." Well, you may think of this what you want ...
If the reader would excuse me a slight diversion, then I would like to state the case of, for example, the Ninth Symphony, where I would recommend many other but especially Benjamin Zander's searingly intense account with the Philharmonia Orchestra on Telarc over Chailly. But on the other hand, while characterized by quite different orchestral phrasing and coloring, I find Chailly's as well as Zander's renditions of Mahler's Fifth Symphony, while very different in nature, (almost) equally satisfying.
As for the recording quality as such of this Chailly Mahler cycle, I think they are done fairly close, I think, but with plenty of air around the instruments, reflecting the wide acoustics of the Grote Zaal of the Concertgebouw. The Tenth was of course recorded with another orchestra, at another venue - it was the first (and only) entry in the cycle recorded with the Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (now Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin), when Riccardo Chailly was their chief conductor.
Anyhow, as a result of Mr. Chailly's deep insights, most of these recordings have come out - at least to my ears - as rich, sumptuous 'character-studies', of which No. 1, 5, 6 and 10 I find especially succesfull. But I think we could safely say that all entries in this cycle range from good to excellent. With Riccardo Chailly's deeply considered conducting of Mahler's symphonies - this maestro's vision doesn't seem to be characterized by taking too many liberties or risks, like, say, for example, Sir Simon Rattle - one can never go really wrong, it seems, which I do mean as a compliment. Highly consistent (*five stars*), quite satisfying (*four stars*, sometimes *five*), safely recommended (*four stars*).

When compiling my ideas and opinions of all the best and most hailed Mahler cycles out there, Bernstein, Abbado, Tilson Thomas, etc., I find Ricardo Chailly's to be the best, and most interesting recording of them all. The tone , color of the orchestra and the raw emotion and imagination that Chailly evokes from the players is unmatchable. There are however some questionable solos, particularly in the 5th that were sloppy, and the tempos in the 6th were very constrained and needed more movement. But overall Chailly is a master, and he brought the 8th to my attention like no other conductor out there. Please give it a listen.

The Chailly cycle of Mahler's ten symphonies (minus Das Lied) is a monumental triumph of these masterworks. Here is why:

1) The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra plays so stunningly, I have never heard such accurate and consistent orchestral playing in this music. Kudos goes to the wind section - which I admit I sometimes overlook in this music - but these recordings have demonstrated to me the genius writing by Mahler in the woodwinds.

2) The performances are full of drama, yet reveal technical aspects and detail of the score that older recordings (Walter, Klemperer, etc) miss. Chailly doesn't gloss over musical ideas and presents them in a very convincing manner to my ears. In my view, you could almost consider Chailly the perfect medium between Boulez and Bernstein. As for FFF climaxes in the music, well prepare to be blown away, but still retaining musicality. And at the opposite end of the spectrum (the conclusion of the M9 adagio), the slightest whisper is breathtaking in these recordings. On a fine audio system, the dynamic range is astounding, and the full range of textures is beautifully revealed.

3) The recorded sound is to die for. These recordings reveal a superb balance between orchestral detail and the space (The Grote Zaal) in which they were recorded. Some recordings obscure details (Abbado DG) in the attempt to present the concert hall, but Decca nails the engineering here. The one exception of a less-than-stellar recording is the M2 here, but it is still fine.

4) Chailly is not afraid to delve into Mahler's soul, and some tempi that are taken a bit slower than usual here seem more profound. An example is the M6 Allegro energico, ma non troppo / Heftig, aber markig. It is absolutely menacing, and after hearing quicker versions (a la Bernstein), I feel those tempi miss the point of Mahler and his intentions somewhat. Yes, apples and oranges, but I am starting to appreciate what Chailly is conveying here. Performing Mahler faster does not necessarily translate into delving deeper into the man or his intentions...actually in some cases I think it obscures those aspects.

5) The singing is first rate overall, and is consistently impressive. Petra Lang and Barbara Bonney sound gorgeous, and the choirs produce a very rich, musical, and sumptuous tone when they appear.

To go into symphony-by-symphony detail would take days, but here is my overall impression of this cycle:

Top shelf/desert island: M3, M6, M8, M9, M10

outstanding: M1, M4, M5

Weakest, but still good-to-excellent: M2, M7

I make no qualms regarding the fact that modern day Mahler recordings enthrall me, partly due to revealing the immaculate craftsmanship Mahler displays in his orchestration and dynamics being conveyed, so in that respect I very much admire cycles by Gielen, Boulez, Tilson Thomas, Zinman (his M6 is fantastic), Fischer (his M2 is magnificent), Abbado, and more, but for my money this Chailly set sits at the very top of these cycles. I don't feel Chailly is the be-all and end-all for Mahler - I don't think any one cycle can make that claim (I wouldn't want to live without my Bernstein Sony and DG cycles for instance), but any Mahler fan serious about an important and profound take on this extraordinary music owe it to themselves to listen to this entire cycle.

