Customer Reviews

Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 5; Lieder

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First off, these two recordings, formerly available separately at full price each now come together in a set that's 2 for the price of one! Now, if the performances were only ok, it would be a good deal. But the performances are both easily two of the all time best performances of these 2 symphonies. I am so glad to see DG re-release these at a much cheaper price. These 2 performances are both from Leonard Bernstein's 2nd full Mahler cycle done for DG(the first having been done on Sony).

This first symphony is my all time favorite recording. I like this one even more then Kubelik. Kubelik is more straightfoward, but Bernstein goes for the gut, and as he so often does, pulls it off remarkably. The Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam(try sayin that 3 times fast) give one of the most exilherating performances you're ever likely to hear. They're quiet and mysterious when they need to be, like in the very beginning and in the funeral march third movement and blazing when they need to be, like in the beginning of the finale. If the last few minutes don't completely blow you away, I really don't know what else will! The Fifth is also another edge-of-your-seat performance with the Vienna Philharmonic in top form playing great all the way through. Bernstein's interpretation, as with the first symphony, is the most dramatic and involved you'll probably ever hear. I would give a more detailed review, but just read the other reviews of these discs on their separate releases. I would just be echoing them. In conclusion, this one is a complete steal!!

It was about time that Deutsche Grammophon combined this two great performances of Mahler's most known works. The "Titan" is apsolutely fantastic , well paced with the known Bernstein passion. The orchestra is at top form. I would consider this one along with Horenstein's account on Unicorn, the best available today. The Fifth belongs also to a category of its own. The Vienna strings are fabulous and the "Adagietto" brings tears to the eyes. Together with Barbirolli's account on EMI and Abbado's on DG they make the best accounts available.

Bernstein in his later wisdom filled years gives us a 1st symphony bursting with edge of your seat tension and bombast.

Each movement is played with passionate articulate phrasing and sharp precision to reveal the wondrous worlds of nature,ghouls,enigma,struggle, and triumph.

Bernstein does have a tendency to extend certain passages out for maximum effect but he does it successfully without any sense of routine or premeditation.

This 1st sounds totally spontaneous as it is live and it feels like it but Mahler's soundworld is kept sharply intact.

As for Mahler's 5th, expect an over the top milk it till it bleeds interpretation.

Bernstein digs and digs deep to uncover all of the darkness of the 1st movements funeral march with plenty of phrasing that makes the tragedy all the more vivid but natural unforced phrasing.

The 2nd movement is off the chain chaotic madness with the vpo whipping up a storm of violence and destruction and the scherzo counterpoint and waltz schizophrenia is brought forth with precision and style.

Now the Adaggietto is done very expansively as it lasts over 11 minutes but Bernstein knows how to pace and phrase it well enough to where it doesn't drag and the climactic concluding full string fortissimo really hits your heart when it finally kicks in.

Now some people say that Mahler intended this movement to be done in a slightly brisk manner as Mahler's student Bruno Walter interpreted it at about 8 minutes but Bernstein chooses to caress every note which doesn't erase the romantic love letter concept of the movement as one critic had mentioned but it actually enhances that concept.

The final rondo movements triumphant jovial spirit is aplenty with the v.p.o. again providing technical and musical fireworks and sounding as if they're having a ball doing it.

So in this 5th expect highly individualistic phrasing and dynamics from Bernstein with emotions teetering on the edge resulting in a most compelling and convincing performance.

The Lieder performed by Thomas Hampson is simply icing on the cake as he sings with wonderful heartfelt musical eloquence with Bernstein as his trusty and enthusiastic partner.

Trully a Bargain to scoop up before they yank it like they do so often in classical.

Happy Listening.

O.f.

Remember the days in the 1960s when we all waited for the next Mahler Symphony from Leonard Bernstein to be unveiled? As I recall that was the same time frame when the Solti recordings of Wagner's 'Ring' were slowly being released. So many music lovers 'found' Mahler through Leonard Bernstein and this splendid set of CDs reminds us why.

Here are perfect performances. The Symphony No. 1 "The Titan" with Bernstein conducting the 'Mahler orchestra' AKA the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam. The response from the orchestra to Bernstein's penetrating approach is sensitive and breathtaking - some of the finest recorded sound the orchestra ever made.

