What is a good intro to "Mahler"?

Greg is right to my mind. I would leave the Lied von der Erde and the Kindertotenlieder for much later. I second his suggestions as for the sequence of the symphonies as well as for the conductors and orchestras. I would start with the 5th and then go to the first and second. The Barbirolli is sonically excellent as well. If you cannot find any of the above, Greg has suggested, I'd go and hunt for the Bernsteins. Forget Mahler on CD. It just does not come across in this format.
Cheers,

RCprince, thanks for pointing out that Zander Telarc release on SACD. I'll give it a try, I think. Cheers,

True Greg, as we exchanged notes on another thread, Kathleen Ferrier is not to be beat here. Dieskau is too mannered for my liking and besides it needs a woman to express that kind of grief. One must be brutish, to be not moved by that voice and that expression. Scotch is not enough and it also tends to dull senses too fast. I would suggest half a bottle of Mouton R. before and the rest, while listening. Cheers,

Greg, your place or mine ?!

Rcprince is right, the Cisco is unlistenable, to put it bluntly. Why not get in touch with Mikrokosmos in Toronto. Peter Fueloep, the owner is a Mahler specialist and he deals in LPs an has got first class mechandise at very fair prices.