Search - Gustav Mahler, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: 10 Symphonies

A mixed bag

L. Johan Modée | Earth | 04/25/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This quite expensive Mahler cycle is a mixed bag, and it exposes mixed orchestras as well. Further, Abbado has recently improved many of the interpretations collected here, such as in the case of # 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 (cf. his recent DG live recordings, which are better than those in this set). And it is a mystery why DG included Abbado's weak Vienna take of the 2nd, which is inferior to his earlier Chicago recording, available in a DG twofer (that recording is also better than his Lucerne recording of the second). Nonetheless there are some gems in this set, # 5, 6, and 8 in particular. Especially the sixth symphony, with Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is outstanding. But, all things considered, this set cannot compete with other Mahler cycles, such as Kubelik's (DG), Bertini's (EMI) and Tennstedt's (EMI)."

Good standard edition

Pythagoras | Wien | 01/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A friend of mine has criticized the concept of buying complete edition boxes with one main interpreter; it makes the listener lazy and does not encourage him to develop a personal taste for the different sides of the composer. He might be right; but when the market is loaded with outstanding interpretations, a simple but good "standard edition" serves as the best precaution against a musical gluttony that runs the risk of ending with economical ruin ... I already use Karajan's Beethoven symphonies and Jochum's Bruckner symphonies in this way - and when I want something different, I try to find any opportunity to hear the works live.

I bought this collection because I was fond of Abbado as an interpreter of so different composers as Beethoven and Stravinsky. He did not disappoint me now either, and though he might not have made himself a name particularly as a Mahler conductor, I have come to like especially his interpretations of symphonies no. 2, 3, 7 and 8 (the best thing about the last one probably being that the organ is so discreet). The soloists are outstanding, the choirs all belong to Mahler's own cosmos, and the orchestras happen to represent my three personal favourites worldwide. Thus, as a standard edition, it is highly recommendable; and for the complete beginner, the texts by Constantin Floros offer a good introduction to the wonderful world of Mahler."