Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection" / Symphony No. 10 in F sharp minor (incomplete) (2 CD Set)

Phillips (Artist), Gustav Mahler (Composer), Yoel Levi (Conductor), Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Barbara Bonney (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Barbara Bonney
• Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Yoel Levi
• Composer: Gustav Mahler
• Audio CD (June 25, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B00006879J
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,376 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Symphony No. 2 in C minor ('Resurrection'): 1. Allegro maestoso. Mit durchaus ernstem und feierlichem Ausdruck

2. Symphony No. 2 in C minor ('Resurrection'): 2. Andante moderato. Sehr gemächlich. Nie Eilen

Disc: 2

1. Symphony No. 2 in C minor ('Resurrection'): 3. In ruhig fliessender Bewegung

2. Symphony No. 2 in C minor ('Resurrection'): 4. 'Urlicht': Sehr feierlich, aber schlicht. (Choralmässig)

3. Symphony No. 2 in C minor ('Resurrection'): 5. Im Tempo des Scherzos. Wild herausfahrend

4. Symphony No. 10 in F sharp minor (incomplete)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my God!, August 5, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection" / Symphony No. 10 in F sharp minor (incomplete) (2 CD Set) (Audio CD)

I was blessed to have performed this piece with Levi and Atlanta in the early 90's. The chorus was prepared by Shaw, and we wound up performing it at Avery Fisher Hall as well, with enthusiastic response. I left Atlanta in 1994, and, though I knew the orchestra was really stepping up to the plate with Levi in command, I had no idea they had reached this level! I received this recording as a gift today, though I have had my eye on it for a while. In two words -- absolutely astounding! I guess what we did early in the last decade was merely an early dress rehearsal for what is captured on this CD. There is none of the tentativeness in the brass and strings that was often present in earlier recordings, and thankfully, the chorus is as sharp as ever -- a concern of mine after the passing of Maestro Shaw. Norman MacKenzie is absolutely astounding -- aside from Mr. Shaw, one of the most amazing musicians I have ever met. We did (do) not call him "Stormin' Norman" for nothing...

Although I have heard many recordings of this piece, the only other that I own is the other Telarc offering by the St. Louis Symphony. It is a great recording. This one, however, blows it away. There was lots of talk years ago about when the orchestra was actually going to reach the performance level of the chorus. Oh happy day! It has happened! What a pleasure to listen to a performance and recording which is almost impossible to find fault with. If you want "bang for your buck," and even if you don't, you simply MUST experience this recording. Enjoy!

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A recording of power and majesty, July 20, 2003

By 

Trevor Gillespie "sol_man" (San Jose, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection" / Symphony No. 10 in F sharp minor (incomplete) (2 CD Set) (Audio CD)

Mahler's symphonies seems to be THE symphonies to record these days, and all of them are incredible masterpieces. That goes without saying. Yoel Levi and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra have been adding to this late trend by recording many of Mahler's symphonies for Telarc. This newest release is Mahler's 2nd Symphony, which is one of his longest, yet most rewarding, and the reward comes throughout the work with many sub-climaxes. If you don't know the work, I highly encourage you to become familiar with it. It truly has the power to change your whole outlook on your day. My recommendation for this recording is without hesitation. The sonics of this recording are nothing short of superb, a trademark of Telarc. Especially in this recording, the strings glow with a wonderfully warm rich sound. The brass is blazing and the tympani and bass drums will knock you in the chest if you have the stereo to reproduce what has been captured by Telarc. Also, listen to how beautifully the triangle playing is captured--truly an audiophile delight.

Beyond the wonderfully captured sound, the performance is nothing short of spectacular. While I admit, I haven't been enthralled with all of the Mahler recordings done by Levi and Atlanta, this performance is one of heart and understanding by both the conductor and players. Tempi are well chosen throughout the symphony, but the true genious in this performance is Levi's direction of the building of dramatic tension. Granted, in a Mahler symphony, tension is already written in, but it takes a conductor with a solid understanding of the work to really wring out all of the available potential. Now here is where you have to ask yourself a question: Do you like "over-the-top" performances ala Leonard Bernstein's Mahler, or do you like the level-headedness approach of say a Pierre Boulez? For me the best approach to Mahler is an emotional approach. Mahler was quite a dramatic person, and I feel that a performance must represent who the composer was and what the composer composed. With this performance, you get emotion, and if you stay focused throughout the work, I can't help but suggest you will feel spiritually recharged afterwards which is the very essence of this work. Now buy this CD and take part in a small resurrection of your own.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking...., July 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection" / Symphony No. 10 in F sharp minor (incomplete) (2 CD Set) (Audio CD)

A wondurous achievement is not an understatement for this performance, nor for this recording either. If you want goosebumps, if you want to feel the emotion of Mahler, if you want a truly classic interpretation of this magnificient work, buy this cd. From one of Levi's last performances with the Atlanta Symphony, it is certainly one, if not the, best I've heard.