Mahler: Symphony No. 9

Gustav Mahler (Composer), Sir John Barbirolli (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Sir John Barbirolli
• Composer: Gustav Mahler
• Audio CD (July 18, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Studio DRM
• ASIN: B000002S10
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,236 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I: Andante Comodo

2. II: Im Tempo eines gemalchlichen Landlers (Etwas tappisch und sehr derb)

3. III: Rondo - Burleske

4. IV: Adagio

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a visionary performance, March 21, 2000

By 

Ray Barnes (Surrey, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 9 (Audio CD)

It is my pleasure and honor to be the first to review this recording. To be candid I'm also quite astounded to hold this position as this performance was originally recorded in 1964 and remastered digitally in 1989. It has been available for a very long time. To the best of my knowledge and belief, this was the first recording the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra made of this score, as in the early 1960s Herbert von Karajan performed little or no Mahler, and prior to Karajan, Wilhelm Furtwangler also generally avoided this composer.

To my ears this score has particularly original writing for the string section, ranging from the sparse opening chords - sounding almost like Webern - to the impassioned tutti passages. The BPO strings respond magnificently to the challenge of this score, as do the rest of the orchestra. One almost feels listening to this CD that the BPO players wanted to prove to the world they could play this score as well as the VPO under Bruno Walter, the Concertgebouw, or any other first rank ensemble. Barbirolli's reading is full of the warmth and humanity that marked his performance of the 5th Symphony, and according to the editors of the Penguin Guide he made a very favourable impression on the orchestra. The noble final movement was recorded first. His tempi are neither too slow nor fast, and details in the part-writing are heard to good effect. The sound is perhaps not quite as transparent as Solti's 9th with the Chicago Symphony, but it is excellent. The first Karajan recording of this work with the BPO has somewhat better sound but no better orchestral playing. In any case no allowances need to be made for the age of the recording itself. This performance has also been very generously fitted onto one CD at low to mid-price range. It is a formidable bargain.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHO SAID THAT ART COULD ONLY BE BEAUTIFUL?, September 3, 2000

By 

demien (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 9 (Audio CD)

Gustav Mahler began work on the Ninth symphony in 1908 and completed it in 1909. Mahler was reluctant to complete the work because of his suspicion that all composers signed their death warrant once they completed their 9th symphony. The demise of Beethoven and Bruckner only helped to confirm this suspicion. Death would indeed strike down Gustav Mahler only two years after he completed this tour de force. Mahler's famous pupil Bruno Walter would give the first performance of the ninth on June 26,1912. The Ninth symphony consists of four movements scored in different keys and presents mans deepest fears with a pungent bare honesty equal to that of a innocent child. Sir John Barbirolli was noted for his profound heartfelt devotion to the music of Gustav Mahler and the Berlin Philharmonic turn out to be the perfect component in this recording. The schizophrenic emotions of the first movement are manifest and striking. Berlin then provides stylish imaginative ensemble work to convey the ludicrous self parody of the second movement and the demented counterpoint of the third movement. The grotesque image of death which defines the final movement is played with a sinister radiant beauty that captivates the senses and makes the heart cry. The horrid creature is unveiled and what a wonderful glory it is. Essential.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!!!, June 8, 2006

By 

M. A. Scott "Rock and Classical music fan" (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 9 (Audio CD)

Fitted on a single disc and the orchestra being the Berlin Philharmonic and this being a visionary, beautiful, well recorded, and fervently played Mahler 9th, you just can't go wrong with this particular version. Magnificent!!!!