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Discussion: Mahler: Symphony No. 2 - Bernstein

Posts: 23
Page: 1 2 3 next

Post by sgb January 5, 2008 (1 of 23)
Three out of three positive recommendations, and one very excellent review, but no mention of the vocalists and choral segments of this masterpiece.

Of course, the instrumentation in the symphony is mesmerizing, but it's when the Urlicht begins, that this symphony, no, this epiphany, casts its spell on me; even as I write this, I can hear Christa Ludwig (on the glorious Mehta/VPO recording for Decca)beckon me, "Ich bin von Gott, und will weider zu Gott! Der liebe Gott..." By the time we're lead into the Auferstehung... "O glaube, du warst nicht unsomst geborhen! ...our evangelical conversion should be complete.

So, would someone comment on these segments of the work for me? And, please, if there is a far less expensive version of this recording on regular CD, where can I buy a copy?

Post by rosenkavalier817 January 5, 2008 (2 of 23)
sgb said:

Three out of three positive recommendations, and one very excellent review, but no mention of the vocalists and choral segments of this masterpiece.

Of course, the instrumentation in the symphony is mesmerizing, but it's when the Urlicht begins, that this symphony, no, this epiphany, casts its spell on me; even as I write this, I can hear Christa Ludwig (on the glorious Mehta/VPO recording for Decca)beckon me, "Ich bin von Gott, und will weider zu Gott! Der liebe Gott..." By the time we're lead into the Auferstehung... "O glaube, du warst nicht unsomst geborhen! ...our evangelical conversion should be complete.

So, would someone comment on these segments of the work for me? And, please, if there is a far less expensive version of this recording on regular CD, where can I buy a copy?

I couldn't agree more about the magic of the "Urlicht" and choral parts of this symphony. To be honest, although I love this performance, it's not for the voices. If you're looking for an Urlicht, my favorites are probably Lorraine Hunt Lieberson for MTT (SACD) and Christa Ludwig for the second Lenny recording on DGG (RBCD).

In any case, the voices are recorded well, the "Auferstehn" has stunning detail, with some imperfections and individual voices sticking out at different points. An RBCD of this performances has been available as part of this set:

http://www.amazon.com/Bernstein-Century-Mahler-Symphonies-etc/dp/B0000029XX/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1199598368&sr=8-3

Cheers,
Matt

Post by jdaniel January 6, 2008 (3 of 23)
sgb said:

Three out of three positive recommendations, and one very excellent review, but no mention of the vocalists and choral segments of this masterpiece.

I know both early Bernstein performances on Columbia lp: both recordings only hint at the excitement of the live experience and specifically, the NYPO choral and orchestral finale practically disintegrates into "white noise" on the poor Lp. Tragic, considering the pressing/recording accomplishments of Decca and EMI at the same time. I acquired a reel to reel of the NYPO performance as well, and can report the same depressing results, though Bernstein's exciting treatment of the finale is slightly more transparent. I wonder how much the master tapes could possibly have been salvaged by recent SACD treatment?

The good news is the Bernstein's final performance, recorded live by DGG in '87 is his best of all, and receives an aptly spectacular recording, spacious, weighty and dynamic, and when that organ pedal comes in, I get weak in the knees. The CD is typically flat, harmonically undernourished, and somewhat harsh, but the Lp (if you have a turntable), remedies all. We can only hope that DGG will allow Bernstein's final incomplete Mahler cycle, (or at least this show-stopping 2nd) to be released on SACD, and I'm sure it's ready for surround sound presentation as it is. Oh, Ludwig and Hendricks are the soloists. There is no better Mahler 2nd. : )

Post by sgb January 7, 2008 (4 of 23)
Thank you both for your comments.

Post by Fugue June 26, 2014 (5 of 23)
I realize this is an old thread, but can someone confirm if this is a truly MCH recording or is it synthesized? I don't think they recorded in MCH in 1963! :-)

Post by Claude June 26, 2014 (6 of 23)
I have this SACD, but I don't have a multichannel setup, nor can I read japanese. There is no information in english in the booklet about how the 5.0 or 5.1 mix (the disc just says "5ch") was made.

Columbia recorded in three channels in the early 60's, like RCA Living Stereo or Mercury Living Presence. The latter two released multichannel SACDs with 3 channels (left - center - right), while Sony reissued some vintage jazz albums in 5.1 (the 3 truely discrete front channels + artificial back channels).

It could be that Sony used the same process for the Bernstein Mahler SACDs.

Post by Fugue June 26, 2014 (7 of 23)
Claude said:

I have this SACD, but I don't have a multichannel setup, nor can I read japanese. There is no information in english in the booklet about how the 5.0 or 5.1 mix (the disc just says "5ch") was made.

Columbia recorded in three channels in the early 60's, like RCA Living Stereo or Mercury Living Presence. The latter two released multichannel SACDs with 3 channels (left - center - right), while Sony reissued some vintage jazz albums in 5.1 (the 3 truely discrete front channels + artificial back channels).

It could be that Sony used the same process for the Bernstein Mahler SACDs.

Right--I know about the 3-channels, I meant 5.0 or 5.1. 3-channel provides an adequate sense of space and better imaging than normal stereo. Thanks for the info. By the way, is it worth $40? :-)

Post by Vaan June 27, 2014 (8 of 23)
The Columbia/Sony Bernstein Mahler set is to be released on Blu-ray Audio in October.

Post by Claude June 27, 2014 (9 of 23)
Fugue said:

By the way, is it worth $40? :-)

The 2009 remastering of the Mahler/Bernstein cycle for SACD and CD is a huge upgrade over the previous CD editions. Whether the JSACD is worth the price is another matter. Maybe for the multichannel layer. These are decent sounding recordings, but they are not audiophile material. You can get the whole remastered 12CD set for less than the price of one symphony on SACD.

Post by fausto K June 27, 2014 (10 of 23)
Claude said:

The 2009 remastering of the Mahler/Bernstein cycle for SACD and CD is a huge upgrade over the previous CD editions. Whether the JSACD is worth the price is another matter. Maybe for the multichannel layer. These are decent sounding recordings, but they are not audiophile material. You can get the whole remastered 12CD set for less than the price of one symphony on SACD.

I second that; the remastering for the 12CD box set is from the same DSD remasters. The Redbooks sound more than fine.

note: there are two box sets, I have the one from 2009, but there is a cheaper, later one, of which I don't know if it has the same remasters.

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