Mahler: Symphony No. 5

Gustav Mahler (Composer), Georg Solti (Conductor), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Georg Solti
• Composer: Gustav Mahler
• Audio CD (October 11, 1991)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041ZH
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,910 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #37 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Symphonies > Romantic
  • #77 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910) > Forms & Genres

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No need to hesitate, August 23, 2002

By 

Chosroes III (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (Audio CD)

While we all know too well how Bernstein's interpretation is considered definitive, and most of us have been "brought up" on it, I would have been just as happy to have first experienced Mahler's Fifth through this live Solti recording. If nothing else, I can seriously contend that Solti brings more life into the fifth movement than Bernstein did. That rollicking, effortless upward ascent, which Mahler apparently intends to be as breezy and exhilarating as a Tiepolo ceiling, really comes through here in a way that makes Bernstein's interpretation feel cold. That's a terribly important thing too, for without that sense of warmth and movement the Fifth Symphony can come across as somehow less transcendental than its siblings. Each Mahler symphony is its own unique world, of course, but the Fifth's climax (which Romain Rolland considered, at the time, the most successful piece of music Mahler had created thus far-- though of course Rolland wasn't exactly a Mahlerian!) should feel as vigorous and lyrical as "Prometheus Unbound" Act Four-- and here it does. Solti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are, in fact, stellar throughout. Beautiful.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solti's live remake of the Mahler Fifth is one of his best, June 29, 2006

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (Audio CD)

Solti took the Mahler Fifth on the road with the Chicago Sym. for two decades--I heard them in Boston in the early Seventies and was flabbergasted at the orchestra's virtuosity. It was a thrilling show, and here we have it from Vienna in 1990. Solti is rarely given credit for growth. It's always assumed that he will press fiercely ahead, drive the tempo, and choose blatant showmanship over depth and emotion. But by 1990 he was no longer revving his engines at supersonic speed, and although an intense and fast-paced reading, this live concert Fifth keeps its thrills going while also letting us hear Mahler's score. (P.S.--Having heard both Solti and Barenboim live in the Fifth, I much prefer Solti.)

Solti's studio effort from 1970 has been scorned by Amazon reviewers for its garish spotlit sonics, and I agree. But here we get detailed, natural digital sound of very high quality. The brass are still prominent, but that was the CSO style under Solti. Anyway, the brass parts tend to lead the way in Mahler's score, so this is an appropriate vehicle for them--and they know it. The execution here by all the winds is stupendous.

I find no exceses in the first three movements, but in the Adagietto there is some controversy. The Gramophone reviewer feels that Solti reverses course and ladles on sentiment after giving us none up until this point. First of all, at 9:42 min., the reading is not slow or soupy. To my ears Solti shapes the melodic line much more than before, but this lovely song calls for it, and I can't fault him for finding a heartfelt reprieve from all the banrstorming. The finale reverts back to Solti's usual extroverted style, but again, it's nowhere near as driven as you might assume.

Overall I would rate this an excellent recording, wonderfully played and recorded. In addition, it's far more accurate than either Bernstein reading and has more inner life than the recent version from Berlin under Simon Rattle (EMI). Solti ended his Mahler recording career with a winner.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful music, May 31, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (Audio CD)

This recording of Mahler 5 is one of the best I have ever heard. The intesity from beginnig to end is one of the most impressive parts about this performace. The other is the CSO brass section. Being a brass player myself, there is no comparison. Its a thrill to hear the principal trumpet and horn players (Adolph Herseth and Dale Clevenger) play the pants off their parts. The rest of the CSO plays with their typical flair and power, with the dark strings adding a lot to the atmosphere of the Trauermarch. The only downside to this disc is the Adagietto. This movement sounds forced and not as heartfelt as some of the other great recordings. It also takes away from the overall drive of the symphony, which is promptly resumed during the rondo-finale. Overall, I would recomend this disc to every brass player and put it right up there with Bernstein's classic and Abbado's live performance with Berlin.