On that first CD the remainder of the disc is rounded out with the still-respected partnership of Bernstein with Thomas Hampson in a performance of 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen', this time with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The communication among conductor, soloist and orchestra is on the highest level. This is the young Hampson when his approach feels not only secure but also very fresh. Listen to the way he uses his head tones for the higher notes in 'Die Zwei Blauen Augen': this is as close to Mahler's vision as a singer can get.

The second CD is devoted to a performance of the Symphony No. 5 again with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Bernstein is at the height of his powers here, able to rush into the heady movements with steady will and then bask in the Adagietto in as perfect a reading as any conductor has produced. This, too, is a perfect performance.

At Amazon.com's low price this is a recording that is easily accessible to every budget and one that is a must in the libraries of all those who love Mahler's wondrous music. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, October 05

I believe that the true gem in this package is the 5th symphony. I prefer it a lot more than the Bernstein performance with NY Philharmonic, while I prefer the NY 1st.
You can get other Mahler 1 that are as good or better than this one, but I think this is the 5th that stands out from the crowd.

Both the First and Fifth Symphonies are considered to be the gems of Bernstein's later Mahler cycle on DG. Previously, they were available separately at full price each. But now, thankfully, they have been released together, along with Songs of a Wayfarer featuring Thomas Hampson, at a 2 for 1 price. Shame on Amazon for not recommending this one instead of the 2 CDs separately. I guess it has to do more with profits than with recommendations.

I must admit that I always have had difficulties with Bernstein's Mahler interpretations, both his earlier on CBS/SONY and - in particular - the newer on DG. I cannot really appreciate Bernstein's habit of exaggerating phrasing and orchestral details, as well as his overall broad emphasis on sentimentality. These are the typical features his Mahler interpretations are notoriously famous for.

This set exhibits these features. What we have here are big and bold interpretations, like Mahler's music on steroids. However, I don't think Mahler's music benefits from such heavy, mannered articulation.

Apart from this general picture of Bernstein's interpretations, I want to emphasize two annoying details.

First, in symphony #1, Bernstein cannot resist the temptation of showing off by adding a stroke on the bass drum at the very last chord. This stroke is not indicated in the score and, in my view, it should not be there at all. It does not make the ending better, quite the contrary.

Second, in symphony #5, Bernstein goes for the Visconti "Death in Venice" style in the adagietto. It is taken in a very slow and mannered way. I am not convinced that this depressing and syrup-sentimental view of the movement is correct. Mahler originally wrote it as a love song, and the early tradition of interpretations indicate that a swift take is what Mahler probably had in mind, despite the "sehr langsam". Bruno Walter's 1947 mono take with NYPO (SONY) is for example below 8 minutes in duration. This is also the case with an even earlier, 1926 Mengelberg take (Naxos Historical or Archipel, on the latter together with symphony #4). Schwarz (Everest), Barshai (Brilliant), Kondrashin (Audiophile), Zander (Telarc - listen to the second discussion disc for Zander's argument) and most recently Gielen (Hänssler, part of a box) have all similar tempo choices. Thus, following an "authenticist" view of this movement it is an intermezzo leading to the grand finale. By contrast, Bernstein plays it as a showpiece: an elegy that can be performed in isolation from the rest of the work. This is not to surprise. In 1968 Bernstein performed the movement at Robert Kennedy's funeral, and he was probably keen on his funeral-elegy conception of the music from that occasion onwards.

Thus, despite an attractive price and a pretty fine but not outstanding fill-up, I cannot recommend this set. For excellent accounts of the fifth symphony, go for any of those mentioned above. For the first symphony, Barbirolli (Dutton), Kubelik (DG or Audite), or Walter (SONY) are the primary choices for the non-completist collection. For the Lieder, consider Janet Baker (EMI, orchestral version) or Fischer-Dieskau (DG, orchestral version).

I have heard that Symphony 1 is considered Mahler's weakest but I find myself listening to this CD over & over.

Movements #2 & #3 are just beautiful to hear. Sound quality is good and it's a great value for the $.

Symphony 5 has been quoted as being 'overdone' (but nothing compared to Symphony 8). It's OK. A little too pretty for me.

Thank you Amazon for this CD. It was well received from my brother in law who is a Mahler Fan. It did arrive sooner than promised from USA and he was delighted when it came in the early new year!

Thank you for the prompt reply I will use this service again.

CD quality is good but the music not all that great. Like a lot of classical music, it is better than it sounds.