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Label:
  Warner Music (Japan) - http://wmg.jp/
Serial:
  WPGS-50026/7 (2 discs)
Title:
  Mahler: Symphony No. 2 - Rattle
Description:
  Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection"

Kate Royal
Magdalena Kozena
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Berliner Philharmoniker
Simon Rattle (conductor)
Track listing:
 
Genre:
  Classical - Orchestral
Content:
  Stereo
Media:
  Hybrid
Recording type:
 
Recording info:
 
Note:
  Formerly TOGE-11077/8

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Reviews: 2

Review by mwgfrg October 25, 2011 (7 of 7 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
It's a bit difficult describing my reaction to this release. Rattle's earlier Mahler 2nd with the City of Birmingham Symphony had a big following, especially in the U.K. I always thought it sprawled a bit and lacked real bite, and I looked forward to his remake. (It is not that I like my Mahler taut necessarily--sometimes yes, sometimes no, depends who's conducting.) But when I originally bought this performance on RBCD I found that it seemed to sprawl even more, to the point of sounding disjointed, especially in the first movement. However, when I saw the new Japanese EMI SACDs, I couldn't resist, and tried it again. Somehow, now it works for me: nothing will ever make the first movement seem other than self-indulgent, but the performance picks up steam afterwards, the first movement now at least sounds like a part of a well thought out plan, and the quite fine SACD sound--full, rich, conveying a substantial amount of hall sound and depth, generally good dynamics--now seems as if it can fill in the gaps somehow; the silences speak rather than just occurring. (Probably the SACD version captures the low level sound of the hall where the RBCD did not.) The orchestral playing is so breathtaking and the choral work so fine that it all jells. It is a one-off live performance, but at a very high level of execution even for this orchestra, and if there is a finer sounding live orchestral/choral recording I can't place it. I have tickets for the Rattle/Berlin Mahler 2nd at Carnegie Hall in February, and if it is this good people will be applauding for an hour. This should not be anyone's first Mahler 2nd, but it is a valuable second opinion on a work that needs more than one.

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Review by Luukas September 15, 2014 (2 of 5 found this review helpful)
Performance:   
This is very interesting recording of Mahler's Second Symphony "Resurrection". Sir Simon Rattle's previous recording with Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus was successful, and Abbey Road Studios remastering was fine.
This album is recorded live from the Berlin Philharmoniker's Great Concert Hall in 2010 and whole performance is very stunning listening experience. Rattle's tempi are peaceful, and Berlin Philharmoniker's sound is rich and warm.
Rattle leads his orchestra in great adventure from darkness to light. Violins and violas tremolo sounds like grave's cold wind, and cellos and contrabasses powerful melody is very effectively here. The beautiful second theme - in E major - sounds heavenly, and Rattle reaches strings lightly tone very well.
Second movement is playful minuet. Mahler wanted that it isn't too fast, and Rattle follows Mahler's wishes closely.
Third movement is also very good, but sometimes it sounds too heavy. Trumpet's beautiful melody sounds gently, and it always touches me.
Fourth movement (Urlicht) follows third without break, and it is here very effectively. Brass hymn-like melody is peaceful and movement ends in silence.
The long finale is whole symphony's most ravishingly part, and Rattle makes it great drama. Tam-tams and bass drums strikes at the beginning are like earthquakes, and off-stage horn's fanfare comes very far away. Music brings The Last Judgment Day in front of our souls eyes, and every time when I heard this movement, I have to say that the end is near.
The silence moment before the famous ppp mysteriously chorus ("Arise from dead, yes, arise") is also very good, and chorus' first entry is at last very silently.
The last part is lovely: whole performers E flat major melody and symphony ends in heavenly feelings.
It is shame, that these two SACD discs are only stereo, multi-channel sound could be much better. Still, this is very welcomed release of Mahler's popular Second Symphony. Highly recommend after Tilson Thomas live recording (Avie).

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Works: 1  

Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 2 in C minor "Resurrection"