Mahler: Symphony No. 2, C Minor "Resurrection" / Litton, Murphy, Lang

Mahler (Composer), Andrew Litton (Conductor), Dallas Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Dallas Symphony Chorus (Performer), Heidi Grant Murphy (Performer), Petra Lang (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Dallas Symphony Chorus, Heidi Grant Murphy, Petra Lang
• Orchestra: Dallas Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Andrew Litton
• Composer: Mahler
• Audio CD (January 26, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Delos Records
• ASIN: B00000I041
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,724 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great performance, amazing recording, August 4, 2005

By 

daydreamnation (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 2, C Minor "Resurrection" / Litton, Murphy, Lang (Audio CD)

This is one of the better recent Mahler 2nd performances, I like it a lot more than Tilson Thomas' version, for example. The The Dallas orchestra and chorus are both amazing, and Andrew Litton has a great conception of the symphony. Tempos are on the slower side, more Bernstein than Klemperer, but not overly so (Tilson Thomas is way too slow). The final movement in particular is incredibly played and sung, with powerful organ and percussion at the end.
I have to say that this by far the most realistic, best sounding Mahler 2nd CD that I've heard. I heard it performed in Carnegie Hall and this comes the closest to that sound. It seems Litton is an audiophile and tried to make sure the engineers captured what he was hearing.
The Mehta/Vienna from 1975 is still my favorite performance overall, but its recorded sound absolutely pales in comparison to this monster. Play it real loud!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faithful reading of large proportioned Mahler, January 12, 2006

By 

Brett A. Kniess (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 2, C Minor "Resurrection" / Litton, Murphy, Lang (Audio CD)

After the success of his 50+ minute Symphony No. 1, subtitled Titan, Gustav Mahler expanded the parameters and composed his Symphony No. 2, subtitled Resurrection. Scored for large orchestra, including 4 piccolos, 10 horns, 8 trombones, off-stage ensemble, organ, two female soloists, and chorus, the proportions are immense.

In five movements, this CD times out at just under 83 minutes, the first and last movements being the longest. The opening movement, 23 minutes in length, often has an intermission after it. It opens with a slow and slightly menacing march. Mahler goes back and forth between the minor march and a calmer, more pastoral feel, one which Mahler is always at home with. He increases intensity and increases the beautiful calm after each climax; it ends in a scalular flourish. The second and third movements both time in at just over 10 minutes each. The former, is a stately dance, one which seems overly proper. Litton occasionally stretches the third beat, giving it an almost Viennese quality. Each time, the main theme is interrupted by a contrasting mood, but every time the main theme comes back, sometimes in pizzicato, sometimes having difficulty starting back up. The third movement is also in ¾ time, but with a scherzo feel (it almost sounds like Josef Suk's Fantastic Scherzo). The melody and harmony have a Slavic sound, especially when the clarinet states the melody. The col legno strings give a fantastical image, but the burbling and pastoral sections give great warmth. The melodies are exceedingly charming. The folksy sound elicited is nearly tongue-in-cheek, but certainly masterful. Excitement mounts as the horn and trumpet fanfares invade, but eventually, the movement seeps into a sumptuous, almost jazzy calm, before the opening scherzo ends the movement. The fourth and fifth movements both use the elements of voice (Mahler also uses voice in his next two symphonies as well). The fourth movement is for solo alto, and the melodic/harmonic material is borrowed from his Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Petra Lang is beautiful in the lyrical first section, and a bit more forthright in the second half. It is the shortest movement at just under 5 minutes. The 33-minute final movement is a magnum opus unto itself. A movement of great virtuosity, of particular note is the off-stage ensemble, the haunting brass chorale with contrabassoon, the heroic rising melody, and of course the use of organ and voice. Twenty minutes into the last movement, all instruments cease to play as a hushed chorus (marked mysterious) enters. Extremely low register bass singers, a soprano and alto duet, and a dramatic choral reading are all points of interest. A grand paean of joy ends the entire work.

This is my first introduction to Andrew Litton and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; they are truly showing themselves to be a first-class ensemble. The brass (a feature in all Mahler) are exceptional (Litton gets an extremely mellow sound), the soloists are exquisite (perhaps my favorite of any Mahler 2), and the chorus is also of fine quality. The Virtual Reality sound on the Delos label is superb; it really makes the ensemble speak as it would in a hall, but instruments like the harp, carry in the recording also. Litton follows Mahler's score faithfully, dynamic and tempo markings are followed judiciously, and the ensemble responds with passion; Litton gives us the true dynamic markings; when pppp is called for (instruments and chorus), that is what he gets; he is also in no hurry, and lets the music speak on its own. The recording does not displace classic interpretations, but it certainly has attained common stature with faithful interpretations. A good choice.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best recordings I've ever heard, September 17, 2001

By 

Frank Paris (Beaverton, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mahler: Symphony No. 2, C Minor "Resurrection" / Litton, Murphy, Lang (Audio CD)

I have so many Mahler CDs I'm embarrassed to give an estimate. I probably have ten recordings of the 2nd Symphony alone. It was the first Mahler I ever heard, back when I was 16 and was the first kid on my block to get the Walter recording in 1955. I've been in love with the composer ever since. Anyhow, I know this symphony better than the back of my hand and I can tell you that this is an outstanding performance and I was amazed at the quality of the playing of the Dallas Symphony which I don't think I'd ever heard before. The performance is not uniformly satisfactory. The first movement is not as exciting as a half dozen other recordings I have. However, the last movement is as GOOD as any performance I've ever heard. But the performance, as good as it is, is not the main reason I would recommend this recording. The principal distinction of this recording is the recording itself. It is the most luminous recording I can recall ever hearing, regardless of the work. It has an extraordinary dynamic range and every note is crystal clear and pure, from ppp to fff. It is truly astonishing! Don't miss this one, even if you have other recordings of the Mahler 2nd.