Mahler: Symphony No. 6; R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben [Original recording remastered]

Gustav Mahler (Composer), Richard [1] Strauss (Composer), John Barbirolli (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), New Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra
• Conductor: John Barbirolli
• Composer: Gustav Mahler, Richard [1] Strauss
• Audio CD (November 21, 2006)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000HWZANS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,634 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars slow; relentless; well played; well recorded, January 10, 2007

By 

B. Guerrero "Mahler nutcase" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 6; R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (Audio CD)

To know if this old Barbirolli Mahler 6th is for you, all you have to do is click on the Windows Media excerpts above. The first movement takes over 21 minutes, and that's without an exposition repeat! Barbirolli was among the first to record the sixth Mahler in andante/scherzo order, which has put him in good standing with today's Mahler "scholars". Since his scherzo is no slower than his first movement, I think this performance works either way: andante/scherzo, or scherzo/andante. The scherzo is a bit over 13 minutes (rather normal), while the slow movement is proportionally correct sounding at 16-something (in other words, not too slow). The finale reaches out to almost 33 minutes. In short, this is one of the slower M6's out there. Yet, the whole thing has a very rhythmic and persistant quality about it. To make matters better, the Philharmonia of old - possibly the best orchestra in Europe in those days - plays exceedingly well, and EMI's sound quality is better than it is on many of their newer digital recordings. If you like the sound and playing on any of the old Walter Legge produced, Philharmonia Orchestra recordings (Klemperer; Maazel; Karajan, etc.), you'll like the sound on this. Considering the fact that EMI also throws in a decent "Ein Heldenleben" (slow but clarified during the famous and dense sounding battle episode), this is an absolute steal at $12.

This wouldn't be my first choice for a Mahler six recording, but it would make a good supplement for those days when you want to hear something truly grim (yet, tonal).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent, October 30, 2007

By 

Good Stuff "noreasonableofferrefused" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 6; R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (MP3 Download)

This note is about Barbirolli's account of the Mahler Sixth only. I'll leave the Strauss for another day, perhaps.

But, regarding the Sixth, I had the rare good fortune to see Barbirolli conduct Mahler live (Symphony No. 9) shortly before his death. It was a sublime experience, actually better than his estimable recording of the same work.

His Sixth is, in my opinion, one of the great recorded musical statements of the 20th Century. I have lived with the recording in question here for some four decades. It is not the only great recording of Mahler's Symphony. However, there is absolutely no question in my mind that it belongs in every music lover's library, and should be basic recorded repertoire for Mahlerians everywhere.

It is heart-wrenchingly magnificent.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent!, January 17, 2008

By 

Sungu Okan "Can Okan" (Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 6; R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (Audio CD)

Two historic recordings from one of the greatest English conductors. Sir John Barbirolli is marvellous in both works. Made in 1960's, sound quality is very good, and performances are in high cult status.

Richard Strauss and his Ein Heldenleben recorded with London Symphony Orchestra. This gorgeous symphonic poem, as you know, is an autobiographical work of composer, so, The Hero (of course) is himself and his enemies are music critics (of course!).
This work was scored for large orchestra: quadruple woodwinds, 8 horns, 5 trumpets (2 E-flat, 3 B-flat), 3 trombones, 2 tubas, timpani, cymbals, snare drum, tenor drum, bass drum, 2 harps, strings. In other words: approx. 110 musicians...

The performance is excellent, the violin solo (imagine that Composer's Wife) is amazing and the solo of E-flat Trumpet (in 4th movement) is very good. The War Scene is terrific, amazing. And, I think, the most impressive movement of this work is the last movement - The Retreat of Hero and his Death. In last seconds, there is a noble finale -crescendo to reach to Fortissimo and then a diminuendo to reach to Pianissimo- of all winds, which tells that, the last breath and the death with peace of mind.

Mahler's Sixth Symphony called "Tragic" recorded with New Philharmonia Orchestra. This performance is very majestic, not so flamboyant as Bernstein, but this reading is powerful and impressive. Real Mahlerians should have this recording, I think. Even so this symphony sounds like a sountrack of a horror film! As you know, Sixth Symphony is Mahler's most pessimist work and however written in his happiest years of his life (1904). Because, Mahler married to Alma Schindler, and they had a new girl, named Maria. Even so, this is a propethic work (!). Mahler, used hammer blows (in last movement) explains that his three Fate strokes which will to be in next years of his life. And these Fate strokes are: his daughter's sudden death in 1907 (at age 4!), his departure from Vienna Opera Court and his heart disease!... And then, the composer used cowbells in offstage, too. This explains the Alpine landscapes that impressed Mahler, and extreme loneliness and a mystic atmosphere. Even so, this is only symphony which finishes with dark atmosphere, not with a glory scene. And the last sudden exploding chord of music (in last seconds) usually scares me. The music finishes like a iron curtain falls in scene...

The orchestra is huge (as usual in Mahler): 5 flutists, 5 oboists, 5 clarinettists, 5 basoonsists, 8 horns, 6 trumpets, 4 trombones and a tuba, huge percussion includes bells, gong, hammer, 2 set timpani, 2 harps, celesta and about 50 - 60 strings.

The 1st movement begins like a Nazi March! This "risoluto" and tragic opening continues with a apassionata "Alma" theme, so this movement has a full of drammatic atmosphere. Especially the moments between durations 15"00 - 17"00, the Alma theme comes again and this passage is may be the most romantic moments of whole symphony, you can weep when listen it... The 2nd movement is played as Andante, as Mahler himself decided later to choice as 2nd movement, not as a Scherzo. It is peaceful music and portrays a illusionary happiness. The 3rd movement is Scherzo, and it is I think not a Scherzo, but a "Dance of Death", with devil's laughters, but in Trio section, describes the games of children, but in finish section there is a drammatic explosion and this game melody sounds now when goes away and dying in a whimper... The amazing Finale is the prophetic movement. It begins as a nightmare - a silent terror, and then continues with a heroic-tragic march. This march portraits the hero (Mahler), but then the three hammer blows (by the way, in that rec. the Hammer Blows are really earth-shattering!), and then defeat and abandons himself to his doom...

This 2-CD set is marvellous. They are definitve readings and a must have for all Mahlerians and Straussians, and other music lovers.

Highly recommended.