Customer Reviews

Mahler: Symphony No. 5 / Barenboim, Chicago Symphony

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

 

 

This is a good performance of Mahler's 5th by the Chicago Symphony with Daniel Barenboim conducting. I believe it is the same performance on the CD they released. The Chicago Symphony is on tour in Cologne in the video. The brass do a standout job, along with the rest of the orchestra. Barenboim takes the last movement a little slow, but it still sounds very good. There are a few places where I don't like the interpretation of Barenboim, but overall a very good performance. And at the end, the principal trumpet and horn, Adolph Herseth and Dale Clevenger, are honored with flowers by Barenboim. They are very well deserved, for their performance that night and throughout their careers. They are two of the best brass players in the world. A must see performance.

I love Mahler! I have at least three recordings of every symphony and enjoy what each concuctor/director brings out of this composer's genius. However, watching the Fifth performed by the CSO is a real treat. I believe the brass in the CSO still sets the standard for orchestral playing. In fact in the first few bars you will see why Adolf Herseth is heralded as THE greatest orchestral trumpeter of all time. His playing is technically flawless and beautifully passionate. He IS the best. The entire orchestra is warm, rich and vibrant. I enjoyed every aspect of this performance. The interpretation is extremely romantic yet not overdone and the playing is tremendous. Brass players MUST see this performance; however, woodwind and string players will love this as well. Is there a better clarinetist than Larry Combs? This is a fabulous performance. Don't miss it!

This is by far my favorite recording of Mahler 5. Best of all, the camera work is done, for the most part, in an intelligent manner. When different sections or players have exposed or prominent parts, the camera is focused on them. I would have liked to see a little more of the other players in the sections besides the principal players and those near them, but with the wonderful quality of the DVD, I can't really complain. If you are a Brass player/afficionado, this disc is a must have, especially for horn players. Clevenger leads the section to absolutely amazing heights, and his solo passages show a sensitivity and musicality that never fails to raise goosebumps every time I listen to/watch this DVD. ...

The video quality is excellent. The camera shots illuminated the various musical instruments, as they are highlighted. There is a tasteful and discrete amount of panning. This should now become the standard for all modern DVD recordings.

The orchestra is a large one, almost overwhelming. However, the conductor, Daniel Barenboim, keeps them in perfect harmony, and the sound is rich and full. Both PCM Stereo and Dolby 5.1 options are available.

The recording was made before a live audience, but there is unnoticeable distractions coming from this quarter.

I look forward to future releases of the other Mahler's symphonies from Arthaus, particularly Symphonies #1 and #4

In all, this is a very satisfying and enjoyable experience for all Mahler fans, and for symphony lovers generally.

A "must buy" for DVD collectors of the Basic Repertoire of Classical Music.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has the largest video archive of any orchestra in the country. From 1948-2001, only one man could be seen in every recording: CSO principal trumpet Adolph 'Bud' Herseth. This is the last visual recording Bud made with the orchestra, and what better choice of program could there be? Bud always played Mahler's 5th like it was written for him, and the well-deserved tribute he receives at the end of the performance is not just for another awe-inspiring performance, but for 53 years of showing the world how the trumpet can and should sound. This is a 1997 performance, and Bud was born in 1921... you do the math! This DVD should be seen by any brass player. The CSO's legendary tradition of excellence in brass-playing has never been more evident.

This is one of the most perfect classical music DVDs that I have ever seen. The venue is simply gorgeous. All of that wood on the stage must have cost a fortune. The orchestral playing is magnificent, especially the all important brass. Unlike some Vienna Philharmonic DVDs, the musicians are a mix of both men and women which is much easier on the eyes than all men. There are even three female horn players, which is very rare.

However, I had to rate this DVD only 4 stars because I disagree with Barenboim's interpretation. The Mahler 5th is a very powerful and passionate symphony. Playing the music as written, it is exciting and quite moving. That is how Georg Solti conducted it in his famous recording, also with Chicago. Barenboim stretches the music, he tries to add to its power by slowing down passage after passage, adding about 7 minutes to the music. Other conductors play it this way also. I like it played straight.

I would recommend the Abbado/Lucerne Festival recording. The playing is not as perfect as Chicago but the interpretation is much cleaner and in the end much more enjoyable, in my opinion.

Although this performance lacks the passionate quality that some others bring to this work, noticably Bernstein, it is a sensitive and observant one which, unlike the well known 1970 recording of Barenboim's predecessor in Chicago (i.e. Solti), is not marred by being overdriven in places. Nevertheless, the orchestral playing retains the blend of power and precision characteristic of this orchestra in this repertoire, particularly in the brass. Furthermore, the sound is excellent. If one is willing to pay the premium to have this work on DVD, this is definitely worth acquiring.

Daniel Barenboim didn't record too many Mahler works until today, we have to mention a wonderful recording of Des Knaben Wunderhorn with Dieskau and the Berliner Philharmoniker (Sony), a quite good Das Lied von der Erde with Chicago (Erato) and some lieder with Meier and the Orchestre de Paris (Erato).

I've listened Daniel Barenboim conducting Mahler, in the Teatro Real, in Madrid, where he conducted some years ago Mahler's First Symphony to the Berliner Staatskapelle, a really remarkable concert, one of the best I've ever been. Probably Mahler's music is not so close to Barenboim like Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner or some other great composer from the romantic period, and specially from the German tradition. Anyway, Barenboim's great conducting makes a remarkable Mahler, as I have listened live and in his recordings.

This Mahler's Fifth is a very good performance of a master piece, one of my favourite symphonic works. I have to say I prefer other versions on CD, like Riccardo Chailly's one (Decca) specially, or Bernstein's one (DG, CD or DVD), Abbado with Chicago (DG), even Haitink with Berlin offers an interesting interpretation. Barenboim's one is good, based on a magnificent orchestra that responds like a machine to the very high difficulties of this score. First and second movements always use to be very good played by this orchestra (like Abbado showed) and this time they make it very well one more time. The Scherzo is wonderfully played by the first horn of the CSO, Mr. Clevenger, a really outstanding player. Adagietto is smooth and full of charm, very sensitive and sensible to what the piece means. The Rondo Finale is very good too, with the Chicago Machine playing full of energy in the final fanfares. Some people have mentioned CSO brasses specially, I've to say that I love them but much more for repertoires like Shostakovich, Bruckner, Mahler or Bartók. Mahler's very sensitive music ask for a fine playing that sometimes I miss, sometimes, not always, in the very aggressive and hard Chicago brasses playing.

The sound is very good and the film too, taken in Köln (Germany), the same you can listen on CD in Teldec label.

Together with Bernstein (DG), the Mahler's Fifth I found more interesting on DVD, even more than Rattle's one with Berlin (EMI).

After a struggle with the gloomy preoccupation with mortality in the first two parts, the symphony bursts forth into a celebration of life.

Daniel Barenboim's conducting is graceful and elegant--he's there for every phrase of music, and is completely involved with it.

If you're a fan of audio versions of this symphony, you'll really appreciate SEEING what's going on. Kudos to Video Director Bob Coles who has the cameras right there at the right time to catch specific players at their key moments.

This is definitely not a static view of a symphony performance. It moves and flows as individuals work together in inspired unison.

A first rate performance, musicaly, technicaly and visualy It only would be better on Digital DTS Surround!!!!!!!!