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Seeking recommendation for Mahler 2

I just bought the Gilbert Kaplan/Wiener Philharmoniker SACD version of Mahler's Resurrection. To my ears, the performance and recording are quite uneven. Kaplan repeatedly robs the music of its natural tension and dynamics. It's a plodding performance with no sparkle or life. His own 1988 recording with the LSO was better. And the mix puts chorus in your lap in one phrase and buries it in the next. Soloists are way larger than life at times, and hidden among choral lines at others. The whole project seems over-edited and over-mixed, giving it a tweaked-sounding, unnatural arc. I'm no Mahler scholar, but I'd appreciate recommendations for a great performance and recording of the Resurrection. (Of course, if you love this version, I'd happily send you my copy!)
77jovian
rainer
4 posts
 
I have more than 50 recordings of Mahler, and of the many Resurrection CDs I like Bruno Walter's 1958 New York Philharmonic recording on Sony (SM2K 64447) best, followed by Otto Klemperer's mid 60 recording with the Philharmonia on EMI. I prefer these two recordings over John Barbirolli's Resurrection with the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart (there also is one recording with the Halle Orchestra - avoid that one!) and Bernstein's New York recording. The four mentioned recorings are all 'good Mahler' interpretations of the 'frist generation' of great Mahler interpretations.
Today, Mahler is (re-)viewed slightly different, maybe too intense/dramatic/hip for my taste. Some still are able to transmit the 'mahleresque', which is required for not being lost in his long and interwoven movements. Of the more modern recordings, Fischer (on Channel Classics) has a pretty good understanding of the Resurrection (and the best sound), but I also like Andreas Litton with the Dallas Symphony on Delos, and Yoel Levi with the Atlanta Symphony on Telarc.
opus88
529 posts
 
I don't think you can go wrong with any of the following: Solti/London Symphony (as mentioned by Abysmillard), Klemperer's EMI Philharmonia Orchestra performance, Bernstein's New York Philharmonic reading on Columbia, Bruno Walter's with the same orchestra on the same label as Bernstein or Kubelik's Bavarian Radio account on DG.
opus88
529 posts
 
Slight correction: Though both the Bernstein and Walter performances were issued originally on the Columbia label (I own the lps), Sony later took control, so you will find both currently on that label.
velocityofhue
145 posts
 
I recently heard this one at carnegie hall conducted by
Pierre Boulez and was comletely blown away! Such a great work
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,424 posts
 
For multichannel SACD, the best choices today are the MTT/SFSO and the Fischer/Channel Classics. They are remarkably "right" all the way through although the pacing of Fischer's last movement seems to lose a bit of elasticity. Sound is excellent on both with the edge to Fischer.

I understand that the Bernstein/Columbia from 1963 has been issued by Sony/Japan in MCH SACD. I have not heard it but the original performance is explosive. (Gotta get this one.) His final NYPO on DGG is a polar opposite, building tension slowly to a nearly overwhelming finale. (I was privileged to be at his last M2 with the NYPO.)

Solti doesn't do much wrong but he doesn't do much for me. There are many, many other options of note including Klemperer, Walter and, believe it or not, Rattle/EMI.

How can you have only one (or two)?

Kal
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