Chailly's cycle from Amsterdam is an excellent choice for someone looking for a complete survey of the Mahler symphonies with consistently superb recording quality and a somewhat more relaxed and straight-forward interpretive approach than the more manic and individualistic approaches of Bernstein or Sinopoli. Some may find Chailly's approach a bit too reserved or distanced at times, however he can generate a good deal of fire and emotional veracity when called for, such as in the third symphony especially. The two best things this set has going for it are the phenomenal Concertgebouw orchestra and the quality of Decca's recording. I am regularly amazed by the sound quality of these recordings, and the fact that I hear details in the score that are so often obscured in other recordings. I recommend this set for anyone looking to explore Mahler's symphonies as a whole. While other recordings may be a first choice for individual symphonies, overall the consistently high quality of the music making is hard to beat. While there are many highlights in the series, Symphonies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9 are all exceptional and stand along side the best available, if not necessarily displacing other versions. Personally, I think Chailly's 5th is the best I've heard on disc. The 8th is also an amazing experience, with excellent soloists and a very expansive tempo at times reminiscent of bel canto opera, and the finale is absolutely sublime. Only the 6th and 7th fall short of the overwhelming energy required to really pull off these two problematic symphonies. I would recommend Karajan's 6th if one is looking for refined ensemble and hard-driven power, while Bernstein's Vienna account is utterly exhausting in its intensity. As for the 7th, I would recommend Abbado's newer account with the Berliners, Bernstein's DG recording with the New York Philharmonic, or Sinopoli's recording with the Philharmonia. Still, for the money this set as a whole is worth having.

A really incredible set! In my opinion there is enough aggression, just enough to create a perfect balance. Little details have the chance to be heard this time. I miss them too often. Of course it's a personal choice/feeling.
Next to that, the orchestral playing is just marvelous, especially the Brass section!

What about the other boxes? I like the Solti en Inbal too, but Bernstein is not my thing.
In my opinion he always romanticizes the music to much. It's not music for an American feel good movie!
But again this is a personal choice.

I like to hear the EMI set to, so that will be the next step in my Mahler 'journey'

A this point, this is the set i like the most, closely followed by Solti!

Much to the surprise of music critics and fans, Riccardo Chailly has emerged as one of our most prominent conductors of late 19th Century classical music, especially of Mahler's symphonies. Here in New York City, there is still ample praise for his spellbinding performances of the Mahler 7th Symphony with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra over a year ago. Most recently, his performance of the Mahler 5th Symphony with his current orchestra, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, earned ample critical praise from Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times's chief classical music critic. I was present too at the same concert, and heard the finest live performance I've heard of this symphony, and one of the greatest performances I have ever heard of a Mahler symphony.

This Decca box set includes Riccardo Chailly's historically-informed interpretations of Mahler's symphonies, recorded with his former orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (except for the Adagio of the unfinished 10th Symphony, which was recorded much earlier with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra) from the 1990s into the early 2000s. These recordings truly rank among the finest recent recordings of Mahler's symphonies I've heard, with the most notable ones those of the 4th, 7th and 8th symphonies, though the rest are fine in their own right (I concur with another reviewer who observed that the sound quality seems slightly inferior for the 2nd symphony, but otherwise, the recordings are superb examples of Decca's state-of-the-art sound engineering.). Personally, I find the recent cycles from Abbado and Boulez more intriguing, but this is a matter of my own personal taste rather than a negative judgement of Chailly's skills as a Mahler interpreter. Without question, Chailly's emotionally riveting interpretations should be regarded favorably by anyone interested in acquiring a recently recorded Mahler symphony cycle.

This is probably the best cycle available. While the close competitor Bernstein is valuable for his insight and pioneering work reviving Mahler his recordings are inconsistent a bit due to varying orchestras, from top notch to ok. Here Chailly is conducting the Concertgebow, recently (last year?) voted the best orchestra in the world (thats right, VPO)! And it is outstanding and consistent in quality. Remarkable details are coming out. I had the good luck to hear them in Carnegie with Mahler 3d and it was - let me just say Ooohhh Yeaaaaah, Yesss!
Excellent price too, considering that you get 10 Mahler Symphonies! Highly recommended.