Mahler Mania, Rebooted

[LKB]

Reminder: there's been a HIP/PI recording of M9 that been available for about 85 years now.

Based on the five minute sample on Spotify, I love what I hear; especially the light/transparent texture and use of portamento in the strings.

" You know who " has made absurd claims more than once. I take all of his commentary regarding both Mahler and Bruckner with at least a few gains of salt.

[Leo K.]

This looks interesting:



(If you can't read the image it says 'Mahler Symphony No.9 on Period Instruments, Mahler Academy Orchestra, Philip von Steinaecker [conductor]')

I heard the 5 minute preview on iTunes and the orchestra didn't sound strong (or maybe it was the recroding didn't capture it) during the first fortissimo, and it sounded thin in parts.  But I'll have to hear the whole thing before passing definitive opinion.

[Leo K.]

The new Vanska Mahler 3 feels like a stately performance. Very well played (loved the trombone in the first movement). I wish the first movement was a little wilder, more risky, faster. But the style is grand, stately and more objective, or apollonian and there are those that prefer that. On second listen it's still not grabbing me like I hoped. I think the middle movements are